Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

So, I started messing around a bit under the TRC of my 1981 4000. I managed to get the truss rod nuts and the thrust bar off the bass. The truss rods were then loose, sliding back and forth in their channels...forgive me if I sound asinine. I've never done this before...I got those parts off, but wasn't able to get the truss rods completely out. I tried to reassemble and the nuts went on about as far as they'd go, but now the nutdriver is flush against the back of the headstock. I can't get it on the other nut because there isn't enough clearance. The action is improved...a bit...but it's still not really playable. I read something in another thread about shortening the truss rods. What is the purpose of that and would that help my situation any? There also seems to be a slight gap in the neck joint. When the strings are at tension, there is some play in the joint. Would that take steaming and neck removal to reset it, or could I remove the stings, nudge the neck a bit to open the gap enough to inject some wood glue and clamp it down to strengthen the joint? I've got a line on a possibility of starting up with a new band and I really would love to get this bass in playing shape. Thanks for your help with this...

Paging Joey Vasco! I wouldn't touch it again until you get in touch with him. He's your man at this point.

Some pictures would help.

jdogric12 wrote:Paging Joey Vasco! I wouldn't touch it again until you get in touch with him. He's your man at this point.

+1 becareful even with clamping, thing can go aerie.

Some pictures would be helpful. I'm assuming this is a set neck 4000 and from your description, it sounds like the bond between the neck and the body is getting tired.
As long as the threads on the rods are fine, there's no reason to shorten the rods.
If you can't easily pull the rods out after getting the nuts and plate off, insert a steel rod into the truss rods channels of the body side of your 4000 and tap on it to get the rods moving towards the headstock. Once they are out enough to grab, you'll be pulling up a bit as you are pulling the rods out, so put a soft jawed clamp to hold the fingerboard together with the neck as you pull the rods out. Also lay a diaper cloth across the headstock as you pull the rods out so you don't tear into the finish. You'll be pulling up a bit as you are pulling the rods out. You can carefully straighten the threaded end of the truss rods by putting the nuts back on and using a pair of pliers.
Getting the rods out of my 4001FL. They came out without having to insert a steel rod at the body end of the channel:




Honestly though, if the neck joint is coming apart, I'd get advice from Paul W. or JH about fixing that first, before I did anything else. Even if you got your 4000 together, reasonably well to play even though the neck joint is coming apart, you won't want it completely coming apart at a gig or on the ay to one, especially if it's in a hot car this summer.
This happens sometimes with set neck instruments, including Gibson guitars. Once you have it fixed it should be fine for a very long time again. I'm always checking the neck joint of my '81 4001S. I know it had been through alot before I got it, but so far, so good.

Thanks. I'm posting from my phone now and don't have pics yet, but I'll add them ASAP. So does the entire joint have to be taken apart and redone to reset it? About how much does a repair like that cost? Thanks for the info.

pflash4001 wrote:Thanks. I'm posting from my phone now and don't have pics yet, but I'll add them ASAP. So does the entire joint have to be taken apart and redone to reset it? About how much does a repair like that cost? Thanks for the info.

Well, lets see some pics when you get a chance. If the neck joint is starting to come apart, I'd rather have it reset fr a long term fix rather than trying to spot fix the area that you can see separating for possibly a short term fix. I'm not sure, but don't think it would be a very costly repair. Get some quotes.

The truss rods moved pretty freely last night, so I don't think they're bent or deformed in any way. I kind of want to see if it's a possiblilty of doing this repair myself. What do you guys think? Is it possible or is it definitely a "send it to a specialist" kind of situation. I'm always up for learning how to do these kind of things. I'd prefer to have someone near me whom I could watch and learn with guidance, but that isn't possible for me here and now.

Sorry, my computer was down for a bit and I was unable to put up pics until just now. Here's a look at the gap in the neck and body. I was wondering how difficult it would be to steam and remove the neck and reset it or whether or not this is a case that should ONLY be handled by someone with more experience. As I understand it there will me no cutting or reshaping of any wood, only removing the old glue and resetting using new glue and clamping it until cured. Am I missing something? Like I said earlier, please excuse my ignorance. I've never done this before, but I REALLY would like to learn how it's done rather than just sending it off where I can't see what's happening. At the same time, I dont want to jack it up worse than it is and do something irreversible.

It is hard to tell from these photos, but it looks to me that the glue joint on the body is splitting. This could certainly add to the issue if the neck has moved.

So who's the guy for this and how do I get in touch with him or her?