Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I've been struggling getting my 3000 set out to sound "right". Maybe just the wrong brand of strings, but the other 3 strings sound great...so I suspect a problem.

They are GHS Bass Boomers, light (.095" on E-string).

Since I have installed them, the E-string literally sounds flat in pitch everyplace, even thought the my tuner says is spot on all up and down the neck. Sounds flat by about a 1/4 step. No brightness to the tone either.

I've looked things over pretty carefully, and don't see any obvious issues with the nut, the bridge, or basic set up. Even raised and lowered the bridge with no obvious changes.

Moving the pickup up or down has had no effect either.

One odd thing I have noticed is that the pickup is sensitive to my thumb resting on the slightly textured surface, and will replicate the slight "squeak" of my thumb moving on the surface.

Does this point to a pickup problem?

Does your tuner have a built in microphone to see if the pitch at the speaker is the same as the pitch when you plug your tuner directly into the bass? Sometimes distortion can make pitch seem off.

Not the amp....you can tell when the bass is unplugged, it is that flat sounding. Now that I think about that, it ain't the pickup atleast!

I'll pull the bridge out and have a closer look at the saddle and how it mounts on the screw.

Also make sure the string is not twisted down its length. From the nut to the bridge saddle, have no twists to the string. It won't vibrate correctly and cause all sorts of problems, some like you're describing.

Sounds like the Nut, check where the string is actually sitting in the nut, if it's sat at the back you'll have a longer string length and consequently no fret in tune, also the string vibration will be restricted as it bounces on the nut walls making it sound dead. Make sure the nut has it's peak right on the front, you'll have to adjust the intonation at the bridge once corrected.

Thanks....these are the kind of hints I was looking for. I should have some time tonight to have yet another look!

If I find nothing, I'll have to order some new strings. Bummer that no local shops carry short scale strings here.

Loosen the string and make sure there is no kink in it causing a "false beat".

Is the pickup too close to the strings?

No, the PU is not too high, but I did try lowering it with no effect. Didn't have any time last night after all, which was a real bummer.

RickyBubba wrote:ISince I have installed them, the E-string literally sounds flat in pitch everyplace, even thought the my tuner says is spot on all up and down the neck. Sounds flat by about a 1/4 step. No brightness to the tone either.

If you've followed all given advice so far and nothing has helped, you probably got a bad string.

Finally made some time last night and loosened the strings up, and had a good look over the nut.

In the E-string cut out, it appears somebody has come along with a triangular file and put a lame notch down in the bottom, likely to lower the action.

They did a really poor job, and only removed a half of a V on one side of the bottom of the valley....so the string now sits down half in the valley, and half in the old rounded notch. Looks like boo.

At first I thought it was a crack. A couple other strings notches looked slightly boogered up, so time to replace the nut.

So....will a stock 4003 nut do the job, or do I have to get one made up? Good time to go brass?

In the mean time I'll do a careful fill of the cut out on the E-string with some JB Weld, and re-file a more proper shape just to verify my theory.

Assuming this is the factory original nut, does Rick use a glue that will be easy to knock off?

I once had a short scale Fender Musicmaster that also had a bad sounding E string when I bought it. It just didn't sound like it was in tune. I bought a new set of short scale strings and the problem disappeared, so I think it it was just a bad E string.

Yes, it appears to be time for a new nut. Yes, it should be easy to replace by a qualified luthier. Yes, it's probably time for a new set of strings as well.

Strings are new, and I have replaced nuts on "lesser" basses, so I'm probably upto the job. My luthier is out of commission at the moment....

Will a 4003 nut work?

Is the 300's neck width the same as a 4003?
Bass nut is available at the company store.Black or white.