Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I just received my 4001c64s from Musicians Friend this week and I absolutely love it! I really didn't think that I needed another bass, but boy I really love this one.

Question - I would like to replace the strings on it with flatwounds. I've read several of the threads in this forum and there are so many recommendations/preferences, etc. I also have a '68 Hofner with La Bella - Hofner strings which have worked well for me.

If anyone has suggestions on brand & tension that would be best for the Rick, I would appreciate it! I want to make sure I don't screw it up...

If you like the LaBella strings, try them on your new Ric and see how you like them. Chromes are nice flats, I use them on my V63 with no problems. A lot of people here like Pyramid flats, as well as TI flats. Those TI's are low tension strings. Rotosound flats are good too, if you can get a fresh set. So just experiment and see what works best for you.

Welcome to the family Karen!

I use D'Addario Chromes on all my Rickenbackers, in a 40-55-75-95 guage set. I take the Super Soft set and replace the D string with a single .055, which provides a nicer balanced feel to them. Sonically these flats are quite versatile.

I have them on my '03 4004Cii, '73 4001, '98 4001V63, '04 4003FL and '67 4005WB.

Hi Karen,
I actually have the 2nd USA c64 sold in the states. The Rick factory strings buzzed no matter how much adjusting I did. I bought TI's and they buzzed even more! Then I put on the Pyramids and wow, the closest action of all my Ricks(7) great tones, total McCartney and they will stay on! I believe I also tried some other flats like chromes, which I also like, but for the C64, the ONLY strings that eliminated all fret buzz at MY desired action level was and is the Pyramids. Don't know if it is just my particular C64, but thats my story and it's the truth!! Good luck!!

Thank you guys for all of your advice & insight. I'm leaning towards buying a set of the Chromes & the Pyramids and trying them out.

It's nice not to be a lurker anymore!

Hi Karen,

So ... you must have gotten the last one from Musicians Friend.. I got mine on Tuesday then checked the stock on the Musicians Friend website for a friend of mine and they were all gone.. so I just figured I got the last one... I'm assuming you also got the Mapleglo... When I got mine with the round wounds on it .. it was a little too bright for me .. so .. I put Pyramids on and it fixed the problem.. sounds and plays great! I also use the Pyramids on my 67 hofner, cavern reissue and 62 reissue. If you looking for that McCartney sound it's the way to go.

I'm playing a set of DR LowBeam rounds on the C64S fellow forum-er Bob Scott sold me just about a month ago (thanx again Bob!) and they've been working out pretty well.

I find that if I switch to the horseshoe pickup and turn the tone knob down just barely to the point where you begin to really lose all the hi-end, I get a very McCartney-esque sound.

When it comes time to change strings I might just try those Pyramids... then again, I might not (man are they pricey or what?)

I think Pyramids are great strings and the price is more than offset by the longevity of them. I've had two sets on two different 4003's now for more than 2 years and they still sound good and I can get a nice crisp sound if I want it still. They really sound good with a pick too.

Craig,
I got my bass last Monday, so it could have very well been the last one. The Musicians Friend site shows that they'll be back in stock on 9/20. Hmmm...

I was shocked that the 4001c64s was available -- I kept waiting for them to tell me, "Whoops, we really don't have it in"...like they did when I tried to order an Epiphone Lennon acoustic earlier this year.

Also, it looks like the best place to order Pyramids is from the pick of the ricks website - free shipping. Please let me know if this is the case.

Karen,
I got my Pyramids from POTR and I think at the time they were the cheapest.

Enjoy your new C64S!

Karen,

I got my Pyramids from Pick of the Ricks.. you can probably find them a little cheaper(within a dollar or two) but the free shipping makes up for it.