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Posted: Mon May 30, 2005 4:21 am
by rickfan60
Les: The hard part is drilling the extra holes. The tailpiece must be securely clamped onto a drill press. I have never tried to reshape a bent tailpiece but you may be able to do it first on piece of scrap wood. Route or chisel out a small pocket for the mute then screw the tailpiece to the scrap. The soft zinc casting should bend enough to be placed back on the bass.
String rattle at the saddles is definately one of the possible problems that can result from excessive lift.
Posted: Mon May 30, 2005 4:26 am
by jwr2
yep ... I often add 2 extra screws ... and sometimes I add 4 extra screws on 5 string Rics ...
Posted: Mon May 30, 2005 4:43 am
by rickengeezer
Thanks for the info, guys, although the idea of drilling holes into the wood of my bass makes me feel faint, sorta like some people and the sight of blood....
Jeff, that black 5'er looks to be one of your mods....where did you get the bridge for it?
Posted: Mon May 30, 2005 5:37 am
by jwr2
The all black one has a 4003s5 tailpiece on it ... the mapleglo one has a 4003 tailpiece modified with a dremmel tool ...
and yes it takes some courage to drill holes in a Ric bass ...
Posted: Mon May 30, 2005 10:31 am
by lars
How stable are newer basses? Is the new 4003 bridges better than the 1970's 4001? I mean since there were extra screws in the 80's, but not on new Ricks?
Posted: Mon May 30, 2005 11:02 am
by maplered
Lars,
I have severe bridge lift on my 4001C64. I made the mistake of putting Fender flatwounds on the bass when I originally bought it. The strings sounded great but are way too much tension for the tailpiece.
Posted: Mon May 30, 2005 1:01 pm
by jwr2
any bridge after about 72 can pull up ... supposedly the tailpieces from the last 6 years are better ... but I always add 2 or 4 screws because I have 5 strings ... my old '68 stayed completely flat ...
Posted: Mon May 30, 2005 1:44 pm
by keb
My '92 4003 suffers from bridge lift. I ended up adding a couple screws to hold it down.
Posted: Mon May 30, 2005 2:31 pm
by cheyenne
This seems to be a problem that has been around for a decade or two.
Maybe a question for John Hall, any improvements in the future???
Posted: Mon May 30, 2005 2:41 pm
by scottpro1969
After reading this thread I went and checked my '04 4003MB and it's lifting a little!!!!! Frustrating. Pyramid flats on there. One of those hipshot bridges may be in order here. Reversible mod I understand.
Posted: Mon May 30, 2005 4:54 pm
by rickfan60
I have some that have remained perfectly flat and others that have pulled up. I am in agreement with Jeff Rath, the slotted ones from the 60's don't seem to bend like the newer ones do.
Posted: Mon May 30, 2005 5:22 pm
by cwk
Oh,****.Oh well,mine is in the same shape.Bummer.
That explains a lot.I just didn't see it.
Bill
Posted: Mon May 30, 2005 5:57 pm
by jnbass
"somethings should never be flat..."
Posted: Mon May 30, 2005 6:09 pm
by cwk
Tell that to the Mrs. (funny thing here).
Posted: Mon May 30, 2005 6:21 pm
by jwr2
I want my strings round and my bridges flat and my women ... well you can guess ...