New 4003 MG in but...eek !! Panic sets in.....

kidvett · Post by **kidvett** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 1:39 pm

Alan,

Very nice looking !! I like those that are different & less often seen...I have decided to get a Hipshot bridge ( thanks Scott for the link ) until I decide what to do with the original ``bent`` bridge...

Bob, I was bent when I received it !! Sad thing is that it was not advertized as such...And to add to the insult, the neck is warped...So it'll probably have to go to a ``guitarsmith`` ( ?? ) to fix it....

Had a jam today with the band & I used it. Everyone favored it to my 2006 4003 saying that it's a smoother sound with more bottom end. They dont like at all the ``clangy trebly`` distorted sound of the JetGlo....

icabod · Post by **icabod** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 3:20 pm

My buddy's 79 white, bt had the holes drilled out and the screws rested on the wood, and over Christmas, I had my brother in laws Feb. 77 and the holes were not drilled out, but it sure had a skinny neck and it was burgandy...R

johnallg · Post by **johnallg** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 4:53 pm

"So can we conclude that somebody at RIC was drilling those holes out on the tailpieces for a little while, or that maybe some dealer was drilling out every 4001 that came through his shop?"

Would be interesting to know the answer, no? When I did the drilling out, I noticed a fuller, deeper tonal shift. Not huge, but a big enough change to notice right off. Sort of solidified the lower range, so to speak. Maybe more of the wood in the tone. I was not sorry I did it.

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 5:28 pm

Here is how to fit the washers. They are a quick and dirty solution but I prefer to use maple shims.

This board has been ripped to the correct width for shims. I cut them off as needed and then round the corners using my standing station.

Here is a shim being test fit into the route. I sand them to the correct thickness using a sanding disk.

The next step is to drill the screw holes. I also like to glue them down with a touch of wood glue.

cheyenne · Post by **cheyenne** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 5:49 pm

So simple............Cause and effect. Instead of coming up with the best repair,,,find the root cause, Damn. Ted, you humble me with your genius.

That makes all the sense in the world.

Hmmm.... OK,,, anyway Marc! Do a Google search for Hipshot. You may be able to get a better price elsewhere.

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 5:54 pm

If I was really that good I would have added the shedua stripe!

Thanks for the kind words Scott but I am such a beginner!

cheyenne · Post by **cheyenne** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 6:17 pm

Your really that good Ted.

You would'nt be able to see the stripe anyway.

johnallg · Post by **johnallg** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 7:30 pm

Nice flaming going on there with that closeup inset piece Ted!

jnbass · Post by **jnbass** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 10:44 pm

did someone say quilt?

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 12:15 pm

The washers don't "fix" a bent tail piece so much as prevent it from getting worse. If the bass is under warranty RIC should always be your first resort.

fireglo · Post by **fireglo** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 9:19 pm

Could you tell a difference in the tone with the washers in place? Did it resonate more?

ram · Post by **ram** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 6:37 am

A question - does anyone know if the 'addition of two screws' method to the tail piece gives the same results (resonance, low end, etc) as the 'washer/wooden shim' method being discussed here?

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 6:52 am

The extra screws might help but the idea here is to provide solid acoustic coupling directly beneath the bridge.

rickenbrother · Post by **rickenbrother** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 7:00 am

I might as well jump on the tailpiece washers bandwagon! Maybe it will add to the low end on my Ricks, especially my '73. Not that I have any complaints about its sound, but if it can be even better, then why not go for it.

ram · Post by **ram** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 5:50 am

Thanks Ted, between your last comment and David's one picture of the bottom of the tail piece, the light bulb went on.