Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

i think my 1991 4003 has a bent up tailpiece. I bought it used like this. The back part where the strings anchor is lifting off the body by about 4mm or so. All pictures i have seen of Rick basses, the tailpiece lies flush. I have read this is due to string tension, but many OLD basses i have seen appear fine. The bass tunes perfectly, no problems. i took of the tailpiece to inspect it - its solid as anything.

This lifting affects nothing, it plays AMAZING so i dont really care, but if i really wanted a replacement tailpiece, how much for?

Im guessing it might be a problem as:

1. My bass has black hardware

2. Im in the UK

any advice would be great

What you need is an electric Drill and 2 chrome screws ....

I have fixed a few ric tailpieces this way ....

http://www.3dentourage.com/90-blue.htm

Some Rics come with the extra screws installed ..

Or you can buy a new tailpiece for like $50 to $100 range

thanks, yeah i noticed some basses had those extra screws, like in the 80's?

they dont have the screws now, why not?


Thing is, the tailpiece seems so solid that would adding those screws really bend it back?

a new tailpiece is too much cash for me

Jwr 2 - is there any chance you cant post a close up photo of that bridge, so i can see what you have done?

I know thats probably major hassle , but is worth a shot

People, WAKE UP AND STOP TALKING NONSENSE! There's no such thing as a bent up 4001/4003 tailpiece! Get real! On some basses the tailpiece lies flush, on some basses it doesn't. I'm sure this small difference originates at some stage during the manufacturing process. There's no way string pressure is going to cause the tailpiece to bend up!
John Hall, would you please come in here and tell these guys I am absolutely right? Thank you.

sergio - i hope you are right!!

I always thought the tailpiece is WAY too strong to bend up, look at the "weak" little bridge on fenders!!!

I didnt notice mine didnt lie flush until seeing pics on here - yeah it would be great to know the truth

wrong ... this is a problem on some Rics ... especially on 4003s5 basses ... I have seen some of those pull up 1/4" to 1/2" ... to the point where they look like the whole thing is about to pop off.

If it wasn't a problem then why did Ric start shipping them with the 2 extra screws inserted ...

my 1991 doesnt have the extra screws, but the 80's ones appear to- why stop using the extra screws

I really want to know the offical version from John Hall, what is it with my tailpiece?

maybe if i posted a pic it would help

Sergio, I'm not John Hall but I believe you're absolutely right.

I recall this question being raised on The Bottom Line a couple of years ago, and everyone else who had a Rick said theirs did not lie quite flush, it was not a defect and not to worry.

I also recall John Hall saying that the extra screws were added because of the alloy they were working with at the time (in the 80s).

/image{hopefully this will give you an idea of what i mean, you can (hopefully) clearly see my tailpiece is not flush at all}

sorry- i cant handle this image posting thing,

go here:

http://uk.photos.yahoo.com/septic_bullfrog

here's one off of a 4003s5 ... it pulled up about 3/8" or more ...

here's one where it was pulling up and I added 2 screws and the screws pulled it down to the wood flush ...

The old 60's Ric bridges stayed flush and they only had 3 screws ...

i really think John Hall should set the record straight here......