(We now join this RM 1999 restoration already in progress)

[johnhall]

Surely its not that difficult to produce a redesigned mould for both zinc and ally versions for all us tone freaks?

It isn't, nothing that $40-50,000 wouldn't buy.

[dricard]

Perhaps I am wrong, but isnt the tone much more in the neck construction, string,s and more importantly technique, not the piece of metal which sits behind the saddles and does not resonate?

[aceonbass]

Perhaps I am wrong, but isnt the tone much more in the neck construction, string,s and more importantly technique, not the piece of metal which sits behind the saddles and does not resonate?

You're joking right? The tailpiece is cast from one piece. The strings are anchored to it, and the bridge sits in it. It absolutely resonates, and as such, will affect the tone.

[dricard]

I'm not joking. The bridge shouldn't have as great an effect as the other aspects I mentioned. It's not like these bridges are the trapese styles as found on other guitars.

[daveman]

Let's not derail this thread, gents. I'd rather await updates regarding the restoration of this instrument. We can debate tailpiece designs, etc., elsewhere.

[walker]

I appreciate the redirect, Dave; thanks. But until I actually have an update, this is an interesting point to ponder, and due to the scope of differing opinions, a subject worthy of a blind sound test! Someone will have to start a thread on it once the means of making audio comparisons with the different metals discussed is a possibility.

On the initial subject, I'm currently prepping the bass for painting.

[ken_j]

Mark are you going to replace the frets with ones more period correct before finishing?

[aceonbass]

I'm not joking. The bridge shouldn't have as great an effect as the other aspects I mentioned.

And it probably doesn't, but you stated that it didn't resonate, and since the strings are actually anchored to it, it does. Many here have talked about the difference in tone between stock bass bridges (usually made from zinc) and brass bridges. Given that, I'll bet there's a sonic difference between the current die-cast zinc tailpiece and cast aluminum. For many, including myself, the aluminum tailpiece was present on 4001's played during some of the most iconic music ever. While it would cost 40 or 50 large to bring it back, I don't think anyone would miss the current part with its visible mounting screws, and it would certainly put to rest the lifting tailpiece issue.

[walker]

Mark are you going to replace the frets with ones more period correct before finishing?

AFTER finishing. I won't be doing that part myself. That's a bit beyond my scope of experience.

[ram]

I can't rewind... does the fretboard get finished?

[walker]

I believe so, Tom. The RM's I've seen have a finished fretboard, but not in the super thick glossy mess that Chip Little left on mine. So that will need to be taken care of along with the refret.

The more I think about it, the more I'm liking the idea of Chris Price at The 12th Fret Custom Guitar Shop doing the fret/fretboard work. I may be able to just bring the RM with me the next time I'm out that way. We'll see - Jeremy from Rudy's Guitars gave me a personal referral here in NY that may work out. But I've actually had Chris Price do some stuff for me, so I already know I like & trust his work.

http://the12thfret.com/The_Twelfth_Fret ... lcome.html

[Colonel Sanders]

I believe so, Tom. The RM's I've seen have a finished fretboard, but not in the super thick glossy mess that Chip Little left on mine. So that will need to be taken care of along with the refret.

The more I think about it, the more I'm liking the idea of Chris Price at The 12th Fret Custom Guitar Shop doing the fret/fretboard work. I may be able to just bring the RM with me the next time I'm out that way. We'll see - Jeremy from Rudy's Guitars gave me a personal referral here in NY that may work out. But I've actually had Chris Price do some stuff for me, so I already know I like & trust his work.

http://the12thfret.com/The_Twelfth_Fret ... lcome.html

Thanks for the link! It introduced me to Jesse Reno's work! Quite nice!

[walker]

All those guys are top notch.

[walker]

Interesting thing I noticed - the fretboard on the RM is a full ⅜ of an inch thick. All my other basses, including my other 4001S, have fretboards in the neighborhood of 4-5 sixteenths of an inch thick.

[walker]

Here's another brief sidebar until I finish up the RM:

So Chris Seibel dropped by yesterday to have me look at his bass regarding some buzz and string alignment issues, and while we were talking bass, he posed a very interesting question - one I've never heard anyone else mention before, or thought of myself in all my years of having Ricks-On-The-Brain. He was taking a look at the bare face of the RM and asked "Was this toaster pickup wire groove cut by a succession of drill holes?" I said yes, believing that to be true, then he asked: "Then how was this harness cavity cut?" "That was done with a router." I said. And now the $64,000 question posed by Chris: "Then why didn't they just cut the pickup wire groove with a router too?"

Good dang question. All the pickup, harness, and tailpiece cavities from about '64 on up are routed, yet RIC handled that wire path by hitting it with a drill about 10 times... which seems way more precarious to do at a suitable and accurate arc than it would be with a router. Seems like it would have been more time-consuming, too. I know that RIC has been using the CNC machines for all the cavity cutting on their guitars for the past few years, but the neck pickup wire trough cut out with a series of drill holes continued to be the RIC standard long after they started using a router to cut out the body cavities.

So there it is. Any theories? Or answers?