Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hello, I hope you can help me with this question regarding my newly-purchased 1986 4003.
The neck had too much relief when I got it, and upon removing the TRC I could see that the trussrods have nearly 3/8"of thread exposed. Though I was able to adjust them to a obtain suitable relief, I am a little concerned about this.
It seems to me -without much experience- that the wood has sort of collapsed around where the nuts press against it in the headstock.
On my other 4003 from 1994, the trussrods threads are still within the nuts, and the relief is fine.

I would appreciate any insight as to the situation...should I remove the nuts and add washers? Leave well enough alone?

Thanks for your time.

I wouldn't worry about it unless you are chewing up the nuts with the nutdriver if the rest of the system is ok. As far as the wood being collapsed, that could be a problem, can you post a picture for us? The nuts should press against a metal piece not wood, if it is pressing against wood a metal piece is missing.

Thanks for the response, Bob. If I was using a nut driver it would be messing the nuts up, I had to use a deep well 1/4" socket.

I just remove the nuts to get a closer look. Under each nut there is a thin washer, under those is a single piece of metal just under 1/8" thick with a hole for each rod, which I guess is what you refer to.

The wood does seem a little compressed here, maybe 1/16" or so.

Sorry I have no camera to photograph this.

You're probably ok, maybe a few washers might be ok as long as they don't dig into the wood. One of my 4003's has a lot of truss rod sticking out beyong the nut also on the E string side, I don't worry about it as I can adjust it and it still turns easily. Do you have heavy strings on it?

Again, thank you...I am using 45-105 stainless rounds.

I really like this bass, it's mapleglo with black hardware and trim. The guys in my band about fell over when they saw it.
My other 4003 is mapleglo with chrome and white, they actually noticed it was different, which says a lot ...