4001 C64 -- Two Questions

[redvette88]

I have a 2002 4001 C64 (Fireglow) that I bought several years ago from a forum member. (Don't remember who). It has a significant "tail lift", whereas my 4003 Maple Glow and 4003 Blue (now Green) Boy have no lift at all.

So, the questions.

Would it make sense to get a regular 5 screw 4003 tail piece to replace the 3 screw piece on the C64? Obviously, I would save the old one in case I were ever to sell it to a purist.

Second question. Is the overall tension of 40-105 factory string set about the same as the original 40-95 string set that came on all three of these basses? If not, would it make sense to try to find some original 40-95 sets?

(I guess that's three questions, but what the heck).

I also have a Midnight Blue Laredo and an original walnut wing Cheyenne 1.

[aceonbass]

To my knowledge, 4003's have always come with 45-105's. I'd add two holes to the rear of your C64's tailpiece, otherwise you'll be looking at 5 screws. Who cares what the next owner thinks? If your neck starts flexing upward where it meets the body because of the GIANT neck pickup route, you'll have some REAL problems.

[cheyenne]

I'm assuming that you think you have a string tension problem causing the tail lift. Have you tried different strings?

Rather than trying to find a 5 hole bridge for replacement, and seeing how you really don't want to mod your original, I'd probably just install a Hipshot replacement and be done with it. They don't look quite like the original, but they are a nice solid bridge.

[aceonbass]

The current 5 hole tailpiece can be had used for a lot less than a Hipshot, and adding the two screws to the C64 tailpiece would cost practically nothing. I really don't thing drilling two holes that can't be seen to mount a 5-screw tailpiece should be considered a mod.

[redvette88]

I tried the hipshot bridge and found it to be too heavy -- sort of the reverse of "neck dive".

I believe that prior to 2010 the standard factory strings were 40-55-75-95. At least those were what I bought in 2006 and 2007. I measured the older factory E strings with a dial caliper and they are definitely .095. The old sets were 95510. The new sets are 95511. The reason I asked about the possible difference in tension between these was the I have come to the conclusion that the factory strings are the ones I prefer over everything else I have tried. And, there are some NOS 95510 sets around.

I tried TI Jazz Flats on the bass and the taillpiece lift was reduced, but I don't like the sound and particularly don't like the feel of flats
.
The only difference that I can see between the C64 tailpiece and the 4003 tailpieces is the addition of two screw that are visible just below the bridge. The holes would be invisible if the C64 assembly were reinstalled.