Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I just got this '74 4001 and it originally came with closed back Grovers on it. The last guy who had it put black schaller on it. I am going w/ Chrome so I ordered a set of the vintage RIC clover leaf kind from Pick of the RIC. Well.. big shock....! They don't fit right!! The one on the upper horn HAS to sit crooked if I want it to work. Otherwise, the edge of the tuner will stick out.

I'm really really bummed by this because I don't like the more "modern" tuners. I love these cloverleaf kind. What should I do??

If you filled in the post hole(s) with P.C. Woody epoxy or equivalent and then redrilled would the bushing cover all of the epoxy so that it would not show? If not my only advice is to get something that has a smaller footprint.

Another solution is Hipshot Ultralite tuners with the cloverleaf keys. You may have to drill out the holes for the shafts a bit, but these tuners are really great. I have them on most of my basses. I personally like the Y key that Hipshot offers as they are very modern looking and compliment the bass' shape nicely.



Hipshot with C key

Cool. You know what I'm going to do?? Since someone had already attempted to put the big open back RIC tuners on it, then stopped at the last one realizing it wouldn't fit (hence there are holes already there for all except the last one). I'm going to GRIND DOWN the edge of the tuner that sticks out (on a grinder of course... and OFF the bass!) So, you'll have the big awesome RIC tuners on it, except one will have three ancor screws except for four (big deal), and it will look great. Plus this will allow me to cover up the holes that were there from the original tuners. I think it's a great idea.. THANKS MITCH!

Beats having the Schaller kind (that I don't like), and it beats spending a small fortune on Hipshots, and still having a bunch of holes showing. Unless of course I roast the machine head grinding it down. But that isn't likely.

Jason

Whenever I can promote the usage of a grinder, I DO! =)

My question is this... Why wouldn't the RIC tuners fit? Is it because the '74 had the "smaller headstock?" Do the RICs with sealed Grovers have a smaller headstock? Are there earlier versions of the "open" tuners that would fit that headstock? When and why was this transistion made?

WHY LORD?! WHY?! WHY WON'T JASON'S TUNERS FIT?!!!

Oh, the humanity!

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"Cool. You know what I'm going to do?? Since someone had already attempted to put the big open back RIC tuners on it, then stopped at the last one realizing it wouldn't fit (hence there are holes already there for all except the last one). I'm going to GRIND DOWN the edge of the tuner that sticks out (on a grinder of course... and OFF the bass!) So, you'll have the big awesome RIC tuners on it, except one will have three ancor screws except for four (big deal), and it will look great. Plus this will allow me to cover up the holes that were there from the original tuners. I think it's a great idea.. THANKS MITCH!"

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I did that years ago, dude, when the Grovers fell off, rusted and died. It's a brilliant solution. The D string doesn't tug that much anyway, so using three screws to nail down the tuner isn't a problem. I got mine machine cut by a computer/laser. Fits perfectly.

-- "My question is this... Why wouldn't the RIC tuners fit? Is it because the '74 had the "smaller headstock?"

--> Exactly. The peg hole for the tuner was drilled further up the headstock because it was destined to have Grovers, with a small footprint.

-- "Do the RICs with sealed Grovers have a smaller headstock?

-> Any bass from 1971 onwards had, what we call on this forum, the "baby headstock." In 1972, the Skunkstripe appeared.

Mmmm... Machine cut by a laser sounds yummy. But I'm not sure I have that option. But my grinder will work if I go slow.

Glad to know that I'm not the only one to have done this!

Jason

Why don't you just look around on ebay for some Grovers? They appear here and there and look better on the small headstock basses anyway IMHO.I bought a whole set for a 72 a few years ago. They're not as bad as everyone makes them out to be. I actually like them.

That was my thought as well Bob, but I think he wants to cover up the holes left by the previous owner. Apparently, someone drilled holes for three tuners before figuring out that the fourth wouldn't fit.

sacriledge!! haha!

So, were there "baby headstocks" that were drilled to accommodate the large open tuners? Was there a specific year that Grovers were replaced completely, or were both tuners used at the same time?

I'm preparing to put my hands on a '71, sight-unseen, and I wanna be prepared. =)

Also... Is there a way to turn off the built-in spell-check on this forum?

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Grovers were used intermittantly until around 1982, but for the most part were relegated to the parts bin after 73-74 and started in what 71 or 72?. I had a small headstock 75 4001 and have seen some 74's and 73's with the larger headstock. I think Ric made three general shapes. Large ones (60's) small ones (early 70's) medium (mid 70's to approx mid 90's) and now they are back to the large 60's shape. This is just my opinion.
Every "baby" headstock I've ever seen had Grovers.
I think you can turn off spell check in your profile.

Bob; Man with the answers.

Thanks!

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Beware of buying used Grovers. I have a full set of Grover Titans, but you wouldn't really want them. They slip too much and the bass won't stay in tune. I replaced them with the Hipshot 3/8" Ultra Lites pictured in the first panel of this thread.