Help---Damper Bars

[lyle_from_minneapolis]

Do all 4001 tailpieces have a damper bar? That's part #01900. I bought a tailpiece from a '76 for my '72, but now that I'm excited to string this baby up and play it after 2 months down, I realize the adjustment screws on either side of the bridge would now go directly against the unfinished wood underneath. Doesn't seem right, especially since I don't see any marks in that location.

This bass wass modded with something similar to a Badass bridge before I acquired it.

Dang, and I'm SO CLOSE... any advice?

[rictified]

What do you mean, there are holes drilled in the tailpiece so the two allen screws of the bridge go into the wood? If so that was a fairly common mod. Keeps the bridge up straight and I think makes them sound a little better, that was done to the 79 I used in that video I posted here the other day.
Or do you mean a mute? If so yes, they all came with a mute almost from the very beginning.

[lyle_from_minneapolis]

The screws I mean are the ones that raise or lower the bridge, and they are hand-adjusted--also known as part #05901. The question is: do I need a damper bar--part #01900--to lay above the wood and below the tailpiece? Otherwise those adjustment screws will hit bare wood when I adjust.

[doctorwho]

[edited]
I was confused at first because the mute bar has nothing to do with the bridge, but I think I understand now. I'll let the experts handle this.

This should be in The Vibrola section, too.

[rictified]

OK I got it:
The bridge does not hand adjust, the mute does though. The bridge has the four saddles in it and raises and lowers your action among other things and has allen screws. You're talking about the mute, maybe they call it a damper bar in England but it's called a mute over here (I just googled it and found it at a store in England being called a damper bar. It dampens the strings vibrations, they are very literal over there, haha!)
Yes you are supposed to have one although it's not necessary unless you use it, just take out the two adjustment screws, those also double (on a 4001 anyway) as strap screws.

[rickfan60]

Unfinshed wood? Ricks are completely finished even inside of routes. Sounds like a more extensive mod. Can you post a pic?

[rictified]

If I remember right there is a unfinished factory cutout under where the mute goes, it's been a while since I had a tailpiece off though, you could be right.

[lyle_from_minneapolis]

Guys, I apologize for having TDD (Terminology Deficit Disorder), so I'll try to be more clear. On the Ric website service section, in the parts diagram for bass tailpieces, you'll see a part called a Damper Bar, #01900. It's what Rickenbacker calls it, in America. It appears to be situated directly below and parallel to the muting pad section of the tailpiece.

However, on the pictures on those Ric website diagrams, the tailpiece is pictured in a way that suggests the Damper Bar may not be a standard item?

Does anyone yet know what this piece is, and if I need one?

Ted, the unfinished wood looks possibly plugged in, underneath where the tailpiece would go. Here is an OLD pic taken before any work was done. The new chrome piece from a '76 4001 covers it neatly, so I had assumed this was not part of a mod. Now you have me wondering again. It obviously looks like **** with the silly bridge in this photo:

[lyle_from_minneapolis]

A little more info. So the hand-adjustable screws that resemble strap locks...the two that you find on either side of the four channels containing the muting pad...well, on my tailpiece, these screws are confusing me. It seems as if they are designed to hit metal if screwed down tight, rather that that unfinished wood. And this is why I am wondering if I should have one of those damper bars.

Looks like college levels stuff I've stumbled on here. Should I post to the Vibrola or Vintage Ricks?

Thanks

[doctorwho]

Mark, I just posted a note for you in The Vibrola section with a link to this thread (../5/136058.html"MB">

[teeder]

Mark,

That wood was definitely added in.

[kcole4001]

The thumb screws that raise the mute or damper thread through the metal mute bar that the foam pad sticks to.

They should not hit wood at any time, the factory routs out a cavity for this purpose, and this cavity is finished on my three Ricks.

The bridge ground wire also should be soldered to the bottom of the mute bar.
I had mine apart recently, so I remember the layout well.
Hope that helps!

[lyle_from_minneapolis]

Thanks Kevin, it does. I understand the mechanism better.

But I am incapable of leaving a mystery alone. What is the purpose of Rickenbacker part #01900, also known as a damper bar?

[rictified]

The rubber mute is glued to it, it is a metal bar with two holes, the two knurled top screws screw into two holes on either side of it and raise and lower the mute, the mute is stuck with sticky stuff to the top of it. It is not necessary unless you use it but it was once there, all you have left are the two screws. The new 72 that is posted here also does not have it or at least doesn't have the two screws, sometimes they (the mute and bar) fall down inside and lay there and rattle.
Your bass had some wood inlaid into it, there is usually a cut out where the tailpiece goes, your's has had a block of wood put into it.

[ken_j]

If a picture paints a thousand words then look here.
Notice it is spring loaded.