Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I've resurrected the "Measure Your Girth Thread!"

Its surprising to me that out of all of the 60's Rick owners here on the Forum only one owner measured his neck and submitted the data.

I mean, come on ! You guys are constantly waving those 60's basses under the noses of the rest of us less fortunate members...taunting us...bragging about how great they are, how sweet the tone is, and how thin the necks are! Time to put up or shut up!

It sure would be nice if we had some real data!

And this goes for anybody with a 60's Rick, not just the ones mentioned in the title of this thread. There were only so many names that would fit in the title, so I couldn't include Mr. Pascoe, Mr. Gallo, Mr. Fergussen(sp?) and others.

Please measure!

Whoa! for a second or two I thought you were talking about the waistlines of forum members. I don't have a `60s 4001 but I wear a 31 or 32 waist.

rickaddict wrote:I've resurrected the "Measure Your Girth Thread!"

Its surprising to me that out of all of the 60's Rick owners here on the Forum only one owner measured his neck and submitted the data. Please measure!

Thanks for including me in the Short Names Club I will be glad to measure my neck for you, Jeff! Here goes...

Since I am 6'4" and 240lb and a good 48 suit size, with a 36 inch waist, you have probably already guessed that I am a 60s Rick owner with a rather large neck Usually I wear a shirt with a neck size of 17 1/2 to 18 1/2, depending on the brand.

But since you asked so sincerely, Jeff, I just went and got my wife's measuring tape out of her sewing table, and have actually measured my neck as precisely as I could. I am definitely 18 and one-quarter inches. No doubt at all. I can convert it to centimetres to if you wish, but I don't have a calculator handy right now. Off the top of my head, at 2.54 cm/in, that should come out to 45 or 46 cm or so.

Just as I suspected. Elys is afraid to measure his (60's Rickenbacker bass) neck!

I'll send digital calipers to anyone that needs them. You just have to return them when you are done.

I am relieved to see you only want our neck measurements! We wouldn't want certain forum members to or ...

What specifically do you need, circumference, thickness, width, etc.? At what frets, nut, heel, window or aisle seat...........

I'll do my '66 4005WB when it comes back to me in a month or two. It's even thinner than the neck on Jeff's 4005, ya know.

nyrkickazz1 wrote:I'll do my .... It's even thinner than ....Jeff's, ya know.

jps wrote:

nyrkickazz1 wrote:I'll do my .... It's even thinner than ....Jeff's, ya know.

Touche.

OK....

I'll need an accurate set of calipers I would imagine, my old tape measure and rule won't get it done!

I too, am curious about the debate!

'scuze me while I whip this out.

Width @ nut 1 5/8" Thickness of neck 5/8".

Hmmm. Small. I'm so ashamed.

Cool!

What the thread measured is the girth of the neck at the first, third, and twelfth frets. (Girth - the measurement around anything; the circumference). A dial caliper is not necessary.

All you need is a metric plastic/vinyl measuring tape similar to what a tailor would use. Look in your wife's sewing kit (sexism alert, sexism alert!) All you have to do is wrap the measuring tape tightly under the strings right in front of the fret; about where one would fret the string at the first, third, and twelfth frets. Then post your results to the "Measure Your Girth" thread.

If you don't have this type of measuring tape and can't pick one up at your local Walgreens/CVS for 2 bucks, then you can use kite string: Wrap it tightly around the neck in the aforementioned locations, mark across the two sections of string where they overlap, then use a metric ruler to find the distance between the two marks on your string.

See? Its fun! Its easy! Its...feasy!

Off to buy one tomorrow!

1st fret. 10.8
3rd fret. 11.5
12th fret. 12.7

WOW!

That's a small neck, Scott!



10.8 cm at the first fret is the smallest we have on record by 3mm! Atsushi's '64 4001S (and Bob Atherton's '72 4001) is 3mm larger at the first fret. Not that I don't believe you, but could you double check that first fret measurement? (If you already did check it twice, then don't bother.)

The third fret measurement is a three-way tie for second place.

The twelfth fret measurement ties Tony Cabibe's '88 v63 for first place.

Thanks for measuring!

Just so I post it correctly, is your bass a '68 4000 with added neck toaster?