Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

As you may already know we have recently had an addition to our family (the pretty blonde one in the middle). I don't know what strings she has on at the moment. Any recommendations???

flats or rounds?
I use rounds

Three blondes and a redhead Peter, They're talking about making polygamy legal here in Canada..HeHe

First off, I use round wounds... I went through a ton of different strings because the ball and wrapping on the end of the e-string didn't fit the space available in the tailpiece - and, since I'd heard of so many tailpieces blowing apart when they were filed to make more room, I had decided that I wasn't going to attempt to change it.

I took it to a local music store and tried about 10 different sets of strings attempting to find one that fit... And the only ones that I could get to work in the space available were Rotosounds...

If you're lucky, you'll have more space available for the thick end of the e-string in your bridge than I did so that you can have a wider selection of strings available to choose from!

That's a very thin neck on the 4005's so I've recently put TI Flats or D'Adario super soft chromes on my 66 and I was able to straighten the bow out of my neck and also get the action pretty low. I did grind out/widen the E groove on my R tailpiece with no ill effects, but, I'd never heard of the exploding 4005 R tailpiece phenomenem. The D'Adarios are a super light set so the E might fit without any grinding needed.

She has rounds on at the moment but I don't mind flats. I'm spoilt for choice in my household all these pretty girls, and all wanting to play with me!!! I don't intend resorting to violence or using weapons of mass destruction on her (files, drills etc.,)as she is just perfect as she is. You may notice that there is no room for my wife to sit on the sofa!

Nice foursome you have there Peter!

It's a fivesome when I dive in!!! Heh heh heh.

Think, low tension in this case. I like DR rounds. Most of my basses have DR Highbeams but I use nickel Lowriders on my V63. The DR's don't chew up my frets and are low tension - easy on the neck. For an elderly Rick, low tension is probably best. Thomastik makes some very nice low tension flats. Their rounds are quite soft too but too soft for my tastes.

I also use nickel Lo-Riders on my 4003 and D'Addario Chromes on my V63 and will use them on my new C64. I'm expecting delivery today.

Are the TI flats low tension? I suppose most will be lower than Pyramids?

TI flats are very low tension, indeed softer than Pyramids. Some necks can support TI's with little or no tension on the trusses. In fact, if the neck has a little natural back-bow, TIs may not pull hard enough to straighten it out. I have seen this happen twice.

Thanks Ted, I'm thinking of trying something other than the pyramids on my 4005 and V63. I also want a more Macca tone for upcoming recording.

Wow! That's a beautiful lineup! Rare as hen's teeth I'm guessing. Especially nos. 2 and 3. Regarding the strings, I can't think of anything less tension than the TI flats. And they sound great. I had them on my '69 4001, and they were very easy on the neck. Macca 60s sound for sure. Not aggressive enough for the 70s sound though. Just my 2 cents.

Fran, No.2 is a'71 21 fretter in museum quality, No. is 1967 (but didn't leave the factory until ,89) and is one of only two 4005's ever made lefty.