Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Just bought this 83 4003. I took it apart for cleaning and found the truss rods like this. What happened and can I fix it?

Yep...That's how RIC did the truss rod thrust plate at the body end on the early 4003's. I think it looks like s***, so I'd have someone make a one piece thrust plate for it.

Refer to page 63 in Paul Boyers awesome "The Rickenbacker Electric 50 years as rocks bottom".
Great photo to refer to.

I got it. Thanks for the photo suggestion in Mr Boyer's book. I see these are the old "hairpin" rods. Yes, it's an ugly looking system. Thanks guys.

VRICKY63 wrote:I got it. Thanks for the photo suggestion in Mr Boyer's book. I see these are the old "hairpin" rods. Yes, it's an ugly looking system. Thanks guys.

Will the newer 4003 rods fit in this bass?

They will fit, but they will not work. Thay must be in a curved channel, and the old style are in a straight one.

Hairpins work just as well as compression rods. You just have to know the correct way to adjust them.

ilan wrote:Hairpins work just as well as compression rods. You just have to know the correct way to adjust them.

But not if they are installed in the wrong model. Take Dana's advice here. Besides, there is no bearing surface for the acorn nuts of the new-style rods to anchor to on the 4001.

I think I was misunderstood. I was referring to the question "Will the newer 4003 rods fit in this bass?" - even if newer rods were functional in a pre-86 bass (and of course they are not), they are not better than the hairpins.

bassduke49 wrote: Take Dana's advice here. Besides, there is no bearing surface for the acorn nuts of the new-style rods to anchor to on the 4001.

Who's Dana?....

aceonbass wrote:Who's Dana?....

Does Dorothy know about Dana, Paul?

bassduke49 wrote:But not if they are installed in the wrong model. Take Dana's advice here. Besides, there is no bearing surface for the acorn nuts of the new-style rods to anchor to on the 4001.

I think it's clear what he meant to say was that the old system works just as well as the new system when maintained properly. Hence, no reason for Rick to worry about having a bass with the old system.

aceonbass wrote:

bassduke49 wrote: Take Dana's advice here. Besides, there is no bearing surface for the acorn nuts of the new-style rods to anchor to on the 4001.

Who's Dana?....

Damn. I did it again. I have another expert friend named Dana Bell and my fingers are faster than my thought processes. Sorry, Dane, and sorry, Dana. So if anyone needs to know about the paint colors used on the interior surfaces of the Vought F4U-1 Corsair back in the '40s, Dana can set you straight. Let's stick with Dane on the musical instruments!

basmansam wrote:Refer to page 63 in Paul Boyers awesome "The Rickenbacker Electric 50 years as rocks bottom".
Great photo to refer to.

Huh, photo, Page 63... Oh yeah, THAT photo...


When I first took the TRC off of that bass, it looked SO different from what I was used to with my previous 4001 basses, I almost wondered if I had somehow bought a fake. That was LONG before the book (obviously)...

bassduke49 wrote:

aceonbass wrote:

bassduke49 wrote: Take Dana's advice here. Besides, there is no bearing surface for the acorn nuts of the new-style rods to anchor to on the 4001.

Who's Dana?....

Damn. I did it again. I have another expert friend named Dana Bell and my fingers are faster than my thought processes. Sorry, Dane, and sorry, Dana. So if anyone needs to know about the paint colors used on the interior surfaces of the Vought F4U-1 Corsair back in the '40s, Dana can set you straight. Let's stick with Dane on the musical instruments!

The Vought, Brewster, or Goodyear? Ours (Military Aviation Museum) is an FG-1D