Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

How much does the string spacing increase using your modified saddles compared to the ones found on a 4003s5?

the 4003s5 comes with a 2 1/16" +/- spacing ... on some it is more like 2 1/8" most players find that hard to do finger playing on ... I had a machinist make me stainless steel replacement saddles and then I cut the grooves to be 2 1/4" which I find to be a significant improvement ... you can get a little wider spacing but the limiting factor here is the width of the 4003 high gain pickup ... 2 1/4" is about its maximum effect width ... you might be able to squeak another 1/16" or even 1/8" ...

any machinist can copy the ric saddles and then you can cut your own string grooves ... the extra distance between strings makes the bass easier to play ...

I recently got a set from Jeff Rath. If I have the time, I will install them on my S/5 blue beast this weekend. I can't wait to get that bass easier to play fingerstyle.

At 2 1/4, that means that there about .45 inches between the string centers. My Lakland Skyline Joe Osborn has .75 center-to-center and my Modulus is about .65. I wonder if that's still too tight. I'd be interested in hearing how your experiment works, Joey.

I find using a 5-string works well in my band and so I wind up using the Lakland and Modulus due to the string spacing. And that's too bad because I want to keep the Ric sound in my arsenal.

for me the perfect string spacing is 2 1/2" or 1/2" per string 3/4" per string is too wide and that makes for really wide necks ... 2 1/16" is too tight ... 2 1/4" is workable but you have to play it for a while and get used to it ... 2 3/8" feels better and 2 1/2" feels right ... 2 5/8" is ok but the 2 3/4" and 3" spacings are too wide for my fingers on my left and right hands ...

the 2 3/4 and 3" spacings are for thumb slappers ... so when they go wild they can still hit the right string ...

A 4 string Ric bass is 2" to 2 1/16" that is 1/2" per string ... 1/2" per string is a good distance on any bass ... 2 1/4" makes for a string spacing of .45" between strings ... not quite the comfortable .5" per string but about 1/20" per string short of that distance ...

using the hb1 or hb2 pickups I can get a 2 3/8" spacing which is closer to my 2 1/2" desired range ...

I can attest that it doesn't take long to get used to the string spacing on the 4-2-5. I hated most 5 strings, other than Pedulla and Hohner Pro-V, because they were too wide.

Is a 4004-5 wider?

Maybe I'll try the new saddles before I give up on this bass. Do you have any more, Jeff?

I played one of the 4004/5's at Ed Romans a year or so ago...it felt like playing an aircraft carrier after using the 4003s/5 for years (original saddles). I didn't like it, but if you've been hungering for wide open spaces, this ought to suit you once they get the kinks out of the pickups, or whatever the issue was.

the 4004CII5 has a string spacing at the bridge of 2 3/4" ... the same as a musicman 5 ... that is why I never bought one ... if it had a spacing of 2 1/2" I would have ordered at least one ...

I have a few extra sets of 5 string saddles ... with springs and allen head screws ...

Sorry, I should have clarified, a 4004 MODIFIED into a 5 string.

OK. I'll try a set first before I make a final decision.

Jeff - I'm interested in Steve Coopers question, Ron knows why. What spacing do you get when you convert a 4004 4 string to a 5 string? Is it 1/2"?(nominally?) I dont use a pick.

Ron, don't give up on the S/5 so easily.

I may be checking out some bridges soon, to see what 5 string bridge would go best on a 4004. I'm sure Jeff Rath knows.