Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I just saw in another thread that the thumbscrews on the bridge of a Rick bass are used to adjust a mute pad. I bought my '87 4003 used, and the thumbscrews on the bridge were missing. I had no idea what they were for so I didn't pay much attention.

Just last night, I noticed that one of the thumbscrews was in the case with some other misc hardware. I put it in the hole but there is nothing to screw it into. I assume this means that the mute pad has been removed? I would like to get this back in there to see what it sounds like.

Coincidentally I have been playing some McCartney stuff lately, learning "A Day in the Life", and it seems like there is some muting going on in that song. I thought it was just my technique, but maybe the pad would help (??).

Too bad the Ric site is down or I'd see if they sell the hardware I need. Does anybody know if they sell the mute pad and thumbscrews there?

I am throwing together a bunch of assumptions about this, so if there is something that I'm way off base on, please let me know.

Thanks

yep ... you can also get it from Ric dealers ...

http://www.the-music-connection.com/ricpart.htm

Greg, there are some pictures over in this thread that might be useful:

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The RIC site does provide a comprehensive listing of almost all of the pieces you might need to spruce up an old instrument. When I got my ROS kit, I also bought enough screws, etc. to replace all the old, grungy, or stripped screws on all 3 of my basses. The new pickguard screws alone made a noticeable difference in the appearance. The screws holding down the bridge pup surround were badly chewed up on all three. The bolts are available as well, & are the same ones used for the strap buttons.
The bar seems to be a simple piece of flat stock with threaded holes for the bolts, but it is where the tailpiece is grounded, so you might want to make sure the ground wire is attached to something.

Kevin, if you look at the pics in the link above, you'll see that the bar is actual slightly curved. A flat bar might work as well.

Sorry! Quite right.
I meant that the original stock was flat sheet stock, & not a cast piece. I have a bad habit of leaving out details at times.
It's fairly thick to accept threads also.
If the bar was flat, the foam pad would have to be curved. I found that all 3 of mine were no longer at the optimal curve to equally mute all 4 strings & had to be rebent.
I also forgot to mention that RIC sells replacement self stick pads for $3.00.

Thanks Gary. I did see those pictures earlier today while investigating this. I do not even have the bar. Somebody who owned this bass was really against forced muting I guess, so they ripped it all out of there

I like to stick with original stuff, so I'll probably order from the Ric site. I could use new pickguard screws anyways. Too bad last week I got an order from Ric (Rick-O-Sound kit and leather strap). Bad timing.

Now that Ric's site is back up, I see where I can get the mute assembly (part 01900), the bass mute pad (part 03803) and the damper mute bolts (part 05901). Actually, it looks like everything is included in the 01900 kit:

http://www.rickenbacker.com/cart.asp?viewitem=01900&category=viewitem&buffer_category=Tailpieces

Do you think this is all I need? Maybe a few spare pads?

Any idea which are the right screws for the pickguard? I think the 3/4" would be better if possible, since a few of mine are close to stripped in the wood.

Thanks

I think McCartney used the mute quite a bit, I think that's how he got his percussive sound, check out the bass on Baby You're a Rich Man. That's probably my favorite McCartney bass line, simple but very punchy.

Greg, the correct screws for the 4003 pickguard are Part # 05202 (Mounting Screws, Pickguard):

http://www.rickenbacker.com/pdfs/4003.pdf

I think that I have found (and used) slightly larger stainless steel screws that I found at my local Ace Hardware, but I don't know what size, etc. they were.

With regard to the mute assembly, I think that the one number does not include all of the parts:

http://www.rickenbacker.com/pdfs/btailpiece.pdf

According to that diagram, you will need one #01900 (bar/pad assembly), two #06117 (spring), two #06235 (washer), and two #05901 (bolt).

I just looked at my spares: as Gary said, 05202 are pickguard screws (they're not 3/4"!)
the pickup surround & jackplate screws are 05200 in case you need those. It's always nice to have extras.
For stripped out screw holes, just add a drop of white glue into the hole with a toothpick & let it dry. That should give the screw a good bit of solid material to bite into.

Great info. I am always impressed at how much people in this forum are willing to help out. I have been in alot of forums over the years. This is one of the very best.

Thanks!

I just ordered the parts for this from Ric. However, they do not show the washers (06235) in the boutique at all. I'll just get some from the hardware store. I assume they're just sitting between the bridge & the head of the thumbscrew, or are they inside the bridge, between the bridge & spring?

Thanks!

Was this bass once owned by Jeff Rath?

The washers are white plastic or delrin, & they sit between the top of the tailpiece casting & the flat bottom of the thumbscrew. They're the same ones used with the same thumbscrews as strap buttons, & are also found on the height adjustment screws in the treble pickup assembly (4 I think).

Thanks Kevin. There may have been another part number that I could have used then. Too bad I just put the order in yesterday. I'm sure I can get something close at the hardware store.

Steve, unless Charley G. bought this bass from Jeff, then no. I think it was an eBay buy for Charley.

I'll be glad to have new stuff in there anyways, so no biggie. I have done a bit of work to this '87, and it's playing great. The only other thing is to get some refretting done at some point. That will be another story for later though (not sure how good a luthier has to be to refret the 4003 with bindings on the neck?). I would also like to measure the output of the pickups to make sure they're strong enough at some point. They seem fine to me though.

-Greg