Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

hey Dane ... here's your bass ... I like it ... a five string conversion ... cool ...

Welcome aboard, Mike.
Nice V63 MG!

Yes the '98 (and all pre-2001) intonation screws are very soft and get stripped easily. I replaced them with black screws of the same specs (4/40 thread, .725" length) with hex slot on the head that can be easily turned by the RIC bridge adjustment wrench. No more wicked angle with a Philips screw driver and no more stripped slots.



Go to your hardware store and see if you can find the hex slotted screws.

My way of keeping the screws from backing out is to start with the intonation sharp on all strings and turn the screws clockwise until I get perfect intonation. Turning them counterclockwise will always make them back out, IMHO.

Paul, thanks! I didn't even ask and you helped me out with a big problem. On my 73, the saddles have no screws. Off to Home Depot!

Paul, do you see the screw size here:

http://www.aboveboardelectronics.com/microplastics/hexsltms.htm

I just loosen the string completely that I want to intonate and have no problems, I use a small phillips head screw driver that fits almost straight in to the screw, loosening the string until it's completely loose is a must though. That way you can leave the bridge in and just tighten it up after the adjustment to see if your intonation is ok. It's a pain loosening all the strings and taking the bridge out and takes forever, the trial and error method I call it.
If your screws won't go all the way in, it could need countersinking as was mentioned or the holes on the opposite side of the bridge need to be enlarged a little to allow the ends of the screws to protrude through them as they are supposed to.

Marc, the machine screws in the link you posted seem to have no "countersink" heads. And I frankly can't understand the specs listing in that page haha!

The best way to find the right screws is to take one of yours (and the '73 bridge as well) to Home Depot and get the ones in exactly the same dimensions.

My problem is that my bridge doesn't have any screws in the saddle:-(

I guess I'll just take the bridge and see what I can find

Yes that's the best approach.
Does your '73 have the 3-screw, split tailpiece?
As far as I know, a pre-mid '73, split tailpiece bridge requires screws that are are a little shorter (.070"?) than the current ones due to their narrower front-to-back bridge dimension. I had to have the black screws' length cut to fit my Dec. '72 bridge.

Good luck finding the right screws.

Take a look at this shot. I know it's not clear but, you can tell what kind of bridge it is. Split yes, three screws? I don't see them.

http://www.msnusers.com/Rickenpictures/734001fg.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=28

Just remove the saddle block.

And you'll see only 3 screws holding the tailpiece to the body:

Thanks, I knew somthing was holding my bridge down

Heres a pic of the missing intonation screw on the "G" string saddle

Hey Mike,
I've got problems with adjusting my new/used 4003S bridge and ordered a bunch of screws with socket head adjustment (like Paul posted) that will hopefully work in this situation. I had to order a couple hundred so once I find out if they work I'm going to post the results and I'll sell off the rest to help out other Forum members and to help recoup my costs of shipping and the minimum order fees. Watch for an update in the next week or so.

I know this is not the best photo.