2 Extra Screws

lucky · Post by **lucky** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 3:23 am

On the underside of the tailpiece where the strings pass through,there are four circles.Are the two outer ones the ones you would drill through,if you were to add two extra screws.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 5:08 am

admin · Post by **admin** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 5:51 am

Jeff: Do you use five holes for the rest of your basses?

jnbass · Post by **jnbass** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 7:10 am

no-only five strings...

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 8:37 am

Quote: "Jeff: Do you use five holes for the rest of your basses?"

I only have 2 4003 basses ... one is a 4003s5 ... it has 4 extra screws plus the 5 screws you mentioned ... and my jetglo 4003 4-2-5 has 2 extra screws and the 5 screws ... I have no 4 string basses in my house ...

here's a couple of pictures with 4 extra screws ...

these 2 basses had the holes for the 2 extra screws get stripped so the needed 2 more extra screws to hold the tailpiece down ... the problem came when I switched to black hardware and the 2 extra screw holes didn't line up ...

here's a couple that I added 2 extra screws ...

the old 60s basses stayed flat with just 3 screws ...

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 8:41 am

and a few more pics ...

gothbin · Post by **gothbin** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 9:13 am

Jeff do you have a bartolini pickup in the space of the damping device?

zoomduck · Post by **zoomduck** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 9:27 am

Hey !!! I saw a 4 string in there !!!! Say it aint so Jeff !

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 9:28 am

Yep ... I slipped in that picture to see if anybody noticed ... and I wasn't happy with the sound so I removed it ... also that bart pickup won't fit unless you remove a little wood ... bummer ... also a couple of those tailpieces are Allparts ...

doctorwho · Post by **doctorwho** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 11:08 am

Shawn, my Redneck and Tuxedo basses both have the extra screws in the tailpiece, stock from the factory:

In an earlier thread, I detailed the restoration of an extremely bent 5-string tailpiece on my 4003S/5 SPC "quasi-Blackstar". Once it was restored to flatness, I made a template of the holes on the Redneck and drilled the extra holes in the 5-string tailpiece to prevent future lifting (it's working perfectly). I can't tell you whether the holes lined up with the features on the underside that you are refering to.

If you need a copy of the template, let me know and I'll be glad to send you one.

kcole4001 · Post by **kcole4001** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 11:18 am

Is there no problems with the chrome plating chipping when drilling extra holes?
I would expect trouble at least when counter-sinking.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 11:25 am

I have drilled holes in a few tailpieces and I had no problem of the chrome chipping off ...

Many 4 string basses can get by without the 2 extra screws ... but it is mandatory on 5 and 8 string basses ...

congerz83 · Post by **congerz83** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 12:34 pm

David your C series bass (like mine) may look vintage in design, but not in construction. They are built w/ the same hardware as the modern 4003's. Making them much stronger than they would've been in '64. Your slight lift may be corrected by changing to a different string brand/gauge. For the love of god, please do not drill into your tailpiece!!

congerz83 · Post by **congerz83** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 1:35 pm

WOW and your experiencing bridge-lift?!?! With stock strings?!?!!?! Can you take a picture?

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 2:09 pm

I am saying a small amount of tailpiece lift is a cosmetic problem ... the lift has to get over 1/4" before it is a problem ... most 4 string basses never reach that point ... but a 5 or 8 string bass can get there easily ...

I personally like the tailpiece completely flat and I don't mind the look of 2 extra screws ... but on a v63 or a c64 or a 4001cs I would be reluctant to add extra screws ...

If your bass has a lift of 1/16" or less then I say simply ignore it ... unless it keeps lifting ...

And in my opinion the 60s tailpieces were much stronger than the 70s, 80s, 90s, or current tailpieces ... the 60s tailpieces seemed to stay completely flat with only 3 screws ... I am talking absolutley zero lift ...