Having problems with my 4001s and the tailpiece

captain_jetglo · Post by **captain_jetglo** » Fri Sep 29, 2006 11:04 pm

Hi, once upon a time in a distant land (a.k.a Spain) there was a bass player who tried to be Dr. Rickenbakerstein and tried to fix his bass... Well, I'll try to make it shorter. The thing is that I have had this bass for long 22 years, and the mute piece just disappeared with years, you know it became harder and then broke into pieces and at last no mute pad. So I bought on eBay a tail piece, that I presume now, not then, was not original, so I changed only the mute piece. This is when my bass troubles begin: Since then my bass doesn't sound as it should, the screws on the mute pad are loose and I cannot regulate them so my bass is always completely mute.
Question: Is there a way to fix it without dismounting it again? Well, if there's no other way I'll do it again.
I'll be waiting desperately for an answer.
Thanks

ben_brown · Post by **ben_brown** » Sat Sep 30, 2006 3:48 am

Did you forget to put the two springs back in place between the mute pad assembly and the tailpiece?

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Sat Sep 30, 2006 4:20 am

Welcome Sergio. Yes, what Ben said seems reasonable here. Perhaps the springs are missing? They push the mute bar down away from the strings when the thumb screws are loosened. If they are not installed, the bar will just float around inside the tail piece.

captain_jetglo · Post by **captain_jetglo** » Sat Sep 30, 2006 10:57 am

Thank you for your fast answers Ben & Ted.
Believe it or not the springs are in the correct place, that's what's making me crazy. I think I'll dismount it again and have a close look to what I did, and do it again (no, not the wrong way).
You know, I think the bolt just get loose when you turn it out and it separates from the nut, it seems not to be a top that stops it. I don't know...

rickcrazy · Post by **rickcrazy** » Sat Sep 30, 2006 11:01 am

Hola, hermano. Welcome to the Forum.

captain_jetglo · Post by **captain_jetglo** » Sat Sep 30, 2006 11:06 am

Hola Sérgio, thank you for your welcome message.
I'm just trying to bring back to life my '75 4001s. Let's keep in touch

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Sat Sep 30, 2006 11:11 am

Our Iberian connection has just doubled and they are both called Sergio. Cool!

rickcrazy · Post by **rickcrazy** » Sat Sep 30, 2006 2:14 pm

YEAH!
Sergio, do you need any further parts for your 4001s?

captain_jetglo · Post by **captain_jetglo** » Sun Oct 01, 2006 12:02 am

Right Ted!

rickinroma · Post by **rickinroma** » Sun Oct 01, 2006 12:08 am

Welcome Captain Sergio..we'd missed somebody from Spain here!

captain_jetglo · Post by **captain_jetglo** » Sun Oct 01, 2006 12:11 am

Hi Sérgio, well, in fact my bass is almost fine, I mean, The only spare I think I need right now is the treble pick up cover (I just wonder how it may affect the sound) and just in case of needing it, a new tailpiece (but I don't think things could go that wrong).
Anyway I want to keep it the more original I can, e.g , although the pickguard has some rust I'll keep it.
But in case I need something, don't worry, I'll shout it loud here. Thank you

captain_jetglo · Post by **captain_jetglo** » Sun Oct 01, 2006 12:15 am

Hi Francesco, I'll try to keep on posting and sharing all this rick crazyness with you all. Let's do the Mediterranean Connection ha, ha

rickinroma · Post by **rickinroma** » Sun Oct 01, 2006 12:25 am

yes, at least a small confluence here in rome or in madrid

wints · Post by **wints** » Sun Oct 01, 2006 4:22 am

Welcome Sergio...again!

Nice to see new members from different countries. You and Sergio, should have plenty to talk about!

A Med confluence could certainly tempt me.

captain_jetglo · Post by **captain_jetglo** » Sun Oct 01, 2006 5:04 am

Oh, Thanks a lot Andrew, I hope so