Truetone Music

charlyg · Post by **charlyg** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 10:04 am

I just took my 4-2-5 in to Truetone music in Santa Monica. THis guy knows his stuff. He's gonna raise the nut, put in a pushpull, and, if he can get a set by Friday, Thomastik flats. They are very thin and I am intrigued by trying a thin set, the B will be 118, with the E at 89. One noticable thing is they are VERY flexible compared to other brands. He has a 5 string set, but they are round.......

I started this thread as I wanted to tell you about the store and I will update when I get it back.

Jeff, they were very impressed with your mod!

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 11:16 am

the nut that I installed on that bass is Carvin 6 string bass nut that I shimmed up to height and cut the high C part off ... I do like to have the grooves cut deep on the nut of a bass to get easy playing low action ... Sorry I set it up too low for you ... but a slightly thicker shim will make it where you want it ... the Dean Markeley flats impressed me with their growly warm tone ...

The way I do the mod is really copying the way Ric did the 4003s5 and doing it a little differently ...

I still believe the 4 string 4003 becomes a better bass with the 5th string added ... the additional stress of the 5th string makes the bass sing better ...

and thanks for the compliment ...

charlyg · Post by **charlyg** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 11:32 am

Hey, no prob on the nut height. I am just used to a little higher action is all. I thought it was neat that both techs really looked over the things you did in the conversion, They kept saying, cool, and wow!

bobcat · Post by **bobcat** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 4:34 pm

I would so have you do one of those mods if I had a 4003 to spare, but some part of me is basically screaming, "DON'T DO THAT TO A PERFECTLY GOOD 4-STRING!!! JUST BUY A 5-STRING!!!" I dunno. A mod that, well, irreversible, just kinda scares me a bit, especially when not done on a beater bass. But I bet they sound and play AMAZING.

atomic_punk · Post by **atomic_punk** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 5:05 pm

Robert, if there were 5-strings to buy, then the mod would be a moot point.
The only Ricks I would spare from that are Shadows, Limited Editions, CS models, Color of the Year, stuff like that. A Jetglo after 86? Fair Game.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 5:44 pm

most of the 4-2-5 mod is reversable ... I do have to drill one hole in the headstock ... but even that could be filled with a wood plug ...

for me 4 strings is not enough!!!!

charlyg · Post by **charlyg** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 6:53 pm

Yup, a wood plug and a refinish of the headstock and your either back to a 4, or you could put the 5th tuner on the top.

charlyg · Post by **charlyg** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 5:52 pm

Got my bass back today from Truetone. They confirmed the S curve in the neck. truss rod won't budge it. So.... they dressed the high frets to help with the buzz. Raising the action a bit by installing a new nut from a blank. Jeff had used a shim and we could have used a bigger shim, but the guy said, "nah, I'll just cut you a new nut from a blank. He also replaced one of the bridge thingies, he said it was a touch off in string spacing. Mind you, I didn't notice that and it did not affect my playing but, I figured as long as he was willing to do it, I would get it done now and not have to fuss with much of anything in the future. Their stock push pull pot did not fit for the retro mod, so they will call Ric Monday to see if they can get it.

I am very happy with Jeff's work and their's. In spite of a little wavy neck issue, I have a wonderful 5 string with a "thin" neck that suits me just fine! So the trip to the luthier was like putting the cherry on top of a dessert!

The fellow showed me Thomastik strings. Wow, are they flexible. But, the E is only 89. I haven't checked to see if I can get fatter ones.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 6:46 pm

in spite of the s curve it still played well ... and it took 5 strings very well ...

jnbass · Post by **jnbass** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 12:06 pm

"for me 4 strings is not enough!!!!"

howsabout this?

fretboard looks like an interstate...

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 12:11 pm

they actually have 18 string basses ... a 6 string bass with 2 octave strings for each fundamental string ... talk about neck dive ...

jnbass · Post by **jnbass** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 12:16 pm

yup, now this is getting silly...

dive, dive!

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 12:56 pm

yep ... what a waste ... all of those necks and strings ... and not one single low B ... that's insane ... but is does have an F-Hole ...

gee another thread warped and twisted ...

edski · Post by **edski** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 1:10 pm

Jeff Rath said:

gee another thread warped and twisted ...

What else is message board for?

scottpro1969 · Post by **scottpro1969** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 4:17 pm

Jeff,
Do you own a Dean Hammer 10? I'm interested in one and wonder how they sound and play.