Split Bridge

mikmik · Post by **mikmik** » Thu Jun 30, 2005 10:27 pm

My old 4000 had one of these. But my 4001 doesn't. What is the story here?

bassman · Post by **bassman** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 1:50 am

4000 and 4001 models had the split tailpiece until approx May-June of 1973. After that the current non-split tailpiece design became the standard.

It was one of the components that was changed in the design by RIC during "The Transition Year 1973".

david_schwab · Post by **david_schwab** » Thu Sep 01, 2005 3:16 am

I always wondered what the split was for.

marty · Post by **marty** » Thu Sep 01, 2005 3:33 am

"I always wondered what the split was for."

Good point David.

What's the significance, if any of the split?

rickengeezer · Post by **rickengeezer** » Thu Sep 01, 2005 5:19 am

I always assumed that it was cosmetic, to mirror the "split" that the original horseshoes had. Once they went to the solid pickup cover, there was no point in keeping the split.

Of course, I am making this up, but it sounds plausible.

wints · Post by **wints** » Thu Sep 01, 2005 5:29 am

The old mute baseplates are actually split in the middle. Two seperate pieces although the mute was one solid piece. This may be the answer...

jnbass · Post by **jnbass** » Thu Sep 01, 2005 8:16 am

I kinda like the split look...

david_schwab · Post by **david_schwab** » Thu Sep 01, 2005 9:34 am

Jared, that's called a "diastema." My wife has one of those... looks sexy on her!

jnbass · Post by **jnbass** » Thu Sep 01, 2005 4:24 pm

diastema?

ok

david_schwab · Post by **david_schwab** » Fri Sep 02, 2005 3:58 am

Yep, diastema.