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Post by ninworks on Jan 9, 2021 10:19:10 GMT -5
I have a late 70's Rickenbacker 4001 with Bartolini pickups in it. It has a brass nut and some kind of aftermarket bridge on it. Not sure what brand or model. I use round wound strings. I have treid Rotosounds, GHS, and some others I don't remember. With all those strings the E string sounds considerably different than the rest. The A, D, and G, strings sound very uniform but the E string just kind of thuds where the rest all ring. It doesn't matter if played as an open string or fretted on any fret, the sound is not as good as the other strings.
All of the mods were done to this bass when I got it back in the early 80's. I wonder if whoever did the mods was trying to make it sound balanced as well? The guitar sounds very good it's just that the E string could sound much better. I would be happy if it sounded as good as the other strings. Any ideas?
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ilan
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Posts: 11
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Post by ilan on Jan 9, 2021 11:39:24 GMT -5
If the E is thuddy even when unplugged, then it's probably the aftermarket bridge. I'd get a real Ric bridge/tailpiece.
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jeffscott
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Rickenbacker Guru..............
Posts: 138
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Post by jeffscott on Jan 9, 2021 18:55:12 GMT -5
I've had tonal/volume balance issues with Bartolini equipped basses I have owned in the past. So, besides whatever aftermarket bridge is on the bass, those pickups would be another suspect, IME.
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Post by ninworks on May 20, 2021 18:19:28 GMT -5
I took the 4001 to my tech today. He said it sounded like magnetic field interference from the neck pickup. He lowered it all the way and it made no difference whatsoever. He's going to tinker with it to see if he can figure out what's causing the issue. This guy has been working on guitars professionally since 1984 and does lots of work for a number of high end Nashville players. If anyone can find it he's the guy.
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Post by Peegoo 🏁 on May 21, 2021 10:47:18 GMT -5
Outstanding. Just like with humans, sometimes an instrument needs to visit a specialist. If your tech cannot positively nail down the root cause (see what I DID there?  ), another thing to try is a change in the gauge of the E string--or all the strings. Going up or down one gauge, e.g., medium to light, can alleviate thuddy string behavior. I discovered this years ago when I had a bass come in with a similar complaint...for whatever reason it resonated in a way that canceled the sound on the A string. |
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Post by Laker on May 22, 2021 20:54:02 GMT -5
I've had tonal/volume balance issues with Bartolini equipped basses I have owned in the past. So, besides whatever aftermarket bridge is on the bass, those pickups would be another suspect, IME. I’ve played my 55-94 Deluxe Lakland with Bartolini pickups for 22 years and, from day one, have had bandmates and soundmen tell me it is the best sounding bass they have worked with. I guess it’s all how your ears interpret it, or maybe how the bass player plays it,...enso? |
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jeffscott
Wholenote
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Posts: 138
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Post by jeffscott on May 27, 2021 12:01:08 GMT -5
I've had tonal/volume balance issues with Bartolini equipped basses I have owned in the past. So, besides whatever aftermarket bridge is on the bass, those pickups would be another suspect, IME. I’ve played my 55-94 Deluxe Lakland with Bartolini pickups for 22 years and, from day one, have had bandmates and soundmen tell me it is the best sounding bass they have worked with. I guess it’s all how your ears interpret it, or maybe how the bass player plays it,...enso? Or, the particular Barts that were on the Zons with the imbalance issues... |
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Post by ninworks on Jun 7, 2021 13:29:33 GMT -5
Got the 4001 back from my tech today. He fixed the E string 'thud' it had. He said he had to do some file work on the saddle for the E string. He dressed the frets and set it all up for me as well. This thing hasn't sounded this good since I have had it and I bought it back in 80 or 81.
He got the 12 string on the Dano set up too. It plays great and in tune as well. This guy is excellent. King Bee Guitars in Franklin Tennessee. Quite reasonably priced as well.
I was to the point with the Ric that cost wasn't going to be the limiting factor for me on that one. I was prepared to put a different tailpiece, nut, frets, or whatever, on it if necessary. It is an OLD 4001 for Pete's sake. It should have sounded great not just okay. Now it does. He's the third tech I have had it to and the only one who found the remedy for the thudding E string.
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Post by rickyguitar on Jun 9, 2021 0:54:17 GMT -5
Good news bro. Enjoy!
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Post by hushnel on Jun 9, 2021 10:58:26 GMT -5
Cool. Could you hear the problem when it was unplugged?
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Post by ninworks on Jun 9, 2021 11:37:39 GMT -5
Cool. Could you hear the problem when it was unplugged? Yep. |
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Post by hushnel on Jun 9, 2021 11:43:44 GMT -5
Yeah, that really points to the nut or saddle.
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), another thing to try is a change in the gauge of the E string--or all the strings. Going up or down one gauge, e.g., medium to light, can alleviate thuddy string behavior.
