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Having problems with my 4001s and the tailpiece
Posted: Fri Sep 29, 2006 11:04 pm
by captain_jetglo
Hi, once upon a time in a distant land (a.k.a Spain) there was a bass player who tried to be Dr. Rickenbakerstein and tried to fix his bass... Well, I'll try to make it shorter. The thing is that I have had this bass for long 22 years, and the mute piece just disappeared with years, you know it became harder and then broke into pieces and at last no mute pad. So I bought on eBay a tail piece, that I presume now, not then, was not original, so I changed only the mute piece. This is when my bass troubles begin: Since then my bass doesn't sound as it should, the screws on the mute pad are loose and I cannot regulate them so my bass is always completely mute.
Question: Is there a way to fix it without dismounting it again? Well, if there's no other way I'll do it again.
I'll be waiting desperately for an answer.
Thanks
Posted: Sat Sep 30, 2006 3:48 am
by ben_brown
Did you forget to put the two springs back in place between the mute pad assembly and the tailpiece?
Posted: Sat Sep 30, 2006 4:20 am
by rickfan60
Welcome Sergio. Yes, what Ben said seems reasonable here. Perhaps the springs are missing? They push the mute bar down away from the strings when the thumb screws are loosened. If they are not installed, the bar will just float around inside the tail piece.
Posted: Sat Sep 30, 2006 10:57 am
by captain_jetglo
Thank you for your fast answers Ben & Ted.
Believe it or not the springs are in the correct place, that's what's making me crazy. I think I'll dismount it again and have a close look to what I did, and do it again (no, not the wrong way).
You know, I think the bolt just get loose when you turn it out and it separates from the nut, it seems not to be a top that stops it. I don't know...
Posted: Sat Sep 30, 2006 11:01 am
by rickcrazy
Hola, hermano. Welcome to the Forum.
Posted: Sat Sep 30, 2006 11:06 am
by captain_jetglo
Hola Sérgio, thank you for your welcome message.
I'm just trying to bring back to life my '75 4001s. Let's keep in touch
Posted: Sat Sep 30, 2006 11:11 am
by rickfan60
Our Iberian connection has just doubled and they are both called Sergio. Cool!
Posted: Sat Sep 30, 2006 2:14 pm
by rickcrazy
YEAH!
Sergio, do you need any further parts for your 4001s?
Posted: Sun Oct 01, 2006 12:02 am
by captain_jetglo
Right Ted!
Posted: Sun Oct 01, 2006 12:08 am
by rickinroma
Welcome Captain Sergio..we'd missed somebody from Spain here!
Posted: Sun Oct 01, 2006 12:11 am
by captain_jetglo
Hi Sérgio, well, in fact my bass is almost fine, I mean, The only spare I think I need right now is the treble pick up cover (I just wonder how it may affect the sound) and just in case of needing it, a new tailpiece (but I don't think things could go that wrong).
Anyway I want to keep it the more original I can, e.g , although the pickguard has some rust I'll keep it.
But in case I need something, don't worry, I'll shout it loud here. Thank you
Posted: Sun Oct 01, 2006 12:15 am
by captain_jetglo
Hi Francesco, I'll try to keep on posting and sharing all this rick crazyness with you all. Let's do the Mediterranean Connection ha, ha
Posted: Sun Oct 01, 2006 12:25 am
by rickinroma
yes, at least a small confluence here in rome or in madrid
Posted: Sun Oct 01, 2006 4:22 am
by wints
Welcome Sergio...again!
Nice to see new members from different countries. You and Sergio, should have plenty to talk about!
A Med confluence could certainly tempt me.
Posted: Sun Oct 01, 2006 5:04 am
by captain_jetglo
Oh, Thanks a lot Andrew, I hope so