Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Did you ever wonder how those lead weights inside of some 70's Ricks look? The pic is a bit fuzzy but here is an example of how it was done.



The weights were installed between the 4th and 5th frets and were intended to alter the resonance of the neck. The Goal was to reduce or eliminate less prominent notes. The board on top still has its weight but it has been removed from the board below.

Another mystery solved by the great Ted! When that fact first surfaced, I was curious where and how it was done, and how big it was. Thanks for sharing.

my St Croix fishing pole has something like that...

That's a new one on me. Never knew they did that. When did they stop?

Cole

Wow, that's a new one for me, too.

So the weight is actually on the bottom side of the fretboard. Not at all as I would have pictured it. Interesting. Thanks Ted. By chance did you weigh it?

I had never heard of that being done before. Thank you for the insight. What years did Rick do this ? Was it common on both basses and guitars ? Is it still being done ?

I, too, never knew of this...you learn something new and cool every day!

I think the practice was abandoned in the late 70's or early 80's. No, I have not weighed it but I would say the fingerboard with the lead is 3 to 4 ounces heavier than the other.

Another thing to take note of there is that the truss rod spacing changed. The board with the weight is from a '75. The other was from a '77 or '78. See the difference in the distance between the marks left by the rods? I don't know why that change occurred but it is certainly significant. perhaps it was another approach to changing the resonanace of the neck.

The 4001's where born with Heavy Metal in them, made to rock!

Could it be the lead weights went away with the new truss rods?