3001 Bridge screws going into the body

[Kev White]

Hi there, I have a 1978 3001 and wondered if anyone else had had a problem with a 4000/3000 bridge/tailpiece assembly where the two bridge adjustment screws go straight through the tailpiece and into the wood? I have heard that some basses did actually come out of the factory like this..... also does this effect the tone or sustain on the bass? be good to hear someones thoughts on this one

[daveman]

Not sure - I'll look at mine. Certainly wouldn't hurt the sustain & would probably help.

By the way-- I played my 3001 at a recording session last night - the engineer had never seen one before, and he was "stoked" (his term) -- he loved the way it recorded, and loved the neck when I let him play it.

[Kev White]

They are a great bass, very underated. I have never heard a bad report about them, I play mine though a Mesa Big Block 750 and a Mesa Powerhouse 4x10 with a 2x10 on top of that and its great.
I had loads of issues with the action on it the E sat lower than the G string (even put a small shim under the neck) but all is great now due to me removing the bridge assembly which was not easy as the grub screws had gone into the body wood, and then taking the bridge adjustment screws all the way back up and refitting the bridge and just raising the E side of it and the action is now down to 6/64 on the E and 4/64 on the G at the 12th fret.
My only concern is the sound change (if any) that may in place due to the bridge assembly being in direct contact with the body wood instead of the Zinc casting of the tailpiece.

[johnallg]

Some of us used to mod the tailpiece by drilling the cup out to let the allen screw sit on the maple. Was there a difference? I don't think so and I did it to one of mine. Someone also said their bass came from the factory that way, but who knows.

You might put a short screw into the maple and let the bridge screw sit on that so the bridge screw doesn't continue to go further into the maple.

[Kev White]

Hi John, I heard the same thing that some came out of the factory like that, I called Rickenbacker direct yesterday and they said that this never happened and I should consider a new tailpiece. Part of the tone seems to come from the fact that the saddle assembly sits in the tailpiece (metal to metal) via the allen screws, not sure if it would make any change to the sound/tone if the screws are in direct contact with the body wood. Anyway I have ordered a new tailpiece as I would hate the screws to drop into the body holes and flatline my strings against the neck halfway through a gig.......

[johnhall]

I've never seen this from the factory and neither my 3000 or 3001 is like this. I've learned to never say never (and I know I just did) but I strongly suspect that someone drilled this out. I'll bet anything that if you look closely at the holes in the tailpiece, they'll not be chrome plated; if we *DID* do something crazy like this, it surely would have been before plating.

[Kev White]

Thank you for your help on this one John that now puts my mind at ease, do you think that it would cause any any tone issues though because of this or will there be no difference. Be nice to see your thought on this one...
Kindest regards, Kev

[johnhall]

I would think that any change in the tone would be only for the better. But I bet it is probably nothing you can hear. Still, if it were me, I think I'd put a short philips head screw down in the wood under the tailpiece for the height screws to sit on. Maybe even a small but short lag bolt, which you'd have to drill and countersink for . . . maybe more trouble than it's worth.

[Kev White]

Hi John I have ordered a new tailpiece from Rosetti today here in the UK to get it back how it should be, must say though it is a great bass and I would not be without it as it's my main gigging bass, always gets a comment from someone...... keep up the good work over there

[loendmaestro]

One day the 3000 series will get the respect it deserves! I LOVE my 3001.

Good luck with your bridge sir.

[Kev White]

I am sure it will do its has to be the best bass I have owned in nearly 38 years of playing bass and I have had everything out there you can think of, 4001, 4003, 4001C64, 4001V63, 4004Cii, P Bass, J Bass, Fender Custom Shop, Aria, Wal and still nothing comes close to the 3001. I just don't know how I could replace it if anything happened to it and it still looks as good as it did when it was new apart from a few slight wear marks (Fender charge mega bucks to have these wear marks added to a relic or custom shop master built bass, where does that come from)!!!!!
Even with the defect tailpiece I still have the neck set up better than any of the previous mentioned basses, should be sound with the new tailpiece fitted, will let you know by the weekend...........

[daveman]

I've looked at some photos I took of my 3001 a while back (when I had a short-lived urge to install the H-pshot bridge). The adjustment screws do go through holes in the tailpiece directly into the wood. Here's a photo of the bare wood where you can see the 2 holes on the outside of the 3 mounting holes:

And here's a really bad, out-of-focus photo where you can sort of see the holes for the adjustment screws:

I haven't had any problems with height adjustments (not that I ever adjust it); maybe the maple just happens to be hard enough.

[Kev White]

Hi Dave
Thats a strange one, now as I am getting really confused over this issue

How long have you had your 3001 and what is the manufacture date? It seems a real coincidence that we both have one (even the same colour) with the drillings, do you think there was a rouge driller at the factory:) LOL

I have already ordered the new tail piece now so I will fit it over the weekend and see, at least it will give me the peace of mind that the bridge is not going to go crashing down with the allen screws slipping further down into the holes.

As Mr Hall said it seems very unlikely that this was done at the factory so maybe it was just a thing that the owners of the bass sometimes did?.....also I have never heard anything about this from a 4001/4003 owner.

Best reagrds, Kev

[aceonbass]

Before I would have spent the serious ching on a new tailpiece, I would have just taken John Hall's advice and installed a couple screws into the contact points on the body for the height adjustment screws to use as footings. It amazes me how Rickenbacker owners get so skittish about mods to their basses, worrying about functionality and resale value. Part of playing an instrument is understanding how and why it works the way it does.

[Kev White]

I beg your pardon!
Who is getting skittish or worrying about the resale value, the bass or basses are not for sale and will not be at any time in the near or distant future! for your information I had ordered the tailpiece before I received Mr Halls comment and the functionality aspect is that the bridge is wedged into place on the G side and floating on the E string side, I don't really fancy doing a two hour gig in front of a few hundred or in next weeks instance 20,000 people and suddenly the bridge decides it is going it slip further into the recess of the tailpiece rendering the bass unplayable!!
I play my basses not collect them, they are a tool to do a job just like a mechanic would use a spanner, and by the same rule if something is not functioning right it needs fixing or it will let you down! In my case I could not lower the bridge which was making an easy job a lot harder. I know how the instrument works and the way it works but I employ a guitar tech to sort these things out for me and hey the only thing I asked in the forum in the first place is "Did anyone else have an issue with the bridge adjustment screws going though the tailpiece into the body"
"Part of playing an instument is to entertain people" I dont really give a monkey if I didnt understanding how and why an instrument works nor is the audience!
Thank you for your very experienced and knowledgable comment, I am sure that it will benefit someone as some stage! Regard K