Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

The '74 4001 I am considering purchasing, upon further examination, needs some truss rod work. I've read a lot of info on cutting the rods, which I might consider. Otherwise, is there someone currently producing replacement truss rods? Also, the bearing plate is really beat (bent, twisted, gouged, etc). Does anyone produce replacements? Thanks!

I would keep the original rods.... I assume the threads are trashed, based on your description of the plate....
When your cut the rods....try to match the lengths as accurately as possible...
Then use a die to make new threads.... I use to know the thread size, memory fading... someone can chip in ....
There are a few guys that make repro rods for the 4001... I only tried a few of them out and the results were as expected...They repro rods were made of a better grade, harder steel... This changed the resonance in the neck and right away the bass was brighter with more presence.... So this becomes subjective to what you like... Personally I prefer the tone of the softer steel of the original rods... You just need to take good care of your rods once you fix the bass and you should not have any problems... The aluminum plate can be machined very easily or re-use the original by flipping it over and using the oposite end up... I like to use a small steel washer under the truss rod nuts to better distribute the force and prevent gouging...Use just some small grease on the threads and washers to keep them from binding... Never adjust these truss rod nuts unless the neck is pulled back to relieve the tension off the nuts and bracket.. Always adjust both rods equally by alternating when tightening...else you may end up with what appears to be a straight neck but most of the tension will be on the upper rod under the E and A string...this results in the rods having greater differential tensions than normal...This is how those dead spots occur in certain notes... When the rods significantly differ in tension, they will have different NODES for thier respective standing waves, this will have a overall DESTRUCTIVE effect on certain wavelengths, thus causing the dreaded "dead spots" of certain frequencies...

Best Regards
Chris

mjohnstewart wrote:Otherwise, is there someone currently producing replacement truss rods?

Both Paul W. and Dale F. can make you old style rods.