Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Just got my Rickenbacker 4001 C64 back from the guitar shop....played like **** before, still plays like **** with a complete set-up...I also have a Rickenbacker 360/12 V64....no good. They are beautiful guitars and basses but, I have Fender's and Gibson's that blow these away. Everyone brags on how good they are....why are mine junk? I hate to say it but, I've actually owned copies in the past that have played better. Why? Why? Why??? Delete this thread if needed....i had to get his off of my chest.

Then enjoy your Fenders and Gibsons....no big deal, Rics aren't for you. Just because they don't suit your needs does not make them "****" though. Maybe you just have "****" taste in instruments.

It's also possible that your shop has no clue how to set up a Ric which is a reason you should learn to do it yourself.

Maybe a second opinion from a different tech? Cripes, I've owned 20 variations on the 4001, all sweet. I'm baffled. I know, no help, but, WOW.

Hey John,

Sorry to hear you feel that way.

I'm sure RIC's aren't for everyone, but I've never heard anyone call them **** before.

Are these guitars NEW or were they purchased used? If they are new, I'm sure you can get RIC customer service involved to help rectify the situation.

If they are USED....

I've found that the setup is CRUCIAL. One or two of my RIC basses felt horrible until they were setup correctly. I couldn't believe what a difference a perfect setup can make. Is it POSSIBLE your luthier is missing something?

Just a thought Jon.

One would think after spend thousands of dollars on quality instruments, they would play wonderfully. That is why I went with Rickenbacker because I wanted a quality instrument that would play great. Do the vintage reissues and the "C" series instruments just play bad? My brother has a 4003 Rick bass....plays great....my dad has a 78 Rick 4001S...plays great....my C64 plays bad and my 360/12 V64 is sour (inotation is bad). Niether my dad or my bro have had there instruments set up. My guitar tech said he has set up tons of Ricks. I dunno what the deal is.

Could just be you unfortunately got a couple of clunkers. I've never heard anything but raves about C64's. I have a 650 Dakota that has never played as well as my '66 Fender. On the surface one might say "yeah, a '66 Fender", but that Fender is a Mustang. I think I just got an unusually good 'Stang, becuase every other Mustang guitar I've seen has been less than impressive.

Good thing Paul is in SoCal! I would hate to read his reply.

Jon,
Maybe you could offer a little more understanding of what's not right for you, bad and **** are subjective, and don't really offer any insight to what's

As a few folks have said it's still possible even after a guitar shop has set your c64 up that's it's not set up correctly.

So, is the action too low, too high, sound muffled, not enough ring or sustain ?? You playing with Flats, personally speaking I hate flats, lots of folks here really like them.

If you can offer a little more insight I'm sure there's a good chance that your sound could be improved.

I"ve just taken delivery of a very fine c64, doesn't quite sound right for me yet, but I need to go through and double check the neck, change the strngs over to Stainless Steel Slinkies, and then raise the Horseshoe pickup to the height I want.

How old is your c64 ?? Oh, and what colour, if you decide you don't want it there are I'm sure a few folks here who'd take it off your hands.

Beatlejon - what kind of strings are you using? Just curious.

The strings are WAY to high off of the neck....the bridge is adjusted all the way down. When playing, some of the notes aren't there....no sustain what so ever. I had my guitar tech put a new set of Daddario flatwounds on it. This bass is a fireglo 03...not a scratch on it...very nice too look at.

Ok, so it sounds like theer are a few things going on.

Strings too high of the neck and the bridge lowered all the way suggests your setup was not done in a decent manner, if the neck was / is adjusted correctly a Ric os capable of having just about the lowest action you can get and just avoid Fretbuzz.

Like I said before I have never liked Flatwounds on my Ric's, they (for me) just don't deliver the tones I like.

So, lets see if we can find you someone in your area how can assist you, the person I'm thinking about is Elys Rand, who's out in California this weekend I think, he's in DC and I'm sure can point you in the direction of a decent setup.

As Brian mentioned if you're going to invest yourself in owning and playing a Ric it's worth learning how to manage the dual truss rods, and the Bridge.

Anyone else out in the East / VA know a good setup guy for a Ric ?

What brand of flatwounds?

What kind on the 360/12v64 too?

I put a set of Rickenbacker strings on the 12 string...it helped but, it's not perfect. I live in Indiana....the only places around here that I can think of are "Sam Ash" and "Guitar Center"...
Thanks for your help

Jon,

You REALLY might consider someone other than Guitar Center.

A private luthier is really the way to go, one who KNOWS Rickenbackers.

I got a 4001 V63 used off ebay about a year ago. When it arrived, it was in frightful condition, unplayable, thanks to an amateur owner before me. I rushed it to one luthier, who did a quick setup and got it playable. I thought it was okay, but a few months ago, I took it to another luthier, the one who's doing a refin on my other 4001S.

He took one look at it, said, "Oh, no", pulled out a wrench - thirty seconds later, it was like a new instrument. It plays so wonderfully now that I don't want to put it down.

Moral of the story is, Rics are a bit of a different breed. Find a guy who really knows them and you may be pleasantly surprised. If you still find that they are not for you, I'm sure someone else would be willing to give them a nice home. Especially that C64!