'76 4001.. worth repairs?

[aceonbass]

I don't have much to add to what's already been said except for two things....The frets are obviously well worn, and I doubt if they are worn evenly. I recommend they be resurfaced at the least, or re-fretted if that takes them too low. Second...the tail lift issue. Now I know the tailpiece isn't going to break or change the sound of the instrument drastically, but this is the biggest case of "The Emperors New Clothes" I've ever seen. If you're a collector, then leave it alone. If you're a player then know that the flange the strings go through is no longer making contact with the top of the body like it was meant to. RIC's solution under F.C.Hall was to add two screws to the rear of the tailpiece on the first 4003's. It was a good and simple solution to the problem. Subsequent collectors griped about the cosmetics of the two screws, so they were removed, although retained for 4003/S5 and 4003/S8 production. At $175.00, I would not replace it, but I would at least remove it and try to bend it back. Try bending it a little past flat so it pre-loads when bolted down. If there is ANY gap under the portion of the tailpiece beneath the bridge, use washers to shim it up for a tight fit. If it bends again, then I would use the senior Hall's solution. I had one lifting on a 4-2-5 conversion that I resisted adding the two screws on until it started lifting. Without disassembling the bass, I drilled the two holes in the tailpiece and added the two screws. The difference in frequency response was like a kick in the chest.

[nattiep]

Thanks for that. That is a good idea. No, I'm not a collector and since I never plan on selling this bass mods to it aren't a big deal.
The frets buzz a lot. That's another problem I think with the E string. It's all buzz up the neck.

Now a refret. what needs to be done with that. Does the fingerboard need to be refinished again? Does it destroy the binding?

[johnallg]

Now a refret. what needs to be done with that. Does the fingerboard need to be refinished again? Does it destroy the binding?

http://www.rickresource.com/phpBB3/view ... 3&t=396821

[marc61]

On the plus side....rods are lookin' good!