Here's the RIGHT wrench to adjust your Rickenbacker Bass Truss Rod !
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- čas přidán 10. 09. 2024
- After searching in vain entirely tool long for the right tool to adjust your Rickenbacker bass or guitar truss rod. I just wanted to quickly share what you need to do the job. Sorry for the camera focus issue that might make you seasick ;) My bass shown here is a 2001 model 4003 but as I understand it at the very least any modern Rickenbacker bass or guitar should have this style truss rod nut. Your mileage may vary. Please post in the comments if you find a Rick this doesn't fit on.
Many years later, here I am getting some incredible knowledge from you. Bless you sir.
Very helpful, greetings from italy ^^
My Rick is buzzing past the 12 fret so I figure it may need another adjustment. And I’m not gonna take it to guitar center for something I can do myself. Thanks for this, plus I’m glad I don’t need to take the strings off
thank you so much sir! I was now on the struggle to find the correct tool on internet.
Thanks for this. Probably wouldnt have thought to use a driver with a socket. 🍻
Stewmac makes one that is literally made for this. It has a 90 degree on it with a handle. It's a 5/8" (8mm) it has the added benefit of not touching the headstock, so you dont have to worry about chipping the paint, and you can get more leverage on it with the 90 degree handle, and you can see exactly how far you are twisting it by the angle of said handle. They're a few bucks
Hello! Can you write the brand and exact reference of your tool ? Thanks 🙏
I've had my 1974 4001 since 1990. FYI NEVER adjust the truss rods on a Rickenbacker with the strings on. This is not a modern Yamaha or Fender, this is an old Rick. Tension off the strings, one person pushes the neck back, another person tightens the tension nuts, put strings back on and repeat. There's a reason why people stopped touring with these temperamental basses.
Word. You should help the neck with pressure in the direction you want the neck bow to take. String pressure off the neck. The new 4003's don't have that issue any more. They also made a better bridge. No need to swap it out for a Hip Shot. Rics are cool basses with their own sound and personality.
@@davidcudlip6587 I still have the original bridge, looks cooler than a hipshot/badass, but I can't get the action any lower. I'm bottomed out at the bridge and it's still just a bit too high, I could get the files out and hack deeper grooves I guess, but adjusting the intonation is a pain, and I'd probably raise it back up as I'm used to this height. This high you can dig in and get that Geddy Lee growl. But I normally play with a lighter touch. This grumpy bass definitely has a personality. I thought it was an old bass when I bought it. It was 16 years old, I wasn't much older and could barely afford it. Now it's 47!
@@PaulMiil I'm picking up a 4003 W this week. I've had 4 or 5 4001 and 4003 basses over the years. I keep coming back to these buggers for some reason. I have switched out the neck pickup to a Nordstrand pickup. It matches the bridge pickup nicely with a bit more punch. And still keeps that Ric sound.
@@davidcudlip6587 It's a slippery slope. 4003 are clearly louder.. Look at what Cliff Burton did to his 4001. Put a Gibson EB at the neck a Jazz at the bridge and a hidden third pickup under the foam/deadener thing.. and it still sounded great.
It's perfectly OK to loosen the truss rod with strings on. So many people fear working on their instruments because of scare stories all over the internet so go ahead and break that truss rod not loose. Take the nut completely off if you want. Nothing bad is going to happen. If you need a straighter neck then by all means loosen the strings and turn the nut. No need to crank it 50 ft lbs tight or use a torque wrench. All maintenance work done on guitars requires some basic common sense and patience.
7mm socket works for us metric folk
Super helpful, cheers
Your 3-minute video saved me a great deal of wasted time!
Glad it was helpful. That Ric was the first time I'd had a bass without the allen style nut and was thoroughly confused. I think I eventually broke down and bought a set on Amazon or maybe Stewart McDonald as Gibson, Peavey and others have those style truss rod adjustement and of course each one has a different sized nut :)
Brilliant solution!
Thanks this is super helpful!
Bill my 4003 has no relief whatsoever in the neck so it is totally flat with no bow at all now the problem is the neck has severe fret buzz if I were to loosen the truss rods a bit to get a slight bow would that help with the fret buzz? I keep the action pretty low and want to keep it that way also I have never touched the truss rods on this bass before
If there isn't enough relief you will get some string buzz on a fretted bass. Loosening the truss rods would likely help. Just take it slow, loosen them a bit each, tune it back to pitch and walk away from it for a few hours. Come back and see how it helped. I think the only time I've had a neck too straight was after changing to a lighter string gauge.
@@kubicki2000 ok I will give that a try thanks Bill
Just buy the damn 1/4" nut driver that Rickenbacker sells. Never had a problem with the one I bought from the factory. And once I changed to light flatwounds, I never touched it since.
He DOESN'T show up close, I'm guessing a four in one driver withour a bit, hard to get at what he's saying,
Good to know
Great solution thanks
Great tip! Thanks.
Dude, it took you three minutes to tell us you think it's a quarter inch nut driver?
thank you brother
I'm glad it was helpful.
Thanks man!
I recently heard this very valable info on another CZcams video. Yes it works. However, why the heck don't Rickenbacker include an adjustment tool with every bass from new...afterall, the basses cost enough and those tools are mega cheap.
The thing that confused me was that you still use 'imperial measurement' in the USA. Go metric like the rest of the world!
And yes, you can't just turn the nuts to adjust the truss rod...you actually do need to physically pull the neck and then tighten the nuts. Be very careful...Rickenbackers are very different to other basses.
You're a great American, Bill!