Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

A while back there was a thread on how to fix the truss rod problem where the stop block near the nut fails and the truss rod nuts get bent into the neck.

The thread had instructions, diagrams and pictures of the procedure.

Does anyone have the link handy? I have finally found someone to do the work who is familiar with the procedure and I want to use the thread as a point of reference.

I just did a similar repair to my 73. I needed to adjust the rods after changing the strings. When I examined the rod ends they were bent down into the wood and needed to be straightened. I used a clamp with rubber jaws at the nut and proceeded to pry upwards on the truss rod nuts trying to straighten them enough to get a nut driver on them. I then proceeded to pop the fret board off of the neck even though I had this clamp on the neck! The fret board separated from the neck about 1 1/2" down the neck. What I should have done was cut a block of wood matching the radius of the fret board so that there would have been sufficient clamping pressure on all areas of the fret board. I did however fabricate this curved clamping block later when I repaired the cracked area. I finally did get the rods up enough to get the nut driver on them and removed them. They were in good shape except for being bent on the ends. I straightened them carefully and cleaned them, did the repair and then reinstalled the two truss rods and everyone lived happily ever after. I hope this helps.

Thanks... however my problem is a common one and has been discussed at length on this board. The truss rod requires the nuts to be sheared off, rods pulled, cut and rethreaded. Also a new block fashioned from brass or aluminum to fit the cavity better and prevent the thread ends from bending.

As I said..there is a thread on this board with instructions and pictures.....I recall discussing it around this time last year...

Sweeeeet! Thank you very much.

Below is what I endeavor to fix.

Wow, nice looker! Walnut or AutumnGlo? I see shine on the fretboard so am guessing AutumnGlo.

Autumn Glo..purchased by me in 1977 at Manny's in NYC.

I replaced (and have long lost) the knobs with Tele style knobs in the haze of the late 70's. I recently removed the rubber in the damper as it had started to liquify. I also removed the capacitor on the treble pot to much delight as I now got the Paul McCartney tone but lost the Chris Squire tone.

I have only seen a few of this color around and only 1 or 2 played by pros. As my lead guitarist says.."..you can FEEL the QUALITY." (FEEL the QUALITY was the name of a short lived band of ours that morphed into Assisted Living)

AutumnGlo is my favorite color. Something earth-connected about it. Just beautiful. You should be able to relocate period knobs - someone here probably has some they may be willing to part with. As for the capacitor, you could always put in the tone pot/switch and be able to easily go between the two sounds and not limit yourself to one or the other. Easy mod.