Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hi, All

Having a truss rodd issue (I suppose) with the old faithful (and super sentimental) 4003.

I had the truss rods adjusted in January of 2008 by a reliable technician (that has worked on Ricks before), and the action then felt great. Slowly, however, the neck has begun to bow again and the action is now super-high at the 12th fret. What should I do?

...It's so odd because I saw a guy who had posted a simple (well... as simple as you can get) how-to about Rickenbacer basses and truss rod adjustment and the pictures he posted made it look like my bass was a 4001!!!!! I know this sounds STUPID but how can I tell exactly?! :/

HELP! (no pun intended ...well, maybe a little)

Warren.

(Seriously, help. I love this bass and I'm worried about her...)

OK, replying to my own post...

She's was born in April of 1999 (I could've just looked the serial number up first and saved myself the eye-rolls I must've gotten at not knowing the year of make, then thinking there was even a SLIM chance she was a 4001... what a dumb-***). Unless someone has a better suggestion (and I REALLY hope someone replies soon), I'm taking her back to my tech ASAP.

OH! One final question: I have heard a few people talk about how the 4003's made before the pull-knob in '05 have a slightly "weaker" sound, and some suggest a simple modification to correct this that involves a little rewiring and the addition of an extra toggle switch. Is this only in Very EARLY 4003'S, A.K.A '86 and before, or should it / could it be done to any Rick before the pull knob?

PLEASE someone answer!

Warren

As to the action, I would take off the TRC and see if the truss nuts are loose. If not, then look to see if the acorn nuts at the body end of the truss rod is moving into the wood of the neck. They should just be even with the end of the neck wood in the recess hole.

For the tone mod you are talking about, your year did not have the .0047uF cap in line with the treble pickup. The mod allows you to short out the cap and have more volume and bass from the bridge pickup.

Oh, and welcome to RRF!!