Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

hahaha

unobtanium


ya, I just did my ric bridge on 88 4003

will post some pics

used two dimes on each side of the screws....

three screws across..... so.... screw dimes screw dimes screw get it?


the E still seems dead a little, but the A string pounds and rings tru!

also, put DR hi beams on as well....the E string sounds like a piano!

will try the "drill the bridge adjusters" next



so, my ric is worth 40 cents more!

allen

rokkitt wrote:the E still seems dead a little, but the A string pounds and rings tru!

also, put DR hi beams on as well....the E string sounds like a piano!

I guess there's a bit of a happy medium with those larger strings like B and E, because if the string is too small it won't have enough tension to ring as true as the other strings, but if there's too much mass it won't generate enough energy to sustain as well. So be careful, some but not all makes of .105'' strings suffer from the latter condition, I have found, although D'A Nickel XLs don't in my experience.

cassius987 wrote:

rokkitt wrote:the E still seems dead a little, but the A string pounds and rings tru!

also, put DR hi beams on as well....the E string sounds like a piano!

I guess there's a bit of a happy medium with those larger strings like B and E, because if the string is too small it won't have enough tension to ring as true as the other strings, but if there's too much mass it won't generate enough energy to sustain as well. So be careful, some but not all makes of .105'' strings suffer from the latter condition, I have found, although D'A Nickel XLs don't in my experience.

When I was using D'Adarrio strings I did not have the low volume problem on the E or any string.

Maybe I got it all wrong but if this “washer trick” makes the bass so much better, why they don´t do it already at the RIC factory? Also, if tailpiece can´t handle the tension of the strings then there is a serious design mistake that should have been corrected already? Or what´s this all about? This all gives me an image of semi-finished product.
Don´t mean to argue or anything, I´m just curious since I haven´t had any problems with my 4003.

mikko wrote:Maybe I got it all wrong but if this “washer trick” makes the bass so much better, why they don´t do it already at the RIC factory? Also, if tailpiece can´t handle the tension of the strings then there is a serious design mistake that should have been corrected already? Or what´s this all about? This all gives me an image of semi-finished product.
Don´t mean to argue or anything, I´m just curious since I haven´t had any problems with my 4003.

+1

I don't get it either. And doesn't the result look a bit odd?

It could just be that shifting things a little bit helps sometimes, could be string related etc. If it facilitates the improvement of the setup for whatever reason, and is reversible, then who cares really

I maybe wrong but I believe they prevent over tightening the three screws(closest to the pup). It seems once they have been it facilitates the bending of the tailpiece. I would imagine that it is different for the different generations of tailpiece mine is a '74.

In extensive testing, I have discovered the following: My Ricks that have no washers under the tailpiece sound fantastic. Putting washers under the tail also results in them sounding fantastic. When my Ricks have up to 1/4 inch of tail lift, they sound fantastic. But when they have absolutely no tail lift...they also sound fantastic. My Ricks that have a 7-screw tailpiece sound fantastic. And my Rick that has a gap-toothed, aluminum 3-screw tailpiece sounds...(you guessed it!) fantastic.

In conclusion, I recommend that all Rick bass owners play their instrument rather than obsess over it.

Good advice

rickaddict wrote:In extensive testing, I have discovered the following: My Ricks that have no washers under the tailpiece sound fantastic. Putting washers under the tail also results in them sounding fantastic. When my Ricks have up to 1/4 inch of tail lift, they sound fantastic. But when they have absolutely no tail lift...they also sound fantastic. My Ricks that have a 7-screw tailpiece sound fantastic. And my Rick that has a gap-toothed, aluminum 3-screw tailpiece sounds...(you guessed it!) fantastic.

In conclusion, I recommend that all Rick bass owners play their instrument rather than obsess over it.

Jeff that was great. Thanks for that.

rickaddict wrote:In conclusion, I recommend that all Rick bass owners play their instrument rather than obsess over it.

I agree!

rickaddict wrote:In conclusion, I recommend that all Rick bass owners play their instrument rather than obsess over it.

...or rather obsess about playing it!

i guess this thread is for the rick ones that sounds just good and want their bass to sound fantastic

Go ahead, Jeff. Try not to say . . .





. . . OBSESSION!

bassduke49 wrote:Go ahead, Jeff. Try not to say . . .





. . . OBSESSION!

I hear a loud...purring from deep within my person when I look at that photo.

Uh-oh...My co-workers are beginning to take notice!

Must...Look.....Away!!