Tailpiece - external screws - What's Up?

[libratune]

I have noticed several 4003 models, mostly MG finish with BT, mid to late 80's, with two non-black external screws holding down the end of the BT tailpiece. I was told by the owners that this is factory original.

Here's an example:

http://cgi.ebay.com/1988-Rickenbacker-4 ... dZViewItem

What's the story? Original or not? If so, for how many model years?

[1965]

It's original, I don't remember the exact details though. I think they did the screw down tailpieces for just a few years around the timeframe you mentioned.

[aceonbass]

This was a fix that JH put in to keep the tailpieces from lifting. Some people complained about the cosmetics of the fix and they were removed from production, going back to the 5 screw design. The black powdercoating process weakens the casting somewhat, so it was particularly helpfull on those basses, but was present on all of the tailpieces for the early 4003's.

[chefothefuture]

Rick did this in the early 80s thru the early 90s on all basses.
My 87 v63 has a 7 screw tail.
Aside from being helpfull on the 4 string basses, the 5 and 8 stringers
really needed them.

Unfortunately, the extra screws are really the only fix for tail lift as long
as Rick still uses die cast zinc or pot metal or glop that they have used since
mid 73. The new castings are more solid, but my c64 tail is lifting like a skunk's tail.....

[aceonbass]

The tailpieces are made of die-cast zinc. I made the mistake of calling it pot metal once..just once

[libratune]

Thanks for the info. Learn something new every day.

Is there (or will someone soon be publishing) a book on the subject of "Rickenbacker Basses and Their Many Production Quirks Throughout the Annals of History"? (With all due respect, of course.)

I have only scratched the surface, but there is enough information in this forum thread to fill a book on RIC basses.

I guess that's what the forum is for, discussing the ins and outs of the RIC basses. But this historical stuff could all be nailed down in one place.

[doctorwho]

Is there (or will someone soon be publishing) a book on the subject of "Rickenbacker Basses and Their Many Production Quirks Throughout the Annals of History"? (With all due respect, of course.)

Yes, a Forumite is in the process of writing a book on RIC basses. There is probably an old thread about it.

The extra screws are present on my 4003S Redneck and 4003S SPC Tuxedo:

4003S Redneck and 4003S SPC Tuxedo tail pieces

I also added them to my 4003S/5 SPC "quasi-Blackstar" after straightening out its badly bent tail piece:

4003S/5 SPC tail piecewith added screws

Note that I used black wood screws to make the addition more 'stealthy' ...

[ben_brown]

My 84 4003 has the extra screws too.
I don't pay much attention to the screws though....I'm too busy looking at the wood!

[johnallg]

Ehhh, braggart! I sure hope to see that bass in 2 weeks.

[jps]

Same here! To go with this one, which Steve has already seen:

[johnallg]

You guys!!!! You know I really like MG!

[rickaddict]

The 7 screw tail began life in 1980 with the introduction of the 4003 and was used until '88 or so. If the cast aluminum tail was no longer an option, I think RIC should have stuck with the 7 screws. Who cares about the whiners who didn't like the look. It worked well.