Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I have a 1966 330, and was concerned when I read the info on Rickenbacker neck set on www.provide.net/~cfh/rick.html. My concern grew when I recently began playing my 330 after a very long hiatus - and noticed that its neck tilts upwards from the body. The action is high at the upper frets but good at low frets; trying to lower the upper action results in buzzing at lower frets. I have yet to take it to a guitar tech or luthier, but my main question is, is the web site I referenced correct that a neck reset requires taking the back off, and would it require a total refinish? I thought I'd always keep this guitar, but now I'm wondering how much to put into it to keep it playing well.

The back does not have to be removed, but the neck will have to be removed using heat and the area where the finish is disturbed will have to be touched up or replaced. E-mail me for pictures or go to the Rickenbacker forum for pictures showing a 4005 Bass having this done.

Is the neck straight (no bow)?

IIRC, the other thing to check is how deep the nut slots are cut.

It does appear I have some bow upwards (backbow?) in the center of the fretboard when I check with a straightedge. The nut is a brand new Rick nut with nothing done to it. The troubling aspect is that the headstock is a bit higher than where neck meets body. Not a lot, but it does angle upwards.

Bottom line, I need to take it in for a checkup, but it's reassuring to hear from Dale that a reset isn't as drastic as some have made it out to be. Although those in-progress pictures of the 4005 he fixed sure are scary! But as I know from home improvement projects, things often have to look pretty messed up before they can look better.

Yes they can look scary! A lot of things with work in progress will, but it's the experience it takes to make these things right. See the broken neck/peghead in the Rickenbacker General thread of the 1966 330/12 string that I put back together. The owner was told to scrap this guitar and sell it for parts.. I repaired and guarantee that it will hold together and play great...

My 331LS had a backbow from years of lacking strings, but after a heat clamp treatment of the neck, the neck is fine now.