Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I've got DR coated strings on my 4003 - roundwound, .45 - .105 guage, about a month old and losing both their coating and tone VERY quickly. I've got an important gig coming up in two days and was wondering if I could successfully change my strings without having to worry too much about intonation/neck problems from putting strings on with a different tension. I won't have time to take it to a luthier for adjusting and don't like to fool around with adjusting the Ric myself, being a coward and all. The new strings are Rotosound RB45s (nickel roundwounds and presumably very similar to Rickenbacker stock strings, which I loved except for the price!) and are the same gauge as both the DRs and the stock Ric strings.

My band plays rock/blues with Eb/Ab/Db/Gb tuning (which I find makes the strings play a bit rubbery, so I would actually like to go to a higher tension string). I haven't been able to find any hard data on string tensions, other than TI's, as they seem to really push the benefits of a lower-tensioned string. I'm guessing the RB45s might be a bit lower tension than the RS66L Stainless Steel Swing Bass sets that sound so nice but eat through your frets like Meatloaf going through a pizza!

So whaddya' think? Should I go for it or stick with my blotchy, green-with-bits-of-silver-poking-through, $40, piece-of-you-know-what DRs?

Fred ...
If the strings are the same gauge you should have no problems - i dabbled with several different sets & never had to touch the rods once. I did however end up back with the Rick stock strings - none of the others were quite as good (worth the extra few quid IMO)

How long did you have those DRs on there? I usually go through strings pretty quick (ernie balls last me about a week) and the DRs on my Rick have been holding up pretty good. Not saying you broke them or anything just want to get a realistic estimate of how long they would last.

> How long did you have those DRs on there?

About a month. The coating is coming off where my pick strikes the strings (don't think I hit them that hard but perhaps I do). I only use a pick about 20% of the time and strike it right next to the bridge -- when I use my fingers I'm generally right near the neck and the coating is still in place there.

I had the Ric strings on for about 3 months and that's normally as long as I would go with roundwounds (with flats it's measured in years!) The Rics do seem like excellent quality strings though and if the Rotosounds don't work out ($13 U.S. btw - no silk but otherwise the same as the more expensive Roto models) I'll bite the bullet and go back to them. Makes you envy guitar players with their dirt cheap strings until you realize how often they have to tune and replace broken strings!

I shouldn't dismiss the DRs as poor strings so quickly though -- if you don't use a pick I'm sure they would last for quite some time and they sounded just fine when new.

I love DRs but don't use the coated ones. The set I tried lost their coating pretty quickly. I use both Highbeams and Lowriders. They are excellent, long lasting strings that are easy on the neck.

I've read somewhere that if you use a pick, it is normal for the coating to come off. I have an empty packet in front of me but can't see it written there.

Julian, you get more life out of EB strings than I do. I get one gig out of them and they are shot.

I usually use D'Addario or Dean Markley strings. Recently I've been impressed with not only the performance of RIC bass strings, but also the amount of gigs I've gotten from of them. The last time I used RIC strings was in the early 90's. I liked them then also. Back then they were easy for me to get and at the best price possible.

Fender Stainless rounds are pretty bright & seemed to last a fair while. They are fairly high tension too.
The RIC strings are definitely not high tension. Very bright & growly.

Iv only used Dr Sunbeams and Ken smith strings on my ric. The sunbeams i took right off. They just... really didnt work. They were tight enough. The Ken smiths i love. Sounds good and feels good. So i think im sticking with them. Both lights by the way. Thats bassically all ill play.

I love the DR's on my Ricks. I use the Nickel Lo-Riders on my 4003 and C64. I also use the Hi-Beams on my OLP Music Man bass. I usually get about 4 to 6 months to a set before they start to get dull sounding. Tension is very easy on the neck and they are very easy on the frets too.

I use Rotosound Swing Bass 40 - 100. They're stainless steel. True that they don't last very long, but the ring and sustain are amazing. Just ask Chris Squire and Geddy Lee. I've used them for over 25 years and have never had trouble with the neck or frets.
I hear a lot about the Roto's eating frets. I think that either I've been lucky, or it's a bit of a myth. Tone is what I'm after......