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4003 tailpiece bending up
Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2003 1:31 am
by ojobob2
ok, heres my dilema, if you took part in the previous thread i started, you will know that i have this amazing white 91' 4003 - with a bent up tailpiece. While it affects nothing playability wise, i dont like the idea of my favorite bass guitar having a bent part on it.
You know how everyone has one instrument thats just perfect for them? well this white 4003 is mine. Im seriously thinking of ordering a new tailpiece to correct my problem, but in another ten years time, will that one warp too?
I know some of you suggested adding extra screws to the back of the tailpiece, but i dont wanna drill into my prized possession
i hope someone can advise me
Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2003 2:00 am
by rickcrazy
Owen:
With all due respect, this whole 'bent up tailpiece' subject is downright absurd. There's nothing wrong with the tailpiece on your 4003. Don't waste money on a new unit therefor. Don't add extra screws to it, either. Just leave it alone.
I wish John Hall would comment on this.
Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2003 3:16 am
by jwr2
If you add the 2 screws with good craftsmanship then it will look like it came from the factory that way ....
I have found that pretty much most of the ric's that I have owned from 1970's to present will either bend up a little or a lot ... I used to replace the tailpiece but now I just add screws ...
The only ones that stay down completely flat are the ones from the 60's ...
Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2003 3:52 am
by ojobob2
You know what, your all right, i will leave it be.
Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2003 4:47 am
by banta
I've never had that problem with any of the Ric basses I've owned, but the two I have now both have the 'extra' two screws in the tailpiece, so I don't see any way that they could bend.
Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2003 7:48 am
by jwr2
Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2003 7:54 am
by ojobob2
Jeff, thanks for the link, but i have decided to leave the bass as is - in any case i would need a black bridge
, but thanks anyway
Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2003 7:56 am
by jeff_ulmer
I would disagree that there's nothing wrong with a bent up tailpiece. If the shape of the metal has changed over time it is from stress, and there is no telling if it will fail completely at some point. If this is a black hardwared bass, I would be buying a spare just in case.
Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2003 9:18 am
by ojobob2
im getting worried now. $110 is a lot of money for a spare
Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2003 10:47 am
by jwr2
Get a new one and put it on and save the old one as a backup .... if the new one pulls up over time then drill holes in the old one and use it ..
Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2003 3:28 pm
by gt76
Since the "C" series is supposedly an exact (exact as possible anyway less the truss rods) duplicate of a famous 60's era bass, is the bridge plate a pot metal replica or is it the same material (?) as the plate in the 60's. This was a non-issue until the 70's so if the "C"s bridge plate is a duplication, problem solved. I'm guessing that we'll see the plate curl on the "C"s in the next couple of years.
Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2003 3:13 am
by ojobob2
theres a 4001 CS on ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2523546337&category=4713
The tailpiece is lifting, and while not as bad as mine, it would seem that the majority of rick basses do this.
Its almost as if the slightly bent up shape is the "natural" shape that the tailpiece bends into, and is quite normal
Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2003 3:30 am
by admin
For purposes of discussion after the auction is over, here is a portion of the photo from eBay.
Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2003 4:53 am
by jwr2
It bothers me more to see the tailpiece lifting up then to see 2 extra screws in the tailpiece.
I got used to seeing my 1968 laying absolutely flat for 30 years so whenever I see a tailpiece pulling up I get the urge to pop 2 screws in ...
Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2003 5:38 am
by ojobob2
can inserting some screws really bend that metal back ? it looks pretty damn tough.
wouldnt it just dig into the wood