Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I know...I know...but it is 2021. Time for an update.

1. Wondering what y'all are using these days on your 4000/1/3/4 series basses and why.

2. Also, does anyone know who makes the Ric brand strings for Ric?

I've been using the lightest Chromes flats set and sounds great but my 4003 sounds best with the original Ric strings on.

The 4001 sounds lovely with its TI flats.

As for the RM, rounds (just realized that I don't even know the brand).

I now use Stringjoys (made in Nashville) for all my basses.

TI Jazz Flats on the Snowglo 4004L, TI Jazz Rounds on the Jetglo 4004L SPC.

DR Lo-Rider 45-105 since maybe 2015. New strings every few months, or boiled

Almost as much zing and bite as Roto RS66LD, but with a more even tone across the board and slightly less tension. They also respond well to tone changes and playing position. If I want to get more dubby, they don't still bite through uncontrollably, even if tone is at 0 or palm muting etc.

Better quality and consistency than the Rotos. I tried the Rotos again recently and wasn't impressed.

For comparison I run DR Hi-Beam 45-105 on my Epi Ripper. The tension of those at 34" is about the same as the Lo-Riders on the shorter Ric. Jumping between basses is effortless.

Still hanging with TI Jazz Flats on a 4003FL

TI flats still on the 4001 and 4000 .
No desire to change ‘em .

Lately I've been enjoying DR Pure Blues rounds.
To me they are bit modern sounding.

And I will add I find it interesting how many folks are using flats.
I suppose it depends on the tone you're chasing.

DAdderio EXL170s (Rounds) and GCB84 (Flats) on my '74 4001 and '98 4004C. Sometimes Roto Swing 66s (nickel) on the 4004. on my 4003S5 (original) DAdderio EXL220-5 (round). On my 4004L 8 string I start with EXL220 and then individual DAdderio strings about 1/2 the fundamental string width for the octaves.

I haven't changed them in so long that I don't remember!

Okay, that's not quite true.

4003W has the original Ric strings.
4003AC has the original Ric strings, too, I think.
4004Cii has half-rounds. Don't remember the brand, but they have purple silks.
4001 (x2) have D'Addario rounds. I think they're EXL-170BT

Those are the basses I play regularly.

I absolutely love pyramid golds on fretted basses, but I have very few of those.

Fretless are the extra slinky Ernie Ball rounds, Cheap and plentiful.

D'Addario XL170's or Dunlop Superbrights on the 4003s.

TI Jazz Flats on my 4001, though I may go to TI rounds to change it up a bit.

Roto 40-100 rounds, always. Have never used another round I’ve liked as much. I do really like the cheaper 35-95 nickel Rotos though.

I recently tried some TI flats and they were interesting, but it wasn’t really my thing, certainly as my go-to.

TI Flats or D'Addario nickel rounds in the purple package.