Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

My 4003 doesn't have neck dive, and I have ultralight tuners, but it still sits with the headstock/neck leaning down further than I would like.
t is fine, but would be even better if I could get it to sit with the neck/headstock higher without having to prop my right arm on the upper bout to get it tilted up as far as I would like (headstock at my head height).

So body down more, headstock up more.

Any tips or advice?

Adjust the strap? I recall that it balanced pretty neutral for me. If I move the pad on the strap more toward the neck, then placed the pad comfortably on by left shoulder, it would stay neck high for me.

It seems to migrate tilt back down to headstock at my shoulder level again.
I do use a 2" nylon strap though.

What strap do you use?

I have this old one from, wow, maybe back in the '70s? It has a sliding pad on the leather strap. The pad is fleece lined on the body side.

Is that you a Slappin-n-Poppin' on da' bass?

I have heard of people using weights, including hanging them off the bottom strap hook.
Surprisingly it takes very little weight to move the balance point.

Have you tried a strap with good grip like the Comfort Strap?
It's like neoprene and a little stretchy. It allows you to just move the bass where you want it, then it just
stays put and doesn't slide back down.

Good luck,
Dirk

jps wrote:Is that you a Slappin-n-Poppin' on da' bass?

PB%26SGweb.jpg

Ah . . . sure. Yes. Yes, that is me. Um hm. Yep.

Add some weight to the rear strap button area. First find something like a metal-case tape measure with a belt clip and attach it to the strap near the rear button. Don't worry about the added weight, you'll hardly notice it.

Got a Comfort Strapp. Thanks for the advice everyone.

Four months later...

A simple fix that requires no special purchases or mods. Just works:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rl4dPzJ42iA

Hmm. That would also help hold up my pants!

ilan wrote:Add some weight to the rear strap button area. First find something like a metal-case tape measure with a belt clip and attach it to the strap near the rear button. Don't worry about the added weight, you'll hardly notice it.

Or, add a Brass Hipshot Rickenbacker replacement, they weigh about twice or three times what a standard bridge does.

thx1955 wrote:

ilan wrote:Add some weight to the rear strap button area. First find something like a metal-case tape measure with a belt clip and attach it to the strap near the rear button. Don't worry about the added weight, you'll hardly notice it.

Or, add a Brass Hipshot Rickenbacker replacement, they weigh about twice or three times what a standard bridge does.

Reminds me of the brass control plate on the back of my Alembic. Holy-poo does it add weight!

I'll do a quick weigh in, I've currently got

1: An original 73- Cast Aluminium Split Bridge

2: A Black, Brass Hipshot Ric Replacement

3: A Chrome Hipshot Ric replacement (Aluminium I think)

4: And a shiny brand new 2020 next generation Ric Bridge

My guess is going to be 2-3-4-1

Answers shortly

I'd be interested in those weights if you ever got round to weighing them ...