Do the original toothed bridges suffer from tail lift?

[jamespaul71]

The old style always looked heavier duty to me, but did they have tail lift problems like the rest?

[weemac]

The old style always looked heavier duty to me, but did they have tail lift problems like the rest?

Rarely do they get the tail lift but they have been known to crack...... (I think thats what happened to Sir Pauls)

Eden.

[BAD RONBO, KiLLeR DWaRfS]

even when i modified my three current basses with the aluminum tailpieces to accept the current saddle bridge, which involved removing material behind the three mounting screws, they still do not have tail lift.

[86kubicki]

I've never been clear on why they switched from aluminum in the first place. Anyone have any idea?

[rickaddict]

I've never been clear on why they switched from aluminum in the first place. Anyone have any idea?

From what I understand the old aluminum tail was a HUGE PIA to make. I forgot which one of the former RIC employees posted about it and when, but from what I understand it was a job that nobody looked forward to. I think it was a very hot job also.

[kiramdear]

Yep, aluminum is a bear to work with, compared with zinc. It's a yucky, gummy metal that's difficult to cast and clogs up your grinders, besides being difficult to weld and correct casting flaws.

[mac94]

How come the seven screw tailpiece went away?

[BAD RONBO, KiLLeR DWaRfS]

zinc die casting can have multiple molds connected together similar to how plastic model parts are made on trees. the process takes little time and file finishing is minimal. then dip the parts in a solution that will allow the chrome plating to stick to it. they may chrome it a few times to get a nice finish.

sand casting is in the open and very hot as i believe they were pouring by hand with the mold upside down. finishing to luster would be a project as you had to polish all the roughness out, buff it smooth, dip or plate it with possibly copper solution, then plate it with chrome. not fun. i saw somewhere someone pouring rick frypans in a box with sand/clay material.

[rickaddict]

How come the seven screw tailpiece went away?

Evidently too many whiners whined to RIC that they didn't like the look of the two extra screws.

Big mistake.

[BAD RONBO, KiLLeR DWaRfS]

are the new tailpieces beefed up in the weak spots ?

[jps]

Here are photos showing three different eras of tailpieces.

[BAD RONBO, KiLLeR DWaRfS]

if those are in order, the one on the right looks beefed up compared to the center one.

[rickaddict]

if those are in order, the one on the right looks beefed up compared to the center one.

Yes they are and yes it is. It's also noticeably heavier.

The old aluminum ones (as I'm sure you know, Ron) are WAY light.

[BAD RONBO, KiLLeR DWaRfS]

yes, i noticed this while wearing my basses . the aluminum bridges are so light , i have to use a boat anchor to keep the bottom of the bass from floating up like swimming trunks with air bubble pockets in them !

[T.A.R.]

Very interesting to see the tail pieces side by side.