New Bridge Design???

ethantheheathen · Post by **ethantheheathen** » Mon Feb 19, 2007 7:07 pm

Hey all,

First off, I apologize if this topic has been beat to death elsewhere. I couldn't find what I was looking for, so I figured I'd start a new thread.

That said, has there been any recent news about the new bridge design? I have a 4001 with some tail lift, and it would be killer to replace the tailpiece with the new official Ric bridge/tailpiece design. Anybody know when it will be complete and available? I'd rather not drill the two extra holes, and I'm not sure I want the extra mass of the Hipshot . . .

s4001 · Post by **s4001** » Mon Feb 19, 2007 7:41 pm

Just replace it with a regular Ric tailpiece. To be honest, I've had no lift at all on any of my modern era Ric tailpieces.

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 4:52 am

The new design is still pending. Scott is correct. The newer version of the old-style tailpiece is much better cast than the old one. It is stronger where it needs to be stronger but is not significantly heavier. Or you could just leave it alone. A little lift is not a problem and seldom gets worse.

ethantheheathen · Post by **ethantheheathen** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 6:07 am

Yeah, I'm not so much concerned about my own bridge, mostly just curious if there's any new information about this new design that's been pending for a while . . .

green_us90 · Post by **green_us90** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 4:04 pm

Tailpiece closest is a 1975 4001 piece- farther away tailpiece is off of a modern 1997 4003. Larger reinforcement ribs on the 4003.

http://www.fenderforum.com/userphotos/index.html?recid=41157

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 5:42 pm

That pic pretty much says it all.

lyle_from_minneapolis · Tue Feb 20, 2007 6:33 pm

Can someone explain tail lift to me? What happens to the bridge that causes it?

johnallg · Post by **johnallg** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 7:23 pm

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geddeeee · Post by **geddeeee** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 2:10 am

My '04 4003 tailpiece looks like the 4001 one. It doesn't have the straight ribs. Maybe that's why I got tail lift. What is going on. I seem to have a very strange bass. It was brand new. But I have all non standard stuff. Tailpiece, electrics. Aaaah!!!

heinpete · Post by **heinpete** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 4:06 am

I will have a serious look under the tailpiece of my '97 4003 which is also lifting. Maybe sometimes at RIC Co. they use up their "NOS"???
It might have hit you, Mark and me!

johnhall · Post by **johnhall** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 6:24 am

There haven't been any of those older parts around here for decades.

heinpete · Post by **heinpete** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 9:18 pm

So everybody calm down! Also I can confirm, the bridge on my 4003 is a 4003-bridge, I checked. However it was lifting, so I'm gonna do the "washer procedure" with it.

sinjunkie · Post by **sinjunkie** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 3:00 am

What's the "washer procedure"?

ghs_boomer · Post by **ghs_boomer** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 5:49 am

I have some lift on my 98 4003 but that doesn't bother me as much as the intonation screws preventing me from lowering the bridge..I like a low action

heinpete · Post by **heinpete** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 8:39 am

David, just search the forum for the word "washer" and you will find a very detailed procedure.