Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hey Paul, I noticed with my 4003 that when I grab the horn and pull slightly one way and push the neck in the opposite with equal pressure, I hear a small popping noise. Is that bad?

If I flex the neck on my 4001C64S, I always hear a slight "click" sound... very slight... nowhere near what I'd call a "pop"!

It used to worry me, until I figured out that it was the pickguard rubbing against the end of the fingerboard.

Maybe yours is doing the same?

I think that's unlikely to be a real problem. Are you using round wound strings? I suspect that a string is rubbing on a saddle or on the nut as the flexing that you are doing is changing the scale length ever so slightly. The pickguard situation mentioned above is another possibility. Whatever it is, chances are that it's non-structural.

ok thanks it sounds like its coming from where the neck meets the body, but I cant really tell what is making the noise. I wont trip on it unless it becomes a problem (like godforbid it breaks!)