4001 bridge at full back tilt OK?

[kiramdear]

Does this seem OK? It's what I have to do to achieve intonation: The bridge is tilted backward to the extreme with the forward edge barely clearing the strings. The forward planes of the saddles ditto, and saddles (except the G) retracted all the way. It works, as funny as it looks. Intonation and action are great. What would one of you think if this was your situation?
My first instinct is "if it ain't broke", but is there anything to gain by trying to fix it? This, my first Rick bass, is new to me so I don't know if I'm getting the most out of her with this bridge like this.

[weemac]

It's not uncommon (my rm1999 looks like this) and if it works........
Eden.

[kiramdear]

Thanks Eden, I'll just think of this as another lovable Rickenquirk It just looks strange but as long as she sounds and plays this well I'm happy.

[jdogric12]

I recently learned that positioning actually helps.

[kiramdear]

How so?

[seyesbass]

Thats normal.

[jdogric12]

I believe since it increases contact area, it increases resonance/sustain.

[antonius]

My '75 4001 was like that for years until I changed to a different type of strings and had to do a big setup. It doesn't feel or sound any better now the bridge is back in the correct position.

[wints]

My 73 BG is like this at present. It works....

[kiramdear]

So that's normal, OK. I won't change a thing. Thanks, Dog, I thought the sustain is good with the back edge planted like that. I just love these crazy Ricks...

While I'm at it, are these saddles zinc? They seem porous or corroded or something, powdery looking on the surface of them, maybe they're still just rough-cast. Should I polish them? Would a nobler metal be an improvement?

[jwr2]

It is quite common to have to put all 4 saddles all the way back to properly intonate an old 4001 bass ...

As long as it intonates properly don't worry about it ...