(similar to previous straplock thread) Dunlops for 4

bassment_zombie · Post by **bassment_zombie** » Wed Feb 19, 2003 9:46 am

Hi everyone - this is my first foray into this wonderful forum, and the Ric community

I recently bought a "wonderfully worn" '73 4001 from a pawnshop for $500 -- I had my sights set on a Ric for quite some time (my other bass is a '75 Fender P that I also bought for a steal at a Music-Go-Round down south) ...found this Ric for a wonderful price, and snatched it on the spot! The back of the body is quite worn with a large portion of the finish worn off, but that's really its only cosmetic flaw. I live in Boston and the beaut will be ready from its setup for me to pickup tomorrow (from Jim Mouradian)...the Mouradians told me that this was a surprisingly great Ric considering its age --- they told me that no one had really messed with the truss rods much, and therefore, they were in great shape/condition...they told me that the neck was easily a 9/10..etc etc...I'll stop gloating

Anyhow, let me please continue...I read through the thread near the bottom portion of the page concerning straplocks for the 4003 (Schallers). I currently use Dunlops on my P bass and love them - in fact, I've found they are much more reliable than the Schaller - my Dunlops have never failed, while the straplocks on other instruments I've used Shallers on have failed...I was wondering if it would be possible for me to use the Dunlops instead of the Shallers? (in terms of, there was mention of RIC selling the shaller conversion strap connectors...etc)

sorry for my lack of proper terminology...your help is greatly appreciated!

--Drew

paul_yan · Post by **paul_yan** » Wed Feb 19, 2003 10:46 am

Hi Drew,
Welcome to this wonderful place and learning ground.

I'm afraid that the Dunlop locks would not fit the 4001 bass' strap bolts. I've been using the Schaller system and don't have any experience with the Dunlop locks.

RIC strap bolts are not of the wood screw type with a pointy tip. They are rather like threaded cylinders with a flat tip.

Is there any way that you can try your Dunlop locks on your 4001 and see if they match?

Or you can buy a set of the Dunlop system and have Jim Mouradian modify (fill) the bass' 2 holes and install the Dunlops.

Just my humble suggestion.

And congratualtions!

jeff_ulmer · Post by **jeff_ulmer** » Wed Feb 19, 2003 12:04 pm

I'll echo Paul's comments. You'd need to dowel the holes and redrill to use a different strap lock system. Ric's current line use a Schaller style pin, but it is a machine thread rather than a pointy screw with a wood thread. The same screws are used for the bridge mute, so you may want to hang onto them.

bassment_zombie · Post by **bassment_zombie** » Wed Feb 19, 2003 12:32 pm

Thanks for helping me out, Paul and Jeff.

So if I may, allow me to see if I understand this correctly...the previous thread I had read (which is at the borrom portion of the page) was for getting the Ric/Shaller bolts so that the Shaller straplocks can be fitted for the Ric...now I know that I cannot use the Dunlop without modifications...however, hypothetically, if I wanted to avoid modifications, would my 4001 also support the Shaller straplock system, or would I also have to modify my 4001 anyhow? (I'm not sure if only the 4003 can support the Shallers without being modified)...

Thanks in advance

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Wed Feb 19, 2003 1:35 pm

Here's an old trick for woodworking ...

Take the old hole .. put in some elmer's glue ... put in a couple of cut/broken tooth picks into the hole ... then put in your screw ....

This works good various places on your wood bass body ...

I fix loose screws on old basses this way ... My '73 4001 that I sold has duncan straplocks on it ... looked and worked fine ...

jeff_ulmer · Post by **jeff_ulmer** » Wed Feb 19, 2003 2:23 pm

While Jeff Rath's advice is great for most hole plugs, the holes for the strap pins on a Ric are a bit big for the old toothpick trick, since they are about an eight of an inch in diameter.

As for the Schallers, yes, they can retrofit the old 4001 basses with no mods, all you need are the pins from Ric (part #05904 for chrome) or through a dealer like Music Connection. These are different from the regular Schaller pins in that they do not have the wood screws, but are a one piece pin with a machine thread. Depending on how loose the currect pins are, you may want to dab a bit of wood glue on the replacements just to make sure they are tight.

johnhall · Post by **johnhall** » Wed Feb 19, 2003 2:26 pm

The type of strap bolt used on a modern 4003 will replace the 4001 buttons with no modification whatsoever. Just unscrew the old ones and screw in the new ones- completely reversible too if you wish to return it to factory condition.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Wed Feb 19, 2003 4:52 pm

The screw for the duncan strap lock is a little longer than the Ric bolt and it is almost as fat ... So the tooth pick trick should work ...

My old '73 bass came with the duncan strap lock installed so I don't know how it was done but it was very solid ...

I have had very good success with Schaller strap locks ... but I must admit I like the Duncan design a lot ...

jayfbv · Post by **jayfbv** » Thu Feb 27, 2003 6:28 pm

Hmm...I had the Dunlop type on everything for a while. I hated the way they looked and had a failure once with the early 2 bearing type. I think the modern design has 4 bearings.

I replaced them all with Schallers. I have found that the Schaller nut needs a bit of Loctite removable threadlocker, or else it'll fall apart one day with no notice. I forget the Loctite number, but is the light blue one. It sort of helps to work in manufacturing or you'd never see these items.

bassment_zombie · Post by **bassment_zombie** » Mon Mar 03, 2003 2:28 am

"Hmm...I had the Dunlop type on everything for a while. I hated the way they looked and had a failure once with the early 2 bearing type. I think the modern design has 4 bearings"

Yea James, I'm referring to the modern design with 4 bearings...they have never failed for me on multiple instruments, nor have I ever even heard of them failing. There's an entire thread on talkbass.com concerning them (straplock systems) and my point is echoed.