Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

As I have mentioned in a previous thread, I"ve strung my Ric 4003 with new D'Addrios but in a lighter gauge (the E string is only 100, opposed to the 105 that was on before). I think something may need adjusting because of this - do I need to adjust the string height or truss-road? If it is the truss rod, how does one go about doing this and by how much should I adjust it?

It is mainly on the E string where there is too much vibration and the notes are not defined enough!

Thanks!

Sebastian: Before you go ahead making adjustments, can you live with the gauge that was on the instrument previously? If 105 still works for you it may be easier to go back to it.

I agree with Peter's recommendation. I tried a lighter set of strings on my 4001 and I had exactly the same problem that you are experiencing Sebastian. I switched back and my E string has definition and a nice growly thump again.

If the lighter strings exert less tension, then the neck may back bow,assuming it was set dead straight;my used 4003 AFG came with a lighter set of flats, and it was prone to buzzing and poor tone.The neck had backbowed a bit, and was an easy adjustment.

I put DR Sunbeam 40-60-80-100 strings on my 1975 4001 recently and I was getting poor tone, too much fret buzz, and lots of clacking noise when playing with fingers (strings hitting the frets). The strings just didn't sound as sweet as I'd expected (after using DR High-Beams of the same guage which I really liked) and I was considering taking them off and trying something else. The E string especially sounded bad. I usually have the neck just about flat and a lowish action but these low tension strings may have caused a slight back bow. It's hard to tell because of uneven fret wear up and down the neck. But after loosening the truss rod nuts a quarter turn it plays great now and the tone is so much better, especially the E string which now seems to resonate much better and sounds much more powerful than before. And I only get fret buzz and the clacking sound if I really dig in hard, which is as I like it as I play with a reasonably soft touch. I was surprised at the big difference a slight adjustment of the rods made.

antonius wrote:I was surprised at the big difference a slight adjustment of the rods made.

In pretty much all of these cases, doing exactly what you did should fix any of these standard issues when switching to a smaller gauge of a similarly-constructed string.

My Jazz bass neck had been rock steady for years, but on installing a lighter ga. set it needed adjustment within just a few days.And that's a lot more complicated fix as the adjuster's on the body side.
The Rics I have are all quite easy to adjust.Just follow the factory manual.

faceman wrote:As I have mentioned in a previous thread, I"ve strung my Ric 4003 with new D'Addrios but in a lighter gauge (the E string is only 100, opposed to the 105 that was on before). I think something may need adjusting because of this - do I need to adjust the string height or truss-road? If it is the truss rod, how does one go about doing this and by how much should I adjust it?

It is mainly on the E string where there is too much vibration and the notes are not defined enough!

Thanks!

First alternately hold the E string down, then the g string down with both hands, one on the first fret and one at the last fret, you should have a slight space in the middle somewhere near the 12th fret do not put any pressure on the neck itself, in other words don't bend it at all, if the string touches all along the length of the neck it needs to be loosened a little bit. Take off the TRC and use a 1/4" nutdriver and loosen the truss rods a little bit and see if that helps, only turn them counterclockwise looking from above maybe an 1/8 to a 1/4 of a turn, very easy to do, then check, etc.. I used D'addario Blue steels (I think, they were cryogenically treated) in that gauge for several years, they are light. When I adjust a neck I leave the Truss Rod Cover off for several days and let the neck settle in, it may need to be adjusted more than once. Everyone should know how to do it.