Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Could someone give me a basic rundown on setting the intonation on a 4003? I have never done it, and know nothing at all about it? Do I need special tools? I just click my harmonic frets, if they sound good, I go with it. Thanks Randy

Well it goes something like this...First adjust the neck by tightening or loosening the trussrods so that while fretting the strings at the first and last frets there is NO relief in the neck. (It may already be this way, but probably not). Next set the action by adjusting the heighth of the bridge so that the action is as low or high as you want without strings buzzing on the frets when you're plugged in and turned on. Now tune the bass. Next, check the tuning with the string fretted at the 12th fret (with a tuner). If it is flat, adjust that string's saddle so it moves toward the neck. If it is sharp, adjust the saddle so it moves back towards the rear of the Bass. Re-check tuning. Ideally, you want the bass to be in perfect pitch open and at the 12th fret. Repeat process for rest of strings. That's pretty much it. You may fing that the "E" string saddle wont adjust back far enough. If that happens, post again and I'll tell you how to correct for that. I hope this rather long winded explanation helps.

Yes That's great Dane ! I knew it was something I could do? I assume I can reverse the direction of the saddle to gain more length on the E string adjustment if needed? I was wondering how to do this so I could get my 5 string conversion up and running after I get the bridge work from you! Wonder if the B string will have the same problem as the E string? Thanks again Great site I found an old posting in here in a search about reversing the direction of the bridge so the adjustment allen screws are accessible from the mute side of the tailpiece Randy

Randy, The E string's saddle is probably already turned aroung...if not, then do so. The B string will need to be the same. When we do the deal, send me 5 new saddles too and I'll mod two of them for more travel. There's some other stuff I do to the bridge but we'll need to talk on the phone about it 'cause it's so involved.

Sounds good Thanks again Dane will call when they are in. You got'ta be chopin at the bit worse than me, you have been waiting longer! I can modify the saddles if neccissary I've been grindin up stuff with my foredom and dremmel's for a long long time.