Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Does anyone know if the nut (part #03301) listed on the Rickenbacker website will work with my '60's 4005?

If not, where would be a good place to find a nut or blanks that will fit?
TIA
d

The '60s 4005 nuts are much thicker than any current nut. At some point I need to replace the one on my 4005WB so a good source would be nice to find.

Get Dale or Paul to make you one.

The material is commonly available in the proper thickness, but in rough blanks which need to be completely shaped to the instrument. There are two ways: from the old nut or to the instrument, to order.

There are also a number of materials. I usually use off-white melamine or camel bone.

I have only worked on one 4005 (a '67). A stock RIC nut fit nicely.

From Kenny Howes at RIC:

The 03301 should fit fine; it may need to be filed down on either side (these are "blanks" and need a bit of sculpting regardless of what Ric bass they're headed towards, including the string height). Shouldn't be a problem.

I ordered two just to give them a try. I'm curious to see if they are actually made of Bakelite. Seems to me that Bakelite would not be a very good nut material, but maybe the description is a bit off as these things often are.

Oh, they're Bakelite, all right. Phenolic (Bakelite is a trade name). And they are harder than melamine, but softer than either brass or bone.

Installed the nut yesterday and, well, it's not the real deal. The width (top to bottom) is narrower than the original 4005 nut and the notches, though spaced correctly, are wider and deeper enough to make some fret buzz on the G and D strings.

Looks as though it's time to contact Graph-Tech.

jingle_jangle wrote: There are two ways: from the old nut or to the instrument, to order.

Don't like to usually quote myself, but these were machine-routed, but hand-final-shaped necks, and my experience is that the only way to get one right is as I've described above, as there's just enough variance to give you grief.

I don't see how Graph-tech could help...I'd have this done by a luthier with the bass in-hand and give him the proper material, if you don't have the original nut.

jingle_jangle wrote:I don't see how Graph-tech could help...I'd have this done by a luthier with the bass in-hand and give him the proper material, if you don't have the original nut.

I figured I would get a chunk of material from Graph-Tech and then shape it to fit.

Where can one purchase phenolic resin as would be used for a Rickenbacker nut?

Bakelite can be bought from many online plastics suppliers, and local folks, too.

Micarta is also a phenolic resin, and Stew-Mac sells blanks:

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Nuts,_saddl ... _Nuts.html

I wonder how well Wooly Mammoth Tusk would work?

That sort of thing is pretty. I often use camel bone--picked up a supply from China; I understand the mammoth comes from Russia?

This came from Alaska. A guy I know up there (I think "Native Alaskan" is the PC name now, he calls himself an Eskimo) collects it from beaches and the tundra as it shows during thaws.
He gave me a couple lbs of the stuff.