Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I just took my brand new Ric to the shop I bought it from last week, to help me widen the nut slots for some new GHS Precision flat wound strings I wanted to try out (Thanks for the recommendation Ronn). Both the A and D strings were a bit wider than the stock Ric string set. The shop owner started to complain that Ric truss rods are very difficult to adjust on these newer models compared to older ones. The problem is that there's not enough clearance to fit the standard truss rod wrench over them, because there's too much wood underneath. What's the deal? Is there a special tool or does the cavity need to shaved out a bit? Love the bass, but didn't realize it was so tricky. What's the fix?

All you need is a (screw) driver with a 1/4" socket on the end of it. Works like a charm on the rods of my 4001S GC Special and 4001v63.

Think I paid $8.00 for mine.

TD

Ok, thanks for the tip. I'll let them know. He was using the little socket type with the handle at a right angle.

Ok, so it's the socket itself that's the problem... It's that there's not enough room to fit the socket over then end of the truss rod nut, due to the fact that there's too much wood close to the end of the truss rod, so the socket cannot fit over the end near the bottom. We got around it by using a small crescent wrench, but still.

The easy way to do it is buy the correct truss rod tool and gently tap the end with a light hammer, as i said very gently that is enough for the tool to slide over the nuts, you are correct though Rickenbacker should leave enough space to slide the tool over the adjustment nuts, i have had this on all my new 4003's should be checked before leaving the factory !!!! as there is always the possibility of causing damage and the most delicate part of the bass.

Mikey ......The shop you chose is a big fat whiney baby. A good tech always figures out how to do his JOB without complaining about how hard it is to the customer. Although a little bragging about solving a difficult problem is okay...

Take your pick:

http://www.stewmac.com/SiteSearch/truss ... rench.html

cheyenne wrote:Take your pick:

http://www.stewmac.com/SiteSearch/truss ... rench.html

Had the right wrenches shown in the stew mac link. They just wouldn't fit over the end as I described earlier. It's not the type of wrench, it's the clearance underneath makes it difficult to fit over the top. It's not the case with older Rickenbackers. There's enough room to slip the wrench over the ends. He's noticed quite a difference on the new ones. Thanks for the tips in any case.

I have a similar issue with my new 4003S. I agree too, that more of a gap should be left. Here was Mr. Hall's suggestion from the RIC Forum. Check out this link:

http://www.rickenbacker.com/forum/viewt ... =2&t=16021

rick360man wrote:I have a similar issue with my new 4003S. I agree too, that more of a gap should be left. Here was Mr. Hall's suggestion from the RIC Forum. Check out this link:

http://www.rickenbacker.com/forum/viewt ... =2&t=16021

Thanks for the info. I'll pass it along.