Bridge lift, is it bad?

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Mon May 30, 2005 4:21 am

Les: The hard part is drilling the extra holes. The tailpiece must be securely clamped onto a drill press. I have never tried to reshape a bent tailpiece but you may be able to do it first on piece of scrap wood. Route or chisel out a small pocket for the mute then screw the tailpiece to the scrap. The soft zinc casting should bend enough to be placed back on the bass.

String rattle at the saddles is definately one of the possible problems that can result from excessive lift.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Mon May 30, 2005 4:26 am

yep ... I often add 2 extra screws ... and sometimes I add 4 extra screws on 5 string Rics ...

rickengeezer · Post by **rickengeezer** » Mon May 30, 2005 4:43 am

Thanks for the info, guys, although the idea of drilling holes into the wood of my bass makes me feel faint, sorta like some people and the sight of blood....

Jeff, that black 5'er looks to be one of your mods....where did you get the bridge for it?

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Mon May 30, 2005 5:37 am

The all black one has a 4003s5 tailpiece on it ... the mapleglo one has a 4003 tailpiece modified with a dremmel tool ...

and yes it takes some courage to drill holes in a Ric bass ...

lars · Post by **lars** » Mon May 30, 2005 10:31 am

How stable are newer basses? Is the new 4003 bridges better than the 1970's 4001? I mean since there were extra screws in the 80's, but not on new Ricks?

maplered · Post by **maplered** » Mon May 30, 2005 11:02 am

Lars,

I have severe bridge lift on my 4001C64. I made the mistake of putting Fender flatwounds on the bass when I originally bought it. The strings sounded great but are way too much tension for the tailpiece.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Mon May 30, 2005 1:01 pm

any bridge after about 72 can pull up ... supposedly the tailpieces from the last 6 years are better ... but I always add 2 or 4 screws because I have 5 strings ... my old '68 stayed completely flat ...

keb · Post by **keb** » Mon May 30, 2005 1:44 pm

My '92 4003 suffers from bridge lift. I ended up adding a couple screws to hold it down.

cheyenne · Post by **cheyenne** » Mon May 30, 2005 2:31 pm

This seems to be a problem that has been around for a decade or two.

Maybe a question for John Hall, any improvements in the future???

scottpro1969 · Post by **scottpro1969** » Mon May 30, 2005 2:41 pm

After reading this thread I went and checked my '04 4003MB and it's lifting a little!!!!! Frustrating. Pyramid flats on there. One of those hipshot bridges may be in order here. Reversible mod I understand.

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Mon May 30, 2005 4:54 pm

I have some that have remained perfectly flat and others that have pulled up. I am in agreement with Jeff Rath, the slotted ones from the 60's don't seem to bend like the newer ones do.

cwk · Post by **cwk** » Mon May 30, 2005 5:22 pm

Oh,****.Oh well,mine is in the same shape.Bummer.
That explains a lot.I just didn't see it.
Bill

jnbass · Post by **jnbass** » Mon May 30, 2005 5:57 pm

"somethings should never be flat..."

cwk · Post by **cwk** » Mon May 30, 2005 6:09 pm

Tell that to the Mrs. (funny thing here).

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Mon May 30, 2005 6:21 pm

I want my strings round and my bridges flat and my women ... well you can guess ...