Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hey guys, I just picked up a 4003s5 MG/black. I'm so pumped at getting to play it, however I need one critical component, the tail piece is toast. The lift is about 90 degrees to the fretboard. Does anyone have lines on where I could acquire a black 5 string tailpiece or a replacement bridge that won't require any routing? Thanks Shawn

Jeff Rath has a four string black tailpiece. These can be converted to the 5 string tailpiece using a dremmel tool. Jeff's a forum member. There are no replacement bridges for 4003S/5's.

Thanks Dane,
I appreciate the info.

Yes ... I convert a 4 string tailpiece by removing some of the metal ... the result is quite similar to the one that came from the Ric factory ...

Also black parts are getting harder to find ... but chrome parts can be powder coated ...

I was flippin channels and ran across a truck restore show that gave a tour of a chrome/powdercoat shop. There is quite a bit involved in chroming! The copper stages looked really cool! They chromed door handles, bumpers, etc. for the truck. It looks like the only limitation on what you can chrome or powdercoat is, can you suspend it on a hanger? {:^)

or in the case of powdercoat, what ya can fit in the oven...

Shawn, if you would like for me to try to straighten out that bent tailpiece, let me know, Remember that I had a badly bent one that I fixed:

Gary, I've read about someone on the forum having a pseudo-Blackstar five string. Have you posted any pics of the whole bass? I was wondering what the dots and headstock look like.

I have a Blackstar and a 4003S5 JG BT, but this is like a combination of the two. Thanks!

Stanley, it has the true Blackstar appointments, including the black-painted fretboard and microdot markers (which are very hard to see being that the A string hides them!). I think I have some full-on shots at home, so I'll check and post them later.

BTW, I like to call it a "quasi Blackstar":

quasi adj. 1. having some resemblance usu. by possession of certain attributes

which IMO fits better than "pseudo Blackstar":

pseudo adj. being apparently rather than actually as stated : sham, spurious

howsabout five-star...

Sounds too close to On Star ...

Anyway, here are a couple more pictures (now that I'm back home):

That fingerboard tells me that this bass must be a one off 4003S/5 Blackstar. I don't think the Blackstar features could be added to a 4003S/5, but I could see a Blackstar being ordered as a 5-string.

Gary thanks for the offer, but a thanks goes out to Jeff for inspiring me to attempt straightening it myself. It took about a day of slow, careful clamping and finishing it to near perfect with two screws towards the back end of the tailpiece. Now to just get some strings, as luck would have it, my local store is out and I'll have to drive into town to (forgive me) GC to get my strings. Sorry guys I just can't wait. By the way that's a gorgeous s5. I'll post pics of my new girl as soon as I can. Thanks again to all, I love this group!

Gary,
That is absolutely beautiful!

English was never my best subject. Thanks!

The other cool thing about my 4003S/5 SPC is that I bought it from a store through Jeff Fogerty, the son of the late Tom Fogerty and nephew of John.