The dreaded tail lift

alanz · Post by **alanz** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 1:03 pm

This'll fix whatever ails yer tail:

That thing at the end where the long shiny cords stop.

rollingricker21 · Post by **rollingricker21** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 11:34 pm

Looks like my only way out of it..

Though my bridge is holding up my new high gauge strings, for now.

beacon · Post by **beacon** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 7:46 am

Ok..now I know this appears to be somewhat a sensitive issue and as such must state up front I am not interested in reviving debate about replacement non-Ric bridges. That said, I had read threads before about the "lift" and basically ignored them thinking this only applies to vintage instruments. Then I saw where some newer 4003s had the same "potential" issue. I went and checked my '05 4003...credit card lift.

I sent an email to Ric's customer service asking what the fix would be if I returned it to the dealer for warranty work..over a week now with no response. So I ask here...what does/will they do under warranty? Anyone know?

It seems to me there has been a small loss of E string thump over the last couple of years...maybe related?

johnhall · Post by **johnhall** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 8:55 am

I can answer this quite simply- nothing. It's not a matter of a defective component and there is no "fix". It's the nature of the beast and it's been like this for the last 20 years.

As far as getting a response from customer service, did you get an autoresponse message indicating you were in the queue? If you didn't, yours is one of the estimated 20% that never make it, according to recent studies.

rickenbrother · Post by **rickenbrother** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 9:16 am

It seems to me there has been a small loss of E string thump over the last couple of years...

The E strings of my '06 4003FL and my '07 4003 DCM sound just fine.

beacon · Post by **beacon** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 9:51 am

Thanks Mr Hall for the reply...I sort of assumed as much thus taking the email route before lugging it back to the dealer. Just wasn't sure if concern was in order..although I never really noticed anything until I went and looked for it.

I did receive an autoresponse rather quickly, I just assumed I was in queue with what must be hundreds of emails received each day.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 12:36 pm

I personally have no problem with an after market bridge or adding 2 extra screws ...

aceonbass · Post by **aceonbass** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 12:54 pm

The tailpiece I just got from you fits my doubleneck real square Jeff, so I left the two screws off for now. If it starts to lift though, I'll be gettin' out the drill. While I don't mind the Hipshot part, I think the AllParts one looks like dogmeat.

heinpete · Post by **heinpete** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 8:25 pm

I also want to drill the two extra screw holes in my bass, but I still havn't found the tailpiece (early '80ies 4003)! Somebody have one for me???

aceonbass · Post by **aceonbass** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 8:27 pm

Any 4000/1/2/3 tailpiece can be drilled and countersunk for the two screws.

stevebasshead · Post by **stevebasshead** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 1:36 am

I've done a search but found nothing so I'll ask here (or maybe I've misunderstood the underlying cause of tail lift). Anyway, has anyone considered converting to through-body stringing to prevent tail lift from occurring/getting worse or allow the use of higher tension strings in such tail-lift circumstances ?

Seems to me that where people are happy to drill holes in the body or bridge this might be an option, and the holes would be hidden under the tailpiece, visible only on the back of the body. The string vibrations would still be passed through to the wood, but directly as well as through the remaining contact between the bridge and body surface. I don't think it would it sound much different or have a detrimental effect on sustain, would it ?

heinpete · Post by **heinpete** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 2:02 am

I know at least of one Scandinavian guy who had the B-string separately through the body after stringing BEAD. But that was many years ago...

Dane: Are the holes chromed in the original 7-screw tailpiece?

squirefan01 · Post by **squirefan01** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 3:39 am

My '87 4003 has the screws through the top of the tailpiece. I have no problem with the way it looks. Was '87 a year when RIC did this at the factory, or was this done after it was purchased?

rickaddict · Post by **rickaddict** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 4:12 am

4003's came from the factory with the two extra screws(7 in total) in the tail from the beginning of the model's run in 1980 until sometime in 1988 or '89, Greg.

aceonbass · Post by **aceonbass** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 6:16 am

Peter, if the extra two screw holes were done at the factory, then the chrome plating extends all the way into the hole.
Stephen, while some people are willing to drill two holes in their tailpiece, I don't know anyone who would actually drill holes all the way through the body. Cosmetically, it would really break up the clean look of the back of the instrument. I also think that the very steep break angle of the strings and the change in the direction of tension would cause the bridge to tip back as far as it would go, altering intonation and string action.