Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hi,

I am the proud owner of a 4001C64 MG I got last year. I was playing a friend's Music Man Sabre last week and couldn't help but notice how the action on his bass was so low. It motivated me to take a look at the action on my Ric.

For reference, when I got my C64 bass, I installed TI Jazz Flats on them. I love the sound and the slinkiness of these strings.

Anyway, when I recently got back around to checking the setup on my bass, I made sure that the neck is absolutely flat as possible via the truss rod adjustment. Followed the notes on these pages for that. The funny thing is that the truss rod on the G string side is fully slacked off yet there is still very very slight convex (but like I said, it's *almost* flat). So, as you'd expect, I'm getting buzzing between frets 1-5 or so on the G string and thus I have to jack the bridge up higher than I'd like. I'm really trying to get just a hint or relief in the neck to allow me to get the bridge (and obviously the action) lower around the 12th fret. But it seems I'm maxed out "in the other direction" (i.e., truss rod adjustment can't get any more slacked) and I can't get any more (slight as I need it) relief in the neck on the G side. Right now it's at 5/32" between the G string and 12th and I'm trying to get it down to 1/16" (1.6mm) as per John Hall's figure I got from the Ric forum. Heck, I'll even settle for 3/32" at this point...

I'd like to think I am doing something wrong and that you guys can set my straight (so to speak). But I am also seeing threads about some 4001C64s being dogs wrt setup and some not. Does anyone think the TI Jazz Flats are so low tension to be causing this problem? Or is this a problem with my bass (truss rods, etc.)?

Please advise.

Thanks,
Chris

I'm sorry but I don't exactly understand what's going on. Basically you have taken all the tension off of both truss rods and the bass STILL has backbow? You said the G-side rod was fully slackened, what about the E-side rod? You need to do it to both of them all the way, and let your bass develop relief, and then adjust them slowly to where the neck is dead flat.

If they really are both totally slackened then you probably need to switch from TIs to another kind of flatwound; try LaBella Deep Talkin' Flats, they'll definitely give your bass some relief if the rods are both slackened like you say. Then you can use the rods to get the neck dead flat, and set the bridge as low as possible.

After an adjustment period of a few months to a year (I assume this bass is new) you may be able to go back to TIs. But you may also find like I have that high-tension strings and low action is a really, really awesome combination.

With my 4003s, I am able to get around 1/16'' action on all strings at the end of the fingerboard ("21st fret", measuring from wood to string) by keeping the neck nearly straight and lowering the bridge as much as possible on both sides. It's actually noticeably lower than the factory setup, and I don't have fret buzz issues due to the high tension of the strings. If you can achieve this on your bass that will be great because the action will be fairly uniform across the entire neck. Hang in there, and also be aware that if the bass is new you should really just like RIC take care of it under warranty.

cassius987 wrote:With my 4003s, I am able to get around 1/16'' action on all strings at the end of the fingerboard ("21st fret", measuring from wood to string) by keeping the neck nearly straight and lowering the bridge as much as possible on both sides.

My bad! I meant 1/8''. My memory failed me. I actually have 1/8'' action (measuring from the wood not the fret) across pretty much the entire neck except right up by the nut where it becomes around 1/16''.

OK, I will try a different set and see what happens.

Thanks.

I have a 06 C64, had the same problem at first , finally it took shaveing the nut down to get the action for me at an acceptable playing hieght . getting ready to put a hipshot replacement bridge put on her too , They are a much better bridge than the stock bridges IMO..

I think I have a little bit of the same problem you do. I was getting some fret buzz from the first thru the third fret with a set of light guage round wounds that have low tension. (open strings were OK) So, I just re-strung my '89 4003s with medium guage (103-45) GHS Brite Flats. They have higher tension and a nice "thump" to them compared with the rounds and the problem with buzz went away. I dropped the bridge down a bit and it now plays great with fairly low action.