Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

The 5stringer came in.the string spacing is a little close,Jeff what do you recommend??

I know I'm not the Jeff you're looking for, but if you can't handle the spacing, I'd sell it, rather than ruin its collector value trying to fix the intended design.

I second that, better you should get a Rathenbacker than modify that one.

Im not going to modify it I might change the bridge or the sattles,are you guys nuts?What did you think I was going to do start routing it out for a badass or something,noway.

And you've never modded any of your 'Vettes?

Tri-Power?

Ken, the best thing you can do is replace the exiting saddles (at least the B, E, D & G string ones) with all new uncut saddles, then trim and notch them yourself so the strings can be a bit further apart than they are now. As long as you keep the old saddles, it's a harmless reversible mod. Most people probably wouldn't be able to tell the difference anyway.

Are the S5 saddles still available?

The S5 saddles are discontinued. I just grab a regular saddle in a pair of vice grips and cut about 1/16" off each end with a cut off disc in my Dremmel.

I don't think the S5 size saddles are available. You probably would have to clamp the standard saddle in a vise and use a dremel loaded with a cutting wheel to trim it down. There might be other ways of doing it also.

Jeff Rath has my drummer, who is a machinist, make them for him. He has it down to where they make them perfectly with no slot and Jeff slots them as need be.

Ken, I recommend you send it to me immediately. I'll play it for a while and then diagnose the problem....

Ken, I lost track of all the basses you just purchased. Is this the "Blackstar" 5 banger??

I have a few sets of stainless steel replacement saddles that were made by Steve's drummer ... they have screws and springs and are a drop in replacement ... all you have to do is cut the grooves ... I do this mod to every 4003 5 string bass I ow... the 4003s5 comes from the factory with a 2 1/16" spacing ... this is ok for picks but too tight for most finger players ... with my mod you can get 2 1/4" which is still kind of tight but much more comfortable ... when I mod a 4004 or a 2000 series bass I make the spacing 2 3/8" and fended 4-2-5 basses are 2 1/2" ... you can get 2 3/8" on a 4003 but you start to get too wide for the high gain pickups ... the reason I can get 2 3/8" on the 4004 is the hb1 pickups ... if 2 1/4" is too tight then get a 4004CII5 ... but you have to wait for a while to get one ...

Thanks for your comments guys and I think Jeff R. has it down to a T,Jeff are you willing to let a set go? and JPS, no I never modded a corvette besides making my 2000 into a convertible from a hard top.Dave its this one.