4003 tailpiece bending up

ojobob2 · Post by **ojobob2** » Sat Apr 19, 2003 7:04 am

jeff - i respect that a new one may lift, in that case i can try your method on the old one. I should get many years outta this new one tho

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Sat Apr 19, 2003 7:45 am

It is good to have some spare parts for your Ric ... so get the new one and then you can drill holes in the old one ...

ojobob2 · Post by **ojobob2** » Sat Apr 19, 2003 7:54 am

yep, will do, im gonna order one from the music connection. Im in the UK , so it seems the best choice

gt76 · Post by **gt76** » Sat Apr 19, 2003 8:09 am

Owen - that is a sad looking bridge plate. Good luck with a new one. An earlier post from someone stated that people were making a big deal out of nothing. It didn't affect playability or intonation. It certainly seems from the photo that at some point in time it could have become an issue with eventually having little to no tension across the bridge saddles. Face it folks. Ricks are not "perfect" basses. But, I love 'em. That's why I own two. Watching parts of your prized possession curl and distort can be very unnerving. People that love these basses have pointed out a flaw in them and it could be improved upon by the manufacturer. Maybe someone will listen.

ojobob2 · Post by **ojobob2** » Sat Apr 19, 2003 8:52 am

im lucky i didnt witness it bend, ive only owned it a few months.

I assumed the curled up tail was just how these basses were from that time period. Only from looking at photos of other instrumemts did i begin to worry.

Im suprised John Hall has never entered into this discussion, as i think i have addressed a real flaw with his products

jeff_ulmer · Post by **jeff_ulmer** » Sat Apr 19, 2003 9:13 am

My 1999 CS has the curl, about 1/16 off the body. I think the change to the new 4004 bridge addresses this issue, however any reissues that use the old design may be subject to the problem. While warping on its own isn't that big a deal, if a crack were to develop and the bridge snap under tension, there could be some serious injury sustained to both people and gear in the proximity.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Sat Apr 19, 2003 9:16 am

I have 2 4003s5's and both of them bent more than that one ... it was truly hideous ... both of them now have the extra screws and look great ...

ojobob2 · Post by **ojobob2** » Sat Apr 19, 2003 10:01 am

im gonna order a new one from the music connection.

anyone ordered from them before? were they reliable?

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Sat Apr 19, 2003 10:37 am

I bought a lot of stuff from Mike Parks ...

he is reliable.

lshaia · Post by **lshaia** » Sat Apr 19, 2003 1:07 pm

If I were John Hall there is no way I'd comment on this issue. If he agrees that there is a problem in the material used for the bridge he invites a bunch of warranty claims. If he says that there's no problem, some bridges just come out that way, he is open to criticism for having lousy quality control. If he says that it's Owen's fault for using Rotosound strings instead of Ric strings he's made to look like a lawyer (who uses Ric strings?).

I, too, have ordered from Mike Parks. He's a nice man who was very patient with me.

jeff_ulmer · Post by **jeff_ulmer** » Sat Apr 19, 2003 2:00 pm

I think the fact that the newer 4003 bridges (at least the s5s and s8s) have extra screws to prevent the curl says Rick knows full well about the issue and has done something to correct it. Of course, if they used that design on reissues everyone would get their panties in a twist.

I agree with Lindsay as to why JH may not wish to comment on the issue, which I fully respect.

tsarter · Post by **tsarter** » Sat Apr 19, 2003 5:59 pm

Just browsed this thread tonight and was surprised to see a picture of my CS that I just sold on E-bay here (Thanks John - small world indeed. Should have guessed you'd be one to hang around these parts!).

Being the curious sort I am, I checked my Sea Green V63 to see if it has pulled up at all. It has a bit. I also looked at photos of other Rics I've had and then sold. On those that I could see that area, it would appear they have too.

Now that I think of it, I recall noting this on the Sea Green when it came brand new from the factory. That is the only Ric I bought new, so I just assumed that is how they were designed. Silly me!

Does it bother me? Absolutely not. Of all the Rics I've owned the best playing one is probably the CS I just sold to John, followed closely by my V63. Personally I would not worry about it in the least unless it ever becomes a problem.

ojobob2 · Post by **ojobob2** » Sat Apr 19, 2003 11:59 pm

tim- yeah nearly every rick has a slight lift, and thats no big deal. But if you looked at the photo of mine that i posted youd see i need to replace it. I understand jeff rath's method, but i domnt wanna drill into the body of my favorite (not to mention expensive) bass.

Plus, to to who ever said that John Hall would state that i shouldnt have used rotosound strings : 1. I dont
2. The 4003 was the 4001 redesigned so you could use any strings

lshaia · Post by **lshaia** » Sun Apr 20, 2003 4:50 am

Owen, you're right, I should have been more specific, although I was speaking of the uplift issue in general terms, not just of your particular case. I should have said "strings of a different gauge or tension than those which were original to the bass." Ric's warranty card lists the "use of replacement parts, including strings, not in conformity with factory specifications" as being a reason to void the warranty. However flawed, that was the logic behind my comment.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Sun Apr 20, 2003 6:04 am

I have seen cases of slight pull-up ... and cases of severe pull-up ..

I have never seen a tail piece crack, fail, snap, or effect playability ....

but it does look hideous when it starts to curl up ... and the potential for failure is there.