Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I'm going to restring my 4001 - what are the best strings to use for her?

Thanks to all for any help!

Chris

That depends on your preferences and playing style. You will doubtless get a ton of suggestions from this point forward. If you favor the Beatle sound, you probably want flats. If you like the bright, piano-like bass sound of Squire or Lee then you want rounds. What ever you pick, I suggest using a 40-100 set. You can use heavier sets like 45-100 or 45-105 but in my experience, the 4001 neck sets up best 40-100. Here come the string brand suggestions!

I'm going in between bluesy things to heavy/speed metal...kind of an odd spectrum...then again, not really.

I like GHS Boomers, light gauge. They ring, but still have warmth. Not as bright as a Roto.

I'm a big fan of 40-100 sets. A good compromise between twangy and bassy. I always use Rotosounds for punch and sparkle despite the stress it puts on the frets. Nothing sounds like 'em!

40 - 95 guage here . I use ernie ball extra slinkys . Killer low tension roundwounds .

I'm a fan of the RIC strings. I've tried many, but they have a certain something in the tone I like. They last at least as long as any others, but they aren't cheap.
They're 45-55-75-105 nickel rounds. Kind of a mixed gauge. The A & D are lighter than the standard medium set, but the E & G are the same.

Everyone has their own (sometimes multiple) preferences.

Thanks guys...I guess I'll figure out which set to try first and find what best suits my playing!

Cheers!

D'Addario Chromes are flats that have a bit of round sound to them and might be a good compromise for both types of music you want to play. Of course you could get another Rick and have one with flats and one with rounds!

Gee, i wonder what i can suggest....

I hear you're a Roto man, Mike...

Silly me, the GHS factory is about 22 miles from my house and I've never tried them.

I like Dean Markley NPS Blue Steel. Not as bright as the regular
blue steels, but last a bit longer than regular nickle plate.
2nd would be Ken Smith Burners.
45-100 for both.
I like a 65 for the D so I get singles for the Blue Steels to get that (they do a 60 in the 45-100 sets...)

D'Addario Chromes - so versatile!

I still like GHS light gauge Boomers . I used them Exclusively for 15 Years .