Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

A question for the RRF Genius Bar:

I noticed, as did another forumite, in the recent RIC Tour with JCH video that masking tape was being used by one of the factory techs while he was stringing a new RIC. How exactly does that work? What is the technique? I assume it makes the stringing process easier or more orderly but what exactly does he do once the tape is applied to the string set?

The tape keeps all the strings in place in their slots on the R tailpiece (so they don't fall out once the tailpiece is put in place), making it much easier to string up. Once the strings are tuned up the tape is just pulled off.

So the tape is also then applied to the R tailpiece after the strings are set into one part of the tape?

The way I do it (probably by RIC, too) is the lay the tailpiece on a table upside down, lay the strings into the slots, and then tape them in place. This way, you can flip the tailpiece over right side up and the strings will stay on the tailpiece so you can work at your leisure to put the strings on the tuning keys and tune up.

Aha, pretty slick. Thanks for the lesson!

That would not be possible if you re-string one-at-a-time, though - right?

Shouldn't you string one at a time to keep the right tension

John, if you had to replace only one string then it can get a bit tricky, you would probably be best off leaving the tailpiece in place and just get the string hooked into it's slot.

David, for the short time that the strings would be off there will be no harm to the neck. If you were to need to leave the strings off the instrument for a while, then the truss rods should be loosened.