Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hey Rick flat wound users!

Last night I finally got around to stringing up my 4001V63 with an NOS set of Rickenbacker flat wound strings, and I think I might have a problem (unless they're all like this!) My E string doesn't sustain like the rest of them. It is as loud as the rest, it just kinda sounds muted. It doesn't sound bad, it just sounds noticeable different from the rest.

Did I get a dead one?

That's possible- or you might need a tweak of the truss rods.

I'm there are people with experience like this...and how to tell.

I remember the E string being weird for the Rickenbacker flats that came in the red box with purple silk back in the early 1980s. I tried 2 boxes and then gave up on them. This and my gradual dislike of flats made me move on to ground wounds and rounds. I still have a used set and box from back then. I should give them a go once again to check this out for once and for all...

I had the same problem with a Ric flatwound set a while back..
The E was a dud.. A, D and G were fine..

Thanks, guys. I have another set that I could grab the E string out of, but I wanted to hear from others who have used the strings before I tear into another pack of NOS 30+ year old strings.

I like them otherwise (even though I'm a tried and true round wound guy) but the E (on this set anyway) definitely doesn't sound the same as the other three.

Okay, so I played the bass again a bit last night and oddly enough, the problem seems to have worked itself out. Maybe not all the way, but almost all the way.

I guess my e-string wasn't "dead," but was merely... "hibernating" from 30+ years of inactivity?

Wow, thats good news Jeff..
Makes me want to try my dud E again.. Im glad I never throw anything away

was/is the ball at the end of the string fully engaged???

Contact Jason at bassstringsonline.com , tell him you are a RR member, and ask him for a recommendation of a single string to replace the dead string.

These…

I've put these on my new 4003s. I am very impressed. They've been on for a couple of weeks and I've been playing the heck out of them. They break in nicely and feel great. Nice low tension and very responsive. No problems with the 4th string. As a matter of fact, my 1st (G) string sounded weak with the stock strings and a simple change of strings made a difference.

http://www.amazon.com/Ernie-Ball-2814-S ... +flatwound

Vintage Maxima strings can be funny.
They sometimes need to be tuned to pitch and
played a while before the E (and sometimes any other...) will
even out with the rest.

I think there might have been a production run like this, though I have short scales that do this as well.

That being said, I've also had Maxima E's that are bright and sing.

Luck of the draw.

bassman4001 wrote:These…

I've put these on my new 4003s. I am very impressed. They've been on for a couple of weeks and I've been playing the heck out of them. They break in nicely and feel great. Nice low tension and very responsive. No problems with the 4th string. As a matter of fact, my 1st (G) string sounded weak with the stock strings and a simple change of strings made a difference.

http://www.amazon.com/Ernie-Ball-2814-S ... +flatwound

Thanks Larry, I'm wondering how these compare to TI Jazz Flats. I used to put those on one of my v63s, and I really liked them, but I don't remember having to pay $78 a set.

I'm seriously considering putting flats on my 4003S when it comes in...

Ernie Ball flats (the regular ones - not the new cobalt flats) are underestimated strings. They have good feel, stability and longetivity, and their tone has a subdued growl that I think fits well with a Rickenbacker bass. They don't have the top end zing that new D'Addario Chromes have. OTOH, they are not as hollow or mellow as T-I's or Optimas, nor as neutral as La Bellas.

I would get them as singles in "original" gauges from bassstringsonline: 40-55-75-100, to closely match what would have been the OEM gauges way back when.

iiipopes wrote:I would get them as singles in "original" gauges from bassstringsonline: 40-55-75-100, to closely match what would have been the OEM gauges way back when.

I have to agree that staying as close as possible to the RIC specs makes my 4001 and 4004 play better. Of course, we're all obviously different!

squirebass wrote:

bassman4001 wrote:These…

I've put these on my new 4003s. I am very impressed. They've been on for a couple of weeks and I've been playing the heck out of them. They break in nicely and feel great. Nice low tension and very responsive. No problems with the 4th string. As a matter of fact, my 1st (G) string sounded weak with the stock strings and a simple change of strings made a difference.

http://www.amazon.com/Ernie-Ball-2814-S ... +flatwound

Thanks Larry, I'm wondering how these compare to TI Jazz Flats. I used to put those on one of my v63s, and I really liked them, but I don't remember having to pay $78 a set.

I'm seriously considering putting flats on my 4003S when it comes in...

They are more of a different animal in a sense. The more they break in, the more I like them. Compared to the TI's, they have more brightness and have a nice smooth bass sound like the TI's. They're very similar to D'addario Half Rounds but better. Plus the machine ends are purple, so it's a bit different look vs. the red of a TI.