Vintage Versus re-issue tailpieces

seyesbass · Post by **seyesbass** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 2:30 am

Ive noticed a small ammount of tail lift on my CS over the years and I read the "dreaded tail lift" thread and wondered if anyone has ever fitted a genuine vintage tailpiece to a more recent 4001/V63 or 4003.
I will get a vintage re-issue tailpiece if theres one around (minus all the bits as I dont need them) but I would be interested in fitting a complete original to the bass if were possible.I remember the differences between the two from way back in the 80s when I was looking for replacement parts for DA24 so I know the parts arent interchangeable.Its down to whether an original vintage bridge tailpiece will fit and be in tune without major surgery or having it hanging over the end of the body.
And I see that a replacement re-issue tailpiece isnt currently available from stock.
Any thoughts?

seyesbass · Post by **seyesbass** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 4:03 am

I have only just remembered,
Its my CSs' 17th birthday this month!
I will have some Devon Clotted Cream to celebrate.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 5:28 am

Could you send some over to this Californian colonial? Can't get it here...

I have seen size variations between older and newer tailpieces, when restoring basses, but have not really catalogued anything formally. Seems the newer ones are a bit smaller all 'round. Can anyone verify this? Is it common knowledge?

jps · Post by **jps** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 3:40 pm

IIRC the bridge itself is a different size vs. the later ones, so you will need all "the bits"!

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 5:09 pm

The vintage tailpiece ... why can't customers buy this part?

jps · Post by **jps** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 5:13 pm

RIC hasn't made them in decades, maybe this is why.

Given all the moaning about tail lift (which I agree does happen to varying degrees), I suppose RIC could make them the old way again.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 6:16 pm

I mean the ones they used on the 4001V63, 4001cs, and the c64 models ... they used to sell them and sell the horseshoe pickup as well ... it seems one by one all of the cool spare parts are becoming unavailable ...

seyesbass · Post by **seyesbass** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 10:56 pm

If I got an "original" I would have to fit the whole thing,but as they dont show up anywhere I am on the lookout for a re-issue tailpiece without the mute or saddles.
Ironically I bought a re-issue bridge/tailpiece back in the 80s and gave it to Dave Carr who fitted it to one of his 4003s.
If anyone has either an original complete or just a re-issue tailpiece please drop me a line.
Thanks guys.

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Mon Aug 06, 2007 12:20 am

I had tried to use an original tailpiece with a later bridge on a bass once, but while it worked (somewhat) the bridge doesn't fit properly in the recess on an older alumuinum taipiece unit...I'd recommend that what ever you end up using, use both pieces of the same era together..

wints · Post by **wints** » Mon Aug 06, 2007 11:54 am

The old ones simply don't lift...

elysrand · Post by **elysrand** » Mon Aug 06, 2007 5:57 pm

And people wonder why I rarely buy anything later than 1972......

..makes you wonder why JH simply doesn't pull out the old molds and start casting himself again like the old days. Very little NRC to production... worked better than what he has made for him now.... or pharm it out to a third-party out-of-towner vendor...

seyesbass · Post by **seyesbass** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 2:20 am

I was thinking along the same lines.
It would be very cost effective for Rickenbacker if they made the "new" size tailpiece out of the same materials as the old ones with its strength advantage. We would be ordering them by the dozen as replacements so surely it would be a viable proposition.
How about a new stronger version of the tailpiece if possible with just the three under saddle screws Mr Hall?
Cash waiting!
Pleeeze!