Rickenbacker instruments intonate and play best when the neck is as straight as possible.

Dual Truss Rod Neck Desing: Most Rickenbacker necks are built with two truss rod for added strength and adjustability. This exclusive desing gives greater strength and stability to the neck of the guitar. The truss rod are separately adjustable, allowing either side of the neck to be readjusted independently of the other, should it become necessary.

Two initial indications that the neck may require adjustment are: 1, the strings beging to buzz against the frets 2, the action of the strings seems too high.

(Neck adjustment)

With the instrument in tune, sight the neck for a bow or underbow by resting the body on a level table ay an approximate 45 degree angle holding the top horn near the strap bolt. Do not hold by the neck or head, as doing so will change the actual position of the neck.

Should adjustment be necessary, take the strings out of the nut grooves to allow room to remove the nameplate from the head of the instrument to assure normal tension on the neck.

Repeat the sighting step to confirm the amount of bow or under bow in the neck. Using 1/4 inch nut driver wrench, such as the NW1 neck adjustment tool, such as the one depicted below.

Turn only a half a turn at a time. Turn the nut clockwise to correct an underbow, counterclockwise to straighten an overbow. Continue this until the desired angle of the neck is obtained. A slight underbow is normal depending on the playing action preferred. Finally,replace the nameplate and tune the instrument. Now you can make beautiful music with your Rickenbacker 4,6 or 12 string.

Your Rickenbacker Care & Maintenance.

Volume and Tone Control.

All Rickenbackes six and twelve string guitars come with separate volume and tone controls knobs feo the bass and treble pickups. In addition, each guitar has a three position pickup selector which allows instantaneous selection of the bass pickup, the treble pickup, or a tonal blend using both pickups, when the pickup selector is combined with the tone and volume controls can be present, and chosen simply by switching the pickup selector.

When the volume and tone knobs are turned all the way clockwise, they are in the wide open “on” position. When the pickup selector is down, the treble pickup (closest to the bridge) is in use. When the selector is up, the bass pickup is in use. The middle selector position is a blend of both pickups. When using only one pickup, only that pickup’s tone and volume controls will have an effect. On Rickenbacker models which have three pickups, the bass pickup and the middle pickup are wired together, and the instrument is then controlled just as if it had only two pickups. When the selector is down,the treble pickup is on. When it is in the middle, all three pickups are on. When it is up, both the bass and the middle pickup are on.

Rickenbacker basses with two pickups have the same volume and tone controls as the six and twelve strings guitars, as well as a three position pickup selector.

RIC 200/2000 series guitars differ only in that the position of the volume and tone controls on the body is reverse. On these instruments, the volume controls are the knobs closest to the strings, and the tone controls are the bottom two knobs.

Many Rickenbacker guitars and basses come with a fifth control knob which provides extra tone adjustment capabilities. It can be used to adjust the volume of the baass pickup in relation to a preselected treble pickup lead volume setting, it can be initially set at the tone which will be most often used, or it can function as an equalization control between bass and treble. To use the fifth knob as a bass pickup volume equalizer, first place both volume and both tone controls on the instrument at their maximum clockwise positions. Then move the pickup selector to the treble position and set the amplifier to the desired lead sound. Now, switch the pickup selector to the bass pickup. The fifth tone knob can now be adjusted in order to bring the rhythm sound to a volume compatible with the already selected lead sound volume.

To use the fifth knob in a set position, first place both volume controls and both tone controls on the instrument at their maximum clockwise positions, and move the pickup selector to the center position. Now, adjust the amplifier, by setting the gain controls at their maximum positions. Finally, adjust the fine tone selection knob on the instrument until the tone which will be used mostfrequently is reached, and leave it in that position. After the small knob has been set, the pickup selector may be moved down for maximum bass. The variable volume and the tone controls on either the amplifier or the instrument can now be moved to the desired volume tone settings.

To use the fifth knob as an equalization control, first place both volume controls and the treble tone cotrol on the instrument at their maximum clockwise positions, and move the pickup selector to the center position. Move the bass tone control on the instrument to its maximum counter-clockwise positions, and set the volume and the tone controls on the amplifier to their desired positions. Now, with the instrument’s treble up full and the bass at its minimum, the fine tone selection knob can be used as a tone equalizer, moving the instrument through the entire tonal range without adjusting the amplifier.

When using a Rickenbacker guitar with the Rick-O-Sound effect, much of the the tonal variation which is produced by playing through R.O.S can be better controlled through two different amplifiers or through two channels of one amplifier. However, when using Rick-O-Sound, the fine tone selection knob now becomes a balance between the two amplifiers or channels, and it can be adjusted to provide the desired blend of the treble and bass.

(STRING HEIGHT Adjustment)

Most Rickrnbacker guitars come eqquipped with a six way bridge, in wich six individual strings saddles allow extremely critical pitch and action adjustments. Four bridge height adjustment screws are bridge assembly.

To raise the height of the strings fro the surface of the neck, raise the bridge by turning each of the four adjusting screws clockwise using the adjusting key supplied with the instrument. To lower the playing action, turn the adjusting screws counterclockwise.

Rickenbacker basses come equipped with bridge assemblies tha have just two height adjustment screws,located at either side of the bridge assembly. To raise the strings, turn each of the height adjustment screws clockwise. To lower the action, turn the screws counterclockwise.

RIC 200/2000 and 650 series models are equipped with a special bridge/tailpiece assembly, in which six individual bridges are adjusted separately for each string. Each bridge piece is adjusted by two screws, located on either side of the string it supports. In addition, some early bridges were equipped with a locking cam screw, to hold bridge height or pitch adjustment in place until another adjustment is desired. The locking screw is located at the bottom of the bridge/tailpiece assembly. To adjust one of the bridges, first loosen the locking screw so that an adjustment can be made. The, using the metric wrench supplied with the instrument, tur each of the two adjusment screws clockwise to raise the string, or counterclockwise to lower the string.

(STRING LENGTH and Pitch Adjustment)

Each String sadddle on Rickenbacker guitar and bass bridges may be adjusted to insure perfect pitch or intonation. Each saddle is set at the factory for the gauge of Rickenbacker strings which come with the instrument. if the pitch should became slightly sharp or flat, or a change in Rickenbacker string is desired, the pitch can be readjusted by turning the sadlle adjustment screws on the back side of the bridge. When making any pitch adjustments, first loosen the string, then make an adjustment, and finally bring the string back up to pitch. If another adjustment is necessary, repeat the process until the intonation is correct. this method protects the string from damage. First check the pitch of each string. If the string pitch sounds flat when played at the 12th fret as compared to the open harmonic at the fret, turn the length adjustment screw counterclockwise to shorten the string. If the string sounds sharp to the harmonic, turn the screw clockwise to lengthen the string.

Rickenbacker 200?2000 add 650 series have bridge assemblies with pitch adjustment screws on the rear of the assembly, like the six way adjustable bridge. Before adjusting, the special adjustment lock, if present must first be loosened.