Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

New member, hi.
I have a 2000 model 4003 with this issue, I've read through various old threads about it.
History of this bass, I purchased it from the original owner, it had been played a bit but never setup properly. Still had the factory strings! I sent it to a tech here in Melbourne who is experienced with Ricks and I've dealt with before. He did a fantastic job on another Rick I own, a 4003 modded with the hipshot bridge and tuners.
The bass needed the nut filed down and reset as it was far too high, neck adjusted, new strings and a good clean. Plays really well now. The issue with the E string seems to have developed slowly since the work was done. I had it setup for D standard tuning with regular gauge strings. The tech suggested going to a thicker gauge which I've done. This hasn't completely solved the issue.
The E string (or in this case D string) just seems weaker then the others, slightly lower volume but much less punch and sustain then the other 3 strings.
I am going to take it back and have it looked at again, can anyone suggest things I should have checked specifically?

Apologies for the broken english, typing on a phone
Thanks

ShaunStone wrote:Apologies for the broken english, typing on a phone
Thanks

That's much better than trying to talk into your typewriter..................

Welcome Shaun!

Is the problem with the string up and down the fretboard, just the lower frets (i.e. those near the nut) or just the open string?

If the problem exists for all frets, then it may be an issue with the string (dud strings are not as rare as we'd hope) or the saddle (the notch may be a little narrow); if it is only affecting the open string, then the nut slot is the likely culprit. If covers a small range of the board it may be that a much-dreaded dead spot has developed following the neck adjustment.

Sometimes dead spots can be adjusted out by tweaking the truss rods. I didn't believe this was possible until it was done for one of my Rickenbackers (this did actually involve a pretty big adjustment - the rods were replaced, but I have heard of other less drastic adjustments). I'm not sure it's a foolproof solution for every occasion, however.