Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I experienced an unusual vibration on the open G on my new 4003, plus it seemed like there was very little sustain on it compared with the other strings. I was dreading the thought of having bought a new bass with a dead spot so I did a bit of web searching and found someone had listed a posting detailing a very similar problem. Someone had replied to the posting stating that it was a nut issue and in all likelihood the slot was too small for the string.

Surely enough, the slot on the G string hadn't been cut wide enough, a quick modification with a small file and the problem was solved! I tried all the other strings and the D string also needed widening slightly.

Not very good to have to do this on such an expensive bass!

This has led me to wonder whether the grooves in the nut have been made deep enough as well, as the strings seem quite high at the nut, can anyone advise on whether there is a specific measurement for this?

RIC (correctly) errs on too high a nut slot height vs. too low as it is easier to file it lower than to try and make it higher. Environmental changes/differences and player preferences are variables that have to be taken into account so setting up a new instrument is something that needs/should be done by the end user (or his/her tech) to optimize the playability of the instrument. I feel that anyone who plays a stringed instrument should learn how to do basic setup adjustments and in which order they should be done; it is surprising how many people do not get this.

jps wrote:RIC (correctly) errs on too high a nut slot height vs. too low as it is easier to file it lower than to try and make it higher. Environmental changes/differences and player preferences are variables that have to be taken into account so setting up a new instrument is something that needs/should be done by the end user (or his/her tech) to optimize the playability of the instrument. I feel that anyone who plays a stringed instrument should learn how to do basic setup adjustments and in which order they should be done; it is surprising how many people do not get this.

I agree, all guitars and basses come with a general set up as everyone's set up preferences are different, but having not made the slot wide enough for the string to pass through is a manufacturing error and should have been picked up by Ric's Quality Control and corrected before it left the factory. This type of thing is not an end user set up adjustment, it is an error correction.

Baker69 wrote:I agree, all guitars and basses come with a general set up as everyone's set up preferences are different, but having not made the slot wide enough for the string to pass through is a manufacturing error and should have been picked up by Ric's Quality Control and corrected before it left the factory. This type of thing is not an end user set up adjustment, it is an error correction.

Well, that is something you'll need to take up with RIC.

Me? I just grab my tools and get whatever instrument I bought set up to my desires.

jps wrote:

Baker69 wrote:I agree, all guitars and basses come with a general set up as everyone's set up preferences are different, but having not made the slot wide enough for the string to pass through is a manufacturing error and should have been picked up by Ric's Quality Control and corrected before it left the factory. This type of thing is not an end user set up adjustment, it is an error correction.

Well, that is something you'll need to take up with RIC.

Me? I just grab my tools and get whatever instrument I bought set up to my desires.

I don't mind doing the work on it and it really didn't take long to do, much easier than the hassle of having to take it to a Ric dealer etc etc.

I've still got to do a proper set up on it, will do it over the Christmas break while I'm off work, I know the neck needs slight adjustment for a start. While I'm at it I'll take the bridge apart and correct the mute issue!