Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I am new here, so please be don’t be annoyed with a question which I am sure was addressed.

Anyway, I have a 67 4005 FG. It sounds and plays amazing. I have only one complaint. The “E” string loves to pop out of the “R” tailpiece in the middle of my set, when I use it live. The slot for the string is just too small.

I use a medium gage set of strings, (I tried a light gage, it sounded horrible and I still had a problem).

Someone told me to use a vise, and compress the ball tail of the string. I have tried this, and it looks to be a little better. However, I am gun shy of taking it out to play. I saw a 4005 “R” tailpiece for sale ($300.00). Should I buy it and drill it out to fit the newer string sizes? Then I can keep the original tail, as original.

Does anyone else have this problem?

Hi Dave,

I know exactly what you have to do… You have to do a deal on my V63 prototype, total 1 off, magnetic horseshoes, photos of it in the Smith book etc….. A FG 4005 is the only way that I am going to part with her!

Seriously though I don’t really know maybe a washer of a perfect size to pass the E string through and yet secure it in the tailpiece would do the trick?

All the best, Bob

Some folks here have just filed out the slot a bit which works just fine. I always worried about that on mine but have yet to have the string actually pop out. I use a .095 E string to minimize the possibility.

The best solution however is the one presented above by Bob!

Dang, double post!!!!@#$$#@!

Hi Guys, Thanks;

Bob, throw in a 4002 as well, and you have a deal.

Dave

Well, obviously the R tailpiece on the 4005's was originally tooled for a smaller E string. Since using a light gauge string didn't solve the problem and you hated the sound, you might really only have 2 choices: buy the R tailpiece from Rhoads (I'm assuming that's the one you saw for sale) or take a small file or dremel tool and very carefully grind the channel on your tailpiece just a little wider.

I used the dremel method on my 67 and I only had to widen the E slot. A standard 45-100 set fit in the rest of the slots just fine. I didn't grind any deeper, just wider. The R is a brass tailpiece so I doubt if you are weakening the structure too much. I haven't had any problems with my 4005 since the minor operation and she was up and performing that very night.

Perphaps there is an E string that has a smaller profile near the ball or maybe you could remove some of the wrapping thread, but I've never heard of anyone who found such a string or solution to this problem.

I don't really know what kind of light gauge strings you've tried but maybe there's a LG set that would sound better than the ones you tried...Rickenbacker, Thomastik, Pyramid... Anyway, good luck and welcome...there's a pretty big 4005 club here so maybe someone else will chime in with a better solution to the problem...the washer idea sounds viable, has anyone tried it yet?

To all, is $300.00 to much?

Dave,
Well, It has been there for as long as I can remember, but if I had a project 4005 that needed an R tailpiece I'd bite the bullet and get it. You already know what I did to mine and I knew about the $300 R piece before I got mine, but my friends call me Jack Benny sometimes and if your old enough to get that!!

Yes!

Yes Mr. Benny

(In my Rodchester voice)

Hi Dave....I had the same problem on mine, also a '67.... I bit the bullet and went into the garage, where I keep my Dremel....

I slowly put on my goggles, sweating the whole time, tailpiece clamped securely in the vise....and VERY GENTLY "Dremeled" the E string slot....no problem...I now have a .105 Pyramid in there and it sounds GREAT...

....but I wouldn't hesitate to get that friggin' R tailpiece for $300.00!!! They are VERY hard to find at yard sales.... ;^)

damn show off!

Jared he ought to be shot two times even.

*Drools*

Chris Nice!!!!!!!!!!!

I always wanted a WB