Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

steve...i've got and original cast tail piece in very good condition if you need one. pm me.

PM sent!

Deal pending - many thanks to Ronbo for being willing to part with this hard to find piece!

Very cool! Great to hear this, Steve.

You may have solved it with an original cast tailpiece, but.. Does the gap show on both sides of the tailpiece? In that full size photo, looking at how the strings run down the neck, it seems as if the tailpiece may have been mounted a tiny little bit off centre. Maybe it’s just the angle of the camera. If that is the case, shifting the tailpiece may cover the routing.

Wiker wrote:You may have solved it with an original cast tailpiece, but.. Does the gap show on both sides of the tailpiece? In that full size photo, looking at how the strings run down the neck, it seems as if the tailpiece may have been mounted a tiny little bit off centre. Maybe it’s just the angle of the camera. If that is the case, shifting the tailpiece may cover the routing.

The gap does only show on the bass side, but when I tried moving the tailpiece around to see if it would fully cover the route it became obvious that there would still be a small gap on each side.

Nice snag, Steve!

jps wrote:I finally got the measurements!

As best as I can measure the width of the old style tailpiece on my March '73 4001 is 3 7/8" - 98mm; the length is 4 1/16" - 102mm

The width of the tailpiece on my '98 4001V63 is 3 13/16" - 96.5mm; the length is 4" - 100mm.

FYI.
I have an original tailpiece sitting here on my desk and it also measures 3 7/8.

WOW! What a score, Steve! Nothing is cooler than a walnut-winged S body with a hi-gain bridge pup and small surround.

NOTHING!

And the wood! WOW!

(drool!)

Nice wood, Wood!

Steve,

It looks like the bridge pu is black. It should be a greenie hi-gain. Do you think it's painted or replaced?

teeder wrote:Steve,

It looks like the bridge pu is black. It should be a greenie hi-gain. Do you think it's painted or replaced?

I was thinking the same thing Kevin - I'll post some pics of the bridge pickup this afternoon and see what people think. I have a feeling that this pickup may not be original, but I'm not too concerned for this "player" bass.

I agree. Who cares if it sounds and plays good for that money.

teeder wrote:Steve,

It looks like the bridge pu is black. It should be a greenie hi-gain. Do you think it's painted or replaced?

I saw that too, but didn't bother commenting. It isn't original. If it were original it would be green, have a skinny magnet and screw poles, and an aluminum back plate.

Still, I'll bet it sounds great!