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TRUSS ROD ADJUSTMENTS - OLDER MODELS

If your Rickenbacker is an older model (Pre late 1984), DO NOT TIGHTEN the truss rods if the neck is bowed! This will cause the fingerboard to separate from the neck. The truss rods have to be loosened and the neck manually moved into place. When I am alone, the way that I do it if the neck is bowed and has to be tightened is to loosen the rods slightly, lean the neck at about the 7th fret on my knee with the body hanging down and then snug up the rods. The weight of the body hanging will bring the neck to its correct position. If I have someone with me, I place the guitar on my workbench and I have the other person hold the body in place. With a soft neck rest (I use a beanbag type), I then loosen the rods slightly, manually move the neck into place using the beanbag as a cushion, again somewhere around the 7th fret and then snug up the rods. If the neck is back bowed, then just loosen the rods evenly no more than ¼ of a turn daily until the neck sets. You can and should play the guitar between adjustments to get the feel that is right for you.
There is one other very important thing to know. ALWAYS USE A LONG SHAFT ADJUSTMENT WRENCH (¼ Inch Socket) WITH A SCREWDRIVER HANDLE such as the one that usually is available in the boutique section of this website, and NEVER use a "T" handle wrench. The reason for this is because on the screwdriver handle, if tightened too much your hand will slip on the handle and the truss rods will not snap. With the "T" handle, the danger of snapping the rods is much greater!
It really is a simple procedure once you get over the fear of doing it.

I hope that this helps.

Steve

Author:	dadofsix [ Mon Nov 07, 2011 4:14 pm ]
Post subject:	Adjusting truss rod on an old Rick
I've got an old Rick - circa 1981. The double truss rods are adjusted near the neck p/up. While I like working on my basses, this little beastie is something new to me. I have a slight bow in the neck that I've lived with for a while but now I'd like to straighten the neck a wee bit. Unfortunately, I can't figure out the size of the nuts. They're not a 1/4 or a 3/16 -- would they be in metric? I don't mind buying the correct tool, I just need to know what to buy. There is a pretty good luthier in the area, but I don't know whether he has serious experience with older Ricks. I've heard that older Ricks should only be worked on by someone familiar with them. I've looked for help by searching the forums but the info I've found does not seem to address my problem. Any insights would be greatly appreciated. Oh, and any insights on how I could get an owners manual for this beastie would also be appreciated. <><Peace

Author:	coolhandjjl [ Wed Nov 09, 2011 7:34 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Adjusting truss rod on an old Rick
Is this a bass? Look for Joey's Bass Notes. He posts here and on the Rick Resource Forums. Do not adjust anything until you read his tutorial. You may crack the neck if you just start turning the nuts.

Author:	dadofsix [ Wed Nov 09, 2011 1:04 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Adjusting truss rod on an old Rick
My apologies for not being clearer. Yes, indeed, this is an old 4003. And the Joey's Bass Notes site is bookmarked on my computer. lol I don't want to mess this old beastie up but I do want to straighten the neck a bit. <><Peace

Author:	flyingeagle [ Fri Nov 11, 2011 3:33 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Adjusting truss rod on an old Rick
Howdy, TRUSS ROD ADJUSTMENTS - OLDER MODELS If your Rickenbacker is an older model (Pre late 1984), DO NOT TIGHTEN the truss rods if the neck is bowed! This will cause the fingerboard to separate from the neck. The truss rods have to be loosened and the neck manually moved into place. When I am alone, the way that I do it if the neck is bowed and has to be tightened is to loosen the rods slightly, lean the neck at about the 7th fret on my knee with the body hanging down and then snug up the rods. The weight of the body hanging will bring the neck to its correct position. If I have someone with me, I place the guitar on my workbench and I have the other person hold the body in place. With a soft neck rest (I use a beanbag type), I then loosen the rods slightly, manually move the neck into place using the beanbag as a cushion, again somewhere around the 7th fret and then snug up the rods. If the neck is back bowed, then just loosen the rods evenly no more than ¼ of a turn daily until the neck sets. You can and should play the guitar between adjustments to get the feel that is right for you. There is one other very important thing to know. ALWAYS USE A LONG SHAFT ADJUSTMENT WRENCH (¼ Inch Socket) WITH A SCREWDRIVER HANDLE such as the one that usually is available in the boutique section of this website, and NEVER use a "T" handle wrench. The reason for this is because on the screwdriver handle, if tightened too much your hand will slip on the handle and the truss rods will not snap. With the "T" handle, the danger of snapping the rods is much greater! It really is a simple procedure once you get over the fear of doing it. I hope that this helps. Steve

Author:	Rickenbrother [ Fri Nov 11, 2011 6:47 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Adjusting truss rod on an old Rick
dadofsix wrote: My apologies for not being clearer. Yes, indeed, this is an old 4003. And the Joey's Bass Notes site is bookmarked on my computer. lol I don't want to mess this old beastie up but I do want to straighten the neck a bit. <><Peace dadofsix, what year and month was your 4003 made? For more confidence, you should watch the videos on JBN. It's really not as hard as you might think. Work slowly, be careful, use the proper tools and if you don't get it perfect the first time (which usually happens with newbs at adjusting old Ricks) try it again. Wouldn't matter if it were an older guitar. They adjust the same way as the 4001 and early 4003.

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Author:	dadofsix [ Thu Nov 17, 2011 12:38 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Adjusting truss rod on an old Rick
The beastie was born in August of 1981. It still rocks, though! lol <><Peace

Author:	maxwell [ Wed Nov 23, 2011 1:30 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Adjusting truss rod on an old Rick
flyingeagle wrote: Howdy, TRUSS ROD ADJUSTMENTS - OLDER MODELS If your Rickenbacker is an older model (Pre late 1984), DO NOT TIGHTEN the truss rods if the neck is bowed! This will cause the fingerboard to separate from the neck. The truss rods have to be loosened and the neck manually moved into place. When I am alone, the way that I do it if the neck is bowed and has to be tightened is to loosen the rods slightly, lean the neck at about the 7th fret on my knee with the body hanging down and then snug up the rods. The weight of the body hanging will bring the neck to its correct position. If I have someone with me, I place the guitar on my workbench and I have the other person hold the body in place. With a soft neck rest (I use a beanbag type), I then loosen the rods slightly, manually move the neck into place using the beanbag as a cushion, again somewhere around the 7th fret and then snug up the rods. If the neck is back bowed, then just loosen the rods evenly no more than ¼ of a turn daily until the neck sets. You can and should play the guitar between adjustments to get the feel that is right for you. There is one other very important thing to know. ALWAYS USE A LONG SHAFT ADJUSTMENT WRENCH (¼ Inch Socket) WITH A SCREWDRIVER HANDLE such as the one that usually is available in the boutique section of this website, and NEVER use a "T" handle wrench. The reason for this is because on the screwdriver handle, if tightened too much your hand will slip on the handle and the truss rods will not snap. With the "T" handle, the danger of snapping the rods is much greater! It really is a simple procedure once you get over the fear of doing it. I hope that this helps. Steve IS THIS UNIVERSAL ADVICE (APPLING TO ALL RICKS), OR ONLY BASS GUITARS? Thanks.

Author:	maxwell [ Wed Nov 23, 2011 6:17 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Adjusting truss rod on an old Rick
...I'm referring to the date, "Pre late 1984," in case i'm not being clear enough.... Does that date signify a change across the entire RIC line of guitars, or just the basses? What year could someone simply adjust the truss rods as we do now for current guitars, say on a 330 or a 620, etc........................ OK, I see now. From the owner's manual: "On instruments produced before September 1, 1984, first loosen the truss rod nuts, then move the neck manually to the desired position and snug the rod up to hold that position. Do not rely on the rod itself to provide the bowing force. This advice actually applies to all guitar truss rod systems. Adjustments other than these can seriously damage your instrument." Page 5 -- http://www.rickenbacker.com/pdfs/manual.pdf Apparently this advice applies to all Ricks universally.

Author:	8MilesHigher [ Tue Nov 29, 2011 1:20 pm ]
Post subject:	Adjusting truss rod on an old Rick
I second that recommendation to visit Joey's Bass Notes site and check out his instructional videos. Good stuff and should be required reading for all Rickenbacker owners !!

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