Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I posted on official Ric forums already so I might as well try here too.

My Ric truss rods recently got rethreaded, but neck still doesn't want to stay straight. No matter how hard I try to adjust the neck it just doesn't want to have zero relief, the neck bows out near the headstock more than anything(higher action). Since the rods have to be inserted in a odd angle I would assume that is what is causing the bending, is there a way to insert the rods without having them get bent up so much during the process or thats just not possible? Some others on Talkbass suggested it was a developed bow in the neck itself so it might have to be handed off to a luthier for heat treatment.

So what would you experts suggest on here?

One more thing, would I have to A) insert rods, tune to pitch then adjust rod tension (B) insert rods, adjust rod tenstion, then tune to pitch?

GIn, are you reinserting the rods with the curve towards the fingerboard (frown)? That's how they should go in. Make sure each has an even, gradual curve. I give them a little extra before reinserting them and I make sure they each have the same amount of curve. Put a thing cotton cloth over your headstock before inserting the rods.

After you have the rods in, slightly snug the nuts on the rods up to the plate. After you get the nuts on and just touching the plate, give them each one full turn, then tune up your bass, then do the adjustment. then proceed. I'm assuming that since you knew how to take out the rods, that you also know the proper way to do the adjustment by holding the neck in position as you tighten the nuts.

don't over tighten those nuts. you may break the rod, strip the threads or worse pop the fretboard at the first couple of frets...not good. you'll see lots of basses for sale with this tell tale crack near the nut.

Only use a 1/4" nut driver to tighten up the truss rod nuts.

THe curve is away from the fretboard , its pushing against the back of the neck if that description helps.


Hope these pictures help.. so this is what theyre supposed to look like right?

sniff...sniff...reminds me of my first '73 jetglo rick (before i put it thru the band saw)

Like this one?

OUCH!!!!

nope ! that looks like another work of a disgruntled girlfriend ! i had cut the wings off perfectly to add super concentrated birdseye maple wings in the 4001s style . only problem was i cut the bass before i put the birdseye lumber thru the floor planer at school. there was so much birdseye and burl that the lumber exploded spewing out chards of chunked maple. so i threw everything in the dumpster including the rick minus hardware ! but,hey jeff...youse got a pic of me at school carving out the neck laminated p-bass in wood shop. hint...hint. (basses of bad ronbo ?) also pics of the p-bass in jetglo ?

GIn_Y wrote:THe curve is away from the fretboard , its pushing against the back of the neck if that description helps.

Sounds like you need to flip them over (see Vasco's comment).

BAD RONBO, KiLLeR DWaRfS wrote:but,hey jeff...youse got a pic of me at school carving out the neck laminated p-bass in wood shop. hint...hint. (basses of bad ronbo

I looked through you pics but see none of you in shop!

kennyhowes wrote:

GIn_Y wrote:THe curve is away from the fretboard , its pushing against the back of the neck if that description helps.

Sounds like you need to flip them over (see Vasco's comment).

+1

Also, they don't seem to have much bend, but maybe it's just the angle of the picture.

Alright I just did everything Joey posted, no luck, the neck is still the same as it was before, I did adjustments after the strings were put on as well. I checked the neck for any developed bowing before the rods were put in, and it was dead straight. When I inserted the rods I made sure they were curved towards the fretboard perhaps I didn't curve it enough I dunno. I never dreamed a Ric could be this difficult to work with... Im about to pull out my hair.

I don't know if this picture will help at all...

Gin, do you have a long straight-edge tool available, like a yard- or meter-stick, or a carpenter's square? I'm curious about how straight the neck is without the rods in there. This might help to tell us whether a heat-clamp treatment by a luthier might be needed.

Yeah I should have one around the house, but its 2am here right now, so Ill get around to it later today.