Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I understand that the 4003FLs are shipped with roundwounds on them. Is this safe? Won't it chew up the fingerboard? I really like the sound of roundwounds, so if at all possible I'd like to use them. Otherwise, I'll probably use D'Addario flatwound XL Chromes.

I use them on one of my my fretless basses and haven't yet been bothered by wear. But then again, I don't play it regularly at gigs either.

I have 4445 RIC nylon covered strings on another one and to my ears, it's a bit more the sound I expect from a fretless.

Finally, I have one with the RIC 4440 flatwounds on it and that's my least favorite. That's good- given I won't be able to replace this set anymore anyway.

Is RIC planning on not carrying those flats anymore?

I've really been into the Ken Smith Compressors on my 4001FL, which are made to be flat(er) by compressing the outer winding to an oval shape.. no estimable 'board wear, and great, bright r.w. tone.. not too much tension either, which is good. They're a nice balance point between the two types of strings, but leaning a bit more towards the 'round' side of the tracks..

I have Ken Smith Compressed rounds on my 4001, which were on it when I bought it. I've never changed them. They really should be changed, it's been a very long time.
My 4003FL has the RIC factory set, which I like very much. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought the RIC set of rounds was very slightly compressed. I was thinking of putting a set of them on my 4001FL since all of the sets of D'Addario Chromes that I find in music shops might have a little too much tension for that '75 4001FL.

I order my Chromes from www.juststrings.com as I too, find that music stores only carry the typical 45-100 types of sets, as if that is what everybody wants.

I have roundwounds on my Zon only as that has a phenolic fingerboard. I take that back; I do have TI Acousticores on my Rick Turner RB4FL. Both the 4003FL and my NS Design CR4M has flats on them.

I have flats on mine, used to use RW's and to me you get a lot more growl and a more full sound with flats on a fretless. I can be a hard player and especially was years ago, I started a 4001FL's neck buzzing in one night once with Rotos, it sounded great though I even got comments from the drummer. Unfortunately the growl was coming from the fingerboard being eaten up, but I think Rots are especially bad on frets, fingerboard etc. This was an early 80's 4001FL. I then put two part epoxy on it for RW's and it never sounded the same, I eventually traded it. I was really into the RW sound back then. My new Blueboy FL sounds great with Tetrahedons on it.