V63 Truss Question

fran4001 · Post by **fran4001** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 12:40 pm

Not sure if I'm just concerned, or really in trouble here. I have a '94 4001V63FG here that just arrived from another Forum member. Looks great, sounds great plays good. Very low action, with it's current strings, which are Ric rounds, .45-.105. I prefer a little more clearance under the D and G string. Bridge height is where I want it. So I go to loosen the truss a little, and they're all the way loose, no pressure on the nuts at all. Now what? My next theory is, since I'm switching to flats, I thought about using a string with a little more tension which will probably pull the neck enough to get a little bow under the strings. Problem there is, there's already a slight tailpiece lift which I figure may get even worse with the slightly heavier strings. Otherwise, the bass is super, and is playable right now, just not 100% to my liking. Suggestions?

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 2:04 pm

Generally speaking, you want the neck to be as straight as possible. That is what I strive for when doing a setup. A straight neck ensures proper intonation and consistent action all the way up the fingerboard. It sounds like your neck is one of those that has natural back bow or simply doesn't bend much under load. Necks like that tend to be less likely to have relief even if the rods loose. In that case, if you want the action to be higher, you can either raise the bridge or use heavier / harder strings to force a little up bow.

I don't know what your action preferences are but if "more clearance" means slightly higher action (but not where it is too low at the 1st fret and too high at the 20th fret) you can try shimming the nut up very slightly and adjusting the bridge accordingly. That will serve to raise the action evenly up the neck.

fran4001 · Post by **fran4001** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 2:58 pm

Ted, thanks for the info. I'm still concerned that a heavier string will make the tailpiece lift even more. Thoughts?

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 3:17 pm

Yes, it would - in theory. Of course it could take 20 or 30 years to find out. Some tailpieces failed quickly and others lifted just a bit and stopped. The one on my '80 4001 is slightly lifted probably from years of Rotosounds. It has never lifted high enough to be a problem though.

charlyg · Post by **charlyg** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 3:35 pm

As far as I know, Ricks are the only basses you want the neck to be as flat as possible. All of my other basses throughout the years were adjusted for that slight bow you are talking about. Not so with Ricks.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 6:58 pm

I like a very slight bow in all my basses. They sound fatter and play better and are more precise when it comes to fretting, I have no problems with intonation. I'm talking maybe two business cards at the middle fret with both ends fretted. I would also recommend putting heavier gauge strings on it. You have a neck that was probably set like that for years and you need something to pull it up gradually. I had a 75 4001 like that and I finally had to put med gauge Fender SS flats which are like suspension bridge cables on it to get it to budge, was a phenomenal neck for a 4001, it was perfectly flat when I got it which I hate and would not budge no matter what I did till I put those strings on it. I have never seen a brand new Ric with a perfectly flat neck in a store, as a matter of fact usually far from it.
I would try Pyramid Gold flats, great (expensive) strings with some tension to them, I have them on two 4003's and the bridge lift is negligible.

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 7:57 pm

In practice, a little relief is necessary if not inevitable.

cheyenne · Post by **cheyenne** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 12:52 am

Fran, my '00 V63 is the same way, a perfectly flat neck with the TR nuts completely loose. Not having that "adjustability" kind of made me paranoid for a long time, but after 5 years, it hasnt moved at all.

I've thought about putting on strings with a little more tension just to keep the neck from developing a backbow, probably not a bad idea.

fran4001 · Post by **fran4001** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 10:47 am

Well gentlemen, I feel a bit better. Doesn't sound like a show-stopper of a problem. With Fender, I never worry as much, but with a work of art such as the Ric, just want to be more careful! I will try a slightly heavier string and keep an eye on the tailpiece. I just finally got my DSL today, so I may be posting pics soon. That was hardly an option with the old dial-up. Thanks for the opinions so far!