Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

So I've really taken to the .040 G string on one of my Yamaha basses. Super light and fun. That's a little something I got from Lee Sklar. I wonder what it would be like on a Rick?

What's stopping you? It's not that big of a change actually.

Have fun, and Lee rocks!
Dirk

jdogric12 wrote:So I've really taken to the .040 G string on one of my Yamaha basses. Super light and fun. That's a little something I got from Lee Sklar. I wonder what it would be like on a Rick?

I've been using 40-X gauge strings on my Rick basses for decades, and all other basses, too. Go for it.

I use D'Adderio EXL220-5 on my 4003-5 (125/95/75/65/40). I also run the EXL220's on my eight stringt fundamental strings. Love the string weight. Also run ECB84's (flat wounds) on my 4001. Go for it!!!

jdogric12 wrote:So I've really taken to the .040 G string on one of my Yamaha basses. Super light and fun. That's a little something I got from Lee Sklar. I wonder what it would be like on a Rick?

Like Jeffery and the others been using .40g for years, both D'Adderio and Ernie Ball, 40-65-80-100 and also 40-60-80-95, lighter gauge is (IMHO) part of the success with neck stability over the years

After reading a bunch of old threads, I recently restrung my bass (sadly not a Rick) 40-55-75-100. Finally, the string tension is balanced and the truss rod doesn’t have to work as hard as it did with 45-65-80-100. Doesn’t seem to have hurt the sound, either!

scott_s wrote:After reading a bunch of old threads, I recently restrung my bass (sadly not a Rick) 40-55-75-100. Finally, the string tension is balanced and the truss rod doesn’t have to work as hard as it did with 45-65-80-100. Doesn’t seem to have hurt the sound, either!

What kind of strings?

I use Rotosound 40-60-80-100 on mine.

Isaac wrote:

scott_s wrote:After reading a bunch of old threads, I recently restrung my bass (sadly not a Rick) 40-55-75-100. Finally, the string tension is balanced and the truss rod doesn’t have to work as hard as it did with 45-65-80-100. Doesn’t seem to have hurt the sound, either!

What kind of strings?

D’Addario Chromes.

scott_s wrote:

Isaac wrote:

scott_s wrote:After reading a bunch of old threads, I recently restrung my bass (sadly not a Rick) 40-55-75-100. Finally, the string tension is balanced and the truss rod doesn’t have to work as hard as it did with 45-65-80-100. Doesn’t seem to have hurt the sound, either!

What kind of strings?

D’Addario Chromes.

I like The D'Addario Chromes ECB84 set on basses on which I use flatwound strings. In my opinion it's the most balanced Chromes set. The string gauges are: .100 - .080 - .060 - .040. You just have to break then in a bit, because they have bit of a bright roundwound string zing to them when you first put them on.

If you really need old school Jamerson-like thump right out of the package, the La Bella Low Tension Flats are the way to go. The gauges are: .100 - .070 - .056 - .042. They really don't that low of a tension, not like the TI JF-344 set, just lower than most sets of flatwound strings, definitely moire tension than TI's, I'd say about the same as a set of D'Addario XL-170's, which are my usual go-to set for roundwound strings. I'd say the D'Addario ECB84 set might have slightly more tension than the La Bella LTF set.