4003 new bridge / string saddle screws - help please!

[maxwell]

The magnet is a good idea, but I'd get down on my hands & knees and use something inexpensive, like this:
https://www.harborfreight.com/18-in-mag ... 60433.html

Then other money can be spent on a nice pair of digital calipers. Here's what I have (which I plan to replace someday):
https://www.homedepot.com/p/General-Too ... 383994-_-N&
Mine has non-metal jaws, which I don't like. I had to wrap some electrical tape over one jaw to compensate for a consistent error. A decent one with metal jaws would cost about two-to-three times as much. Anyway, using one of these is the only way to get an accurate diameter. If the caliper has three modes (mm, inch - fraction, inch - decimal) it's easy to "convert" the mode units simply by pressing the mode button. So, it's not a one-time purchase -- good for measuring other things on a guitar; I sometimes measure my strings if I'm unsure of their size. Then add a stainless steel 6-in. ruler with both metric and inch markings; good for set-ups, and handy to measure these threads, rather, count the threads in a quarter inch, then multiply by 4 for threads/full inch.

I like doing this stuff.... Can you tell?

[paulgraybass]

Thanks again or all your replies fellas...unfortunately I think the screw must have fallen out or rattled loose whilst recording in a studio a few months ago (I'm the bassist for The Damned) so a magnet is a no-no unfortunately!

I was sent a Fender bass saddle screw by the shop I bought it from - that's actually it next to the Ric one.

The biggest problem seems to be pitch and coarsness and thread count - in imperial it looks to be 3/32 x 3/8 " with 13 threads, so 6/8 would be 26 and therefore around 34 I'm guessing per inch. I've found other UK stores but myriad different pitches so I guess until such time as Rickenbacker deign to respond to me I'm stuck and individual saddles for new assembly not available.

I am however dropping it round to a luther later in the week for a rummage so fingers crossed...and thanks again, appreciated!

[espidog]

I am however dropping it round to a luther later in the week

I fail to see how Idris Elba is going to be any help, but ye never know...

[maxwell]

I now suspect that these screws are RIC proprietary. Who knows when you'll lose another screw? Who knows if RIC will ever (or when) sell the screws or saddle assemblies? If it were possible, I'd get a machinist, or someone with those skills, to re-tap all eight screw holes (all the saddles) to the common size of 4-40, the common Fender saddle set screw size. There's someone here knowledgeable about this stuff who might chime in to advise. I don't know if a modification like this would de-value your bass....

[cheyenne]

The grub screws that came with my 2016 4003s were way to long and dug into my picking hand. I bought shorter ones at my local True Value Hardware store. Menards also has a similar display.

Amazon seems to have everything:
https://www.amazon.com/DYWISHKEY-Assort ... 602&sr=8-4

[Isaac]

Thanks again or all your replies fellas...unfortunately I think the screw must have fallen out or rattled loose whilst recording in a studio a few months ago (I'm the bassist for The Damned) so a magnet is a no-no unfortunately!

I was sent a Fender bass saddle screw by the shop I bought it from - that's actually it next to the Ric one.

The biggest problem seems to be pitch and coarsness and thread count - in imperial it looks to be 3/32 x 3/8 " with 13 threads, so 6/8 would be 26 and therefore around 34 I'm guessing per inch. I've found other UK stores but myriad different pitches so I guess until such time as Rickenbacker deign to respond to me I'm stuck and individual saddles for new assembly not available.

I am however dropping it round to a luther later in the week for a rummage so fingers crossed...and thanks again, appreciated!

32 threads per inch is a common pitch.

Personally, I can't imagine RIC going to the trouble of getting proprietary scews made. What would be the point?

[Hotzenplotz]

Being a precision mechanic maybe I can help:

From counting the threads the M3 is about 10mm long. So the original screw seems to be the same length.


A M3 has 50,8 threads per inch.
Adding the tip, yours has about 16 threads for 10mm. That means 40 threads per inch.

Now threre are some possibilities, IMHO:

- if slightly bigger in diameter it could be a #5 - 40 UNC
- if slightly thinner in diameter it coueld be a #4 - 40 UNC

Did some research here:
https://www.gewinde-normen.de/uns-gewinde.html

There is also the the UNF range, but the only fitting size for about 3mm diameter would be a #5 - 44 UNF. But 44 threads per inch seem to be too much.

In case of doubt order a bunch off all sizes.

- If somebody here has calipers and the same bass we can solve that quite fast.

[paulgraybass]

hello everyone, thanks again for all your help and now sorted!

Ended up taking it to a luthier who after much rummaging around found the perfect fit, a screw from a vintage model Strat, of all things.

Cheers - PG

[ram]

God I love a happy ending!

[espidog]

An even happier one would have been for RIC to have responded to their customer with the required information.

[ram]

Ken I am seriously starting to think they may not know what the piece is, as an active data point. Although they should be able and willing to find out!

[Korladis]

I have my whole 4003 bridge assembly for sale if you are looking. Came from my 2016 4003. Includes tailpiece/mute/bridge and saddles and mounting screws.
Or, you could replace yours with a Hipshot. Which is what I did for palm muteability and way greater ease of setup.

I'm considering swapping out the hipshot on my '75 or trying to find a machinist to modify it. I don't palm mute on bass (ever), and the saddles don't seem very stable and wobble.

[ilan]

There ya go. Currently $275, six days left.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/234283556565

[cheyenne]

I am however dropping it round to a luther later in the week

I fail to see how Idris Elba is going to be any help, but ye never know...

Heimdall sees all.