Well, if the string change doesn't change the profile enough for you, I hope someone here will chime in with some advice regarding those older guitars. But if it involves more than simply turning the truss rod adjustment nuts, then a visit to a Rick-experienced tech would be in order.

As for my neck, I now have some back bow. I had been adjusting both rods together and equally, one quarter turn each every week or so. It seemed to me that the twist had become slightly more pronounced, so I only adjusted the rod on the "straight" side/low E side the last time. I'm nearly ready to string it up and see what I have. I have doubts that the vibrato will (seem to) be "lower" and thereby allowing me to lower the bridge height, which in turn will allow me to lower the "action" of the strings. If it's too high yet, I guess I'll find a large bench vise and slightly decrease/"flatten" the curvature of the spring. (I will post the results on my vibrato thread after I re-install it.)

lesurq -- In case you did not see the other thread: http://www.rickenbacker.com/pdfs/manual.pdf. "Neck Adjustment," Page 5.

So it appears that both of the guitars you mention require special handling (made before 1984).

Maxwell, it's really not difficult to adjust a pre Sept '84 Rick guitar neck. The first time you do, you might have some concerns, after that you're fine. Watch the vid on the my website on how to adjust the neck of a 4001 (4001 Set-up Part 2). The basses and guitars that are pre Sept 1, '84 adjust the same way.

_________________
Throw that piece of firewood where it belongs and get yourself a Rickenbacker!

Thanks for the additional caveats. I'm happy with the neck profile of the (mid-70s) 4001, even though there's a slight underbow - which is actually quite nice when you're playing high up the neck on the E and A. I've been using these heavy black nylon tapewounds, but I'm going back to a lighter set. Fortunately, no bridge lift to speak of, and the instrument sounds very good indeed; always a joy to play. I'll let the 620 rest with a 10-46 set for a while and then decide whether the neck really needs a tug. Next stop: a new 360.

Rickenbrother -- As I first visited your website (via the link provided on your profile page here), I was thinking how great it would be to find someone/some other site that was so thoroughly dedicated to the other Rick guitars. Very impressive.

I watched the entire 4001 series of videos. Using the string-to-fretboard relationship as a guide to flexing the neck is pretty cool. To me, it ensures that you are flexing the neck enough (at least to begin with), but more importantly, it is a limiting guide that prevents over-flexing and possibly damaging the neck. I think that most of the advice given and techniques used can be applied to any RIC guitar, don't you agree? It was very informative. Thank you very much!

Maxwell, thanks for the kind words. With the help of guitar playing forumites that are friends of mine that live near me, I may expand the site to Rickenbacker guitar maintenance as well. Unfortunately for me, I don't have a Rickenbacker guitar, but a 330 or maybe a 620, preferably in Jetglo is on my wish list.
I used to have a Fireglo 330 that I wish I never sold!

_________________
Throw that piece of firewood where it belongs and get yourself a Rickenbacker!

maxwell wrote:

Rickenbrother -- As I first visited your website (via the link provided on your profile page here), I was thinking how great it would be to find someone/some other site that was so thoroughly dedicated to the other Rick guitars. Very impressive.

I think that most of the advice given and techniques used can be applied to any RIC guitar, don't you agree? It was very informative. Thank you very much!

Maxwell --- Yep, the Joey's Bass Notes instructional videos are very helpful (for both guitar players and bassists) and the videos are great confidence-boosters to anyone who is tinkering with Ric Truss Rods and looking to learn on the job. You can go step-by-step at your own pace, with your guitar in front of you and the computer on the side, and you can rewind the JBN video a little bit, and repeat certain segments and make sure you are not putting too much pressure here or tweaking something too much there. I found the videos very helpful in coaching me along, in dealing with loose truss rods on an older V64 guitar I recently acquired.

If you are a Facebook user, be sure and give JBN the thumbs-up !
Regards