Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

my 4000 is showing it's age,and as i suspected,my frets are pretty much gone (even the upper range!). my luthier said i should do a complete refret,and the nut is also level with the fretboard,so that will be replaced as well. i have had a previous refret on my 4002,and we went with a heavier fret wire size,it worked very well i thought. the frets on the 4000 are practically banjo-like,very thin,and i think it might behoove me to go with a bit heavier wire. however,i would like to retain some of what makes this bass what it is,does anyone know what the wire size would have been on a 1974 4000? i found one old post here that mentioned refretting a 4001 with dunlop 6105 wire. my luthier is suggesting a 100 gauge "tall" wire,and of course,i have no clue as to whether this is a good thing,so what do ya'll think?

Woody, cross-post this in The Vibrola section so Paul W . (among others) will be sure to see it.

Dont panic Woody.
I once refretted a 4000 with wire more like the current Rickenbacker size. Dont fret (pun intended) it will still sound like a 4000...
Eden.

I prefer the jumbo frets on my late 80's Ricks. It lasts longer and keeps the string off the fretboard.