The dreaded tail lift

doctorwho · Post by **doctorwho** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 7:27 am

I remember seeing at least one 4001/4003 on eBay that had been drilled to run the strings through the back of the body.

stevebasshead · Post by **stevebasshead** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 7:51 am

Dane, would the bridge really be more likely to tilt back (i.e. toward the tailpiece) ? As the strings are tightened it'd be 'dragged' forwards and then held in place by the pressure wouldn't it ? Resting on the adjustment screws means it would have to describe an arc to tilt back toward the tailpiece and I think the downward pressure would prevent such movement if I'm picturing it right in my head.

My bridge tilts forward and always has as far as I remember and I've no problems with action or intonation.

aceonbass · Post by **aceonbass** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 8:03 am

It seems to me that it would tilt backward especially since most of them do anyway. I'd hate to find out after drilling holes in the back of my bass. I've already got a fix for the tilting RIC bridge anyway if it does. I do it to all of my bridges.

gothbin · Post by **gothbin** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 3:03 am

I just replaced my standard bridge for a hipshot replacement bridge. The fit is excellent, as is the ease of adjusting. The bass has gained some low end and some more sustain. The new one is a little strange to look at, and needs some getting used to it I think. I will see for period of time if I like it.

beacon · Post by **beacon** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 3:12 am

Robin,

Did you use the brass or aluminum Hipshot? Was installation easy..same holes used, etc? If you used the brass one, are you noticing the weight?

Just curious as this is the route I will probably take as well. Drilling holes and mounting new screws in the Ric tail is just something I can't deal with.

Power tool+me+Ric bass=disaster {:>)

kcole4001 · Post by **kcole4001** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 5:14 am

I've got a chromed brass Hipshot on my 4001 & the holes lined up perfectly, a true drop in replacement. However, I had to modify the length of the D & G saddle intonation screws.
It is noticeably heavier than the stock piece & seems to bring out more mids on mine.

gothbin · Post by **gothbin** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 7:31 am

Yes I have the brass one and it is heavy. I fitted in place excactly good. Intonation is so much easier, and sustain is longer. Notes are clearer and more defined.

curtisongs · Post by **curtisongs** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 9:28 am

Please post a photo of the bass with the hipshot installed.
Has anyone tried the aluminum version?
Thanks.

gothbin · Post by **gothbin** » Sun Apr 29, 2007 5:07 am

[img]http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/3231/dsc00434bu2.jpg[/img]

curtisongs · Post by **curtisongs** » Sun Apr 29, 2007 5:16 am

Thanks Robin.

jimd · Post by **jimd** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 6:26 am

I'm also waiting to hear of any preference for either brass or aluminum tailpeices. I'm not having any shortage of sustain presently on my v63, running through an ABM500/Bergintino rig.
The aluminum is preferred for tone on Les Pauls guitars. But I don't want a bright bass either, I like the soft thump of flatwounds. I'm still undecided, but need to upgrade from the original tailpeice.

kcole4001 · Post by **kcole4001** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 10:49 am

The brass one does seem to bring out some high mids on mine.

elgranluis · Post by **elgranluis** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 7:40 pm

This talk about tail lift got me thinking a couple of things. I have owned 2 basses with the lift problem. Right now I own only one, an '80 4001s. Anyway, I believe there's something we have all been missing. When Metal is bent, it gains hardness. That's probably the reason why tail lift stops at a certain angle; the tailpiece has already gained enough hardness. Anyway, here's the new approach I have towards tail lift. No mods, no drilling, no nothing. Just some simple steps:

-remove tailpiece
-straighten it (I did this with C clamps)
-reinstall

The tailpiece gains even more hardness with being bent back to normal. So basically, it took 27 years for my tailpiece to stabilize with its original hardness. I don't think i'll be around playing in 27 years, and I don't think it will lift again with the added hardness. No drilling, no mods. What do you think? Sometimes the most basic approach is also the best, I think!

mfb · Post by **mfb** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 8:02 pm

One thing I have found with the basses I have, is that the underneath of the tailpieces (where the three screws under the bridge go) don't sit quite flush to the rout when they are screwed in place. This has a tendency to itself "lift" the tail slightly when those screws are tightened. Anyone find this?

I guess the tension from the strings can exacerbate this long term.

I fixed it by putting a couple of washers under the piece, directly under the 3 screws. I did find that on one of the basses, the tailpiece itself wasn't totally flat in the diagonal such that when the piece was screwed in, the opposite corner lifted!

That just meant I had to add one less washer underneath that screw.

... I think I'm repeating myself ...

Anyhow, I don't like the looks of the hipshot thing. I got one by the way, and the chroming job wasn't the best I've seen - a big section of it was missing the chrome under the saddles! I did contact Jason at hipshot and he never even returned my emails ... so now I like it even less.