Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hello

I just got a brand new Fireglo 4001 C64 Bass guitar.

I noticed a peculiarity with the way that the tuning keys operate...

On my V63 (and all my other guitars for that matter!) you rotate the machine heads for the E & A strings clockwise to decrease the pitch. On the C64 this increases the pitch.

I just wanted to know if this was normal, as I don't remember seeing it mentioned anywhere.

Cheers, Ben

Ben,
When you change the strings, just wind it the OPPOSITE direction and it should come out all right. Look at the headstock and see the way the strings are wound on the posts, and then when you restring just do the opposite.
Ben

Welcome to the wacky world of vintage instruments. Sounds like these are reverse wind vintage keys, if so that is normal. Back in the '50s the world rotated the opposite direction so the tuning keys also work backwards!

Thanks guys

A lot of comparisons have been made between the C64 and the V63. I was just suprised that no one had mentioned this difference before.

My strings are wound onto the capstan correctly, i.e. from the inside rather than the outside. This gives the most direct string routing from the nut, rather than them turning through a more acute angle.

I'm not particularly bothered about changing the way they work, I just wondered if everyone else's C64 was the same, and why nobody had mentioned it.

Cheers, Ben

Ben

My '80 4003 has factory reverse-wind nickel tuners.

I can't saw exactly which ones, but some of my basses, probably the '80s ones, have reverse-wind tuners, too.

ARGH! "saw" -> "say"!!!!

Saw-say:see-saw!

My '67 4005 and the '79 4001 both have reverse wind tuners... my '97 4001V63 has regular ones

My lefty 4001C64S has the reverse tuners as well.

Then again, it has reversed POTS, too! Volume increase is counter-clockwise, rather than clockwise. The tone pots are similarly reversed.

Was this the way a lefty instrument would have been wired in '64?

I also have to play with my back to the audience, or it's out of phase.

Your back is out of phase? Ouch!!

No, the audience...