The dreaded tail lift

silverjet89 · Post by **silverjet89** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 9:56 am

That's what I needed! Nothing like a picture for clarification. Greatly appreciated.
I'm not sure I want to drill 2 extra holes though. Maybe I'll try to bend it back and keep lower tension strings on it.
Just out of curiosity, if I decided to replace the tailpiece does the current 4003 unit have the same mounting hole footprint?
Thanks again.

doctorwho · Post by **doctorwho** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 10:39 am

I'm sure I don't, David!

bassbob · Post by **bassbob** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 11:18 am

The new 4003 tailpieces from Ric, have the same foot print, I had to finish drilling the holes for the bridge adjustment screws, other than that the new one was the same as the original off my 74'.

silverjet89 · Post by **silverjet89** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 1:49 pm

Cool. Thanks.

bassbob · Post by **bassbob** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 8:27 pm

I seen that. Let us know what you find.

rollingricker21 · Post by **rollingricker21** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 2:21 am

I think I may have tail lift..

I found it nearly impossible to photograph though, this is the best I could get. I held the bridge in front of the light so you can see the light shine through where I think it has lifter a bit.

Whats concerning my is that I just bought higher gauge strings for my 4003 (2006).

Can anyone tell if that's tail lift from that picture?

Thanks

kcole4001 · Post by **kcole4001** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 4:57 am

Yep, that's lift, but seems to be quite normal.

My 1976 4000 has about the same amount as yours, Frank, and has had for the 20 years I've owned it, with nothing but 45-105 medium gauge strings on it since '86 (it had the original RIC flats when I got it).
I wouldn't worry unless the strings you're using are really high tension and you notice a change (which is difficult to spot).

bassbob · Post by **bassbob** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 7:22 am

I noticed no negative effects and mine was lifted about the same as that one. It bugged me though and I got a new tailpiece.

johnallg · Post by **johnallg** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 10:38 am

Lift like those two have has to affect the vibration of the string and thus tone and sustain - the metal the string is anchored to is floating in the air. It is not coupled to the wood of the bass directly, only through the floating metal to where the rest of the tailpiece contacts the wood. MHO.

bassbob · Post by **bassbob** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 11:12 am

Well, I had lift.

doctorwho · Post by **doctorwho** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 12:27 pm

No I had lift!

kcole4001 · Post by **kcole4001** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 12:51 pm

No, that's 'lift-off'!

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 1:02 pm

I've said it before and will say it again, except for a few basses such as Gary's and Owen's I think most of you guys are making a big deal about nothing. I never even think about it until I see another post about this. A certain amount seems normal and doesn't affect playability or sound. If it's 1/8 inch high as long as it doesn't keep increasing you have nothing to worry about.
I have an 81 4003 with the 7 screw original tailpiece, it has the same amount of sustain as all my others. My 72 also has the old style 3 screw tailpiece which never lifts and that also sounds the same.

aceonbass · Post by **aceonbass** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 2:12 pm

John A., you are absolutely correct in your conclusion as to the effect tail lift has on sound. I had about 1.5 mm of lift on my 3000/5 string. With the strings still on it and tuned to pitch, I drilled and countersunk the additional holes in the tailpiece and screwed it back down. When I plugged it back into my amp the sound was much more solid in the low to low mid frequency range. Was I worried it would go higher...no. That was not the point. It affected my sound so I fixed it. Would anyone here buy a bridge if it fit like that new? Now I'm not bagging on RIC. They fixed it and some people(probably collectors) whined about the asthetics. Comparing different 4000 series basses on this issue, given the variables inherent in wood to begin with, is like comparing apples and oranges. I'm a player first. If this problem, as well as the other issues with the stock design were not fixable, I would have put on a YOU-KNOW-WHAT bridge. I'll bet this is one of the very reasons that JH is re-designing this part.

johnallg · Post by **johnallg** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 3:11 pm

Thanks for the info, Dane. Looking at Bassbob's picture made me post, and Gary's pic just drives the point home.