Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

So I need some truss rods and nuts and whatnot for the "not quite S" bass... an early 80's 4003 with adjustment at the body. Where can I get these? Do I just buy current ones and flip'm around?

Y'know, backwards?

*fzwip fwip zwip*

?backwards, Y'know

?around m'flip and ones current buy just I Do ?these get I can Where. body the at adjustment with 4003 80's early an... bass "S quite not" the for notwhat and nuts and rods truss some need I So

I think the early '80s 4003 model had the old-style "hairpin" rods, not the current style. They had the adjustment nuts at the body end, but they were still the 4001 rods. And I think that makes a difference in how the slots are cut into the neck and way the fingerboard works with it. Ted Staberow can tell more (if he would show up here more often), so it might be worth a careful read of the Anatomy series piece he did a while back:

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=387829

Yes, the early 4003 models with the adjustment at the body end used the old style "folded" rods. Paul is right in that the construction of the neck is different too, so you can't use the new style rods.

So, you'll have to find someone who can make them. I seem to remember that Paul W. either can make these or knows someone who can...

I've got a spare set if you want.

pm rec'd/sent

Thanks Ilan!

ilan wrote:I've got a spare set if you want.

Are these the ones I helped you get all those years ago?

I think so, yes. but I ended up fixing the rods in my '73 instead of replacing them.

look at the body cavity where the rods go in. You will need a larger longer piece of aluminum to hold them in. The early 4003 basses that I have had (up to 85) had the old style rods with a long piece of metal as the bracket. You will also find that some of those have that bracket in 2 pieces....that means someone torqued too much and broke it...85 and into 86 had them in the wood in their own separate channels....

Thanks for chiming in, everyone.

So, will Ilan's rods work in my bass?

jdogric12 wrote:Thanks for chiming in, everyone.

So, will Ilan's rods work in my bass?

should as long as you have the correct metal bar to adjust them against.

Hi there guys, im new to the forum, i just rescued a '83 4003 and i have the same problem, where can i buy a set of the old style truss rods with the adjustment and the body?
I will post pictures of the bass if anyone is interested

skiscem wrote:Hi there guys, im new to the forum, i just rescued a '83 4003 and i have the same problem, where can i buy a set of the old style truss rods with the adjustment and the body?
I will post pictures of the bass if anyone is interested

Welcome Alejandro! What is wrong with the rods you have now? They are repairable.

johnallg wrote:

skiscem wrote:Hi there guys, im new to the forum, i just rescued a '83 4003 and i have the same problem, where can i buy a set of the old style truss rods with the adjustment and the body?
I will post pictures of the bass if anyone is interested

Welcome Alejandro! What is wrong with the rods you have now? They are repairable.

Well, the aluminum stopper is broken in half, i managed to push them back inside the neck, but i havent stringed it yet, i will post pictures later.

If the rods are okay and the threads good, just make a new aluminum block. There are threads on that here.