Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

The skunk stripe has returned , and I’ve heard that basses will now be built with a single truss rod . Will you still be able to easily remove the truss rod with the new design ?

I can't see a reason not to. The rods have been standard compression type since 1985, and the skunk stripe isn't like a Fender guitar where it plugs the channel - in Rics it's just a center strip, 3 instead of 2, running the whole length of the body. Maybe with a single rod they didn't want it pushing against a glued seam, but that's just a guess. Could be aesthetic reasons too.

Thanks Ilan .
I asked at Rickenbacker’s official Facebook page , but haven’t seen any response and their website seems abandoned . Perhaps with all of the recent changes they might update the site .
I am curious though .

I suppose the other question is why haven’t the other manufacturers adopted the easy to replace truss rod system …

morrow wrote: Wed Jan 12, 2022 8:49 am Perhaps with all of the recent changes they might update the site

The most recent entry in the Recent News page on the corporate website is from 2014. The 4003 pic is still a with a pre-hump guard — that's a pre-1998 bass — and the 4004 pic shows the 2003 pickup locations (and no mention that the model was discontinued).

I guess they feel Facebook is all the internet presence needed today .

The Boutique page with one-offs has been active a couple of times during the last years. Nothing there now, though - anything up there is usually sold really fast. Other than that, it really looks abandoned...

http://boutique.rickenbacker.com/Factor ... _c_23.html

morrow wrote: Tue Jan 11, 2022 11:18 am The skunk stripe has returned , and I’ve heard that basses will now be built with a single truss rod . Will you still be able to easily remove the truss rod with the new design ?

Where was this info posted?

cassius987 wrote: Thu Jan 13, 2022 12:20 pm

morrow wrote: Tue Jan 11, 2022 11:18 am The skunk stripe has returned , and I’ve heard that basses will now be built with a single truss rod . Will you still be able to easily remove the truss rod with the new design ?

Where was this info posted?

Skunk stripe announcement: https://www.instagram.com/p/CYSGgxHvFY8 ... =copy_link

Single rod announcement was ages ago, I can’t remember where. Probably IG as well.

The new dual action truss rod is NOT removeable without planning the fingerboard off. It is nothing like the Gibson style compression rod.

I didn't realize everything was moved over to a single truss rod.

My 4003AC has it, and I have found it very easy to work with (and very good at what it does).

aceonbass wrote: Thu Jan 13, 2022 5:30 pm ... without planning the fingerboard off ....

"Dee plane, boss! Dee plane!"

cassius987 wrote: Thu Jan 13, 2022 12:20 pm

morrow wrote: Tue Jan 11, 2022 11:18 am The skunk stripe has returned , and I’ve heard that basses will now be built with a single truss rod . Will you still be able to easily remove the truss rod with the new design ?

Where was this info posted?

I first saw it on the Rickenbacker (official) Facebook page . It was the thread where they first mentioned the return of the skunk stripe .

FYI fingerboards are removable by melting glue and carefully prying it off.
Requires a clothing iron and lots of patience, and not for the weak of heart.

aceonbass wrote: Thu Jan 13, 2022 5:30 pm The new dual action truss rod is NOT removeable without planning the fingerboard off. It is nothing like the Gibson style compression rod.

Damn, that sucks. While a broken truss rod is rare these days, I always thought it was cool that on Rickenbackers you could just pull an old one out and replace it.