Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Last night i had the two extra holes drilled in my 4003 tailpiece,put on new strings and that is where my problems started.For some reason the E & G strings are buzzing as if the mute pad is up but it's not.Have i put the tailpiece back together properly do the washers go on the grounding plate,any help or pics would be a great help thank you.

No, the washers do not go under the grounding plate of the mute, they are sized and placed, so they only touch the tail piece base and the wood.
Make sure the distance of the gap from tail piece base to wood on all three groups of washers(3 x 2washers) is the same. I experienced, that it is not and adjusted it with differently thick washers. Otherwise some washers will surely buzz or rattle!

An other reason for buzz could be the individual string's bridge. Sometimes, to get the right intonation, the bridges need to be turned 180 degrees, which results in the flat top angle is located to the neck position, capable of causing
a buzz, when the string cut on the bridge is too deep. Then you might need a new individual small bridge. Try to higher the whole bridge with the two small allen screws at each side, to see if you find a position where the buzz is gone. However this might result in a not very comfortable string height.

Thanks Peter,i don't fully understand the groups of washers there was only two.Where the strap bolt goes into the tailpiece and the spring goes over the bolt and then into the damper bar,is that were the washers go.I am baffled as to why it is buzzing on the E & G string only.I love my Rickenbacker bass but the tailpiece as good as good as it looks drives me up the wall.Any pics on how it should look.

Shawn: I'm talking about "the washer procedure" and the possible buzzing of the additional washers between the tailpiece and the wood to prevent it from lifting. Please search the word in the forum. For the mute plate (with the grounding cable) there are only plastic washers between the 2 mute (strap) bolts and the tailpiece top. These should be there to prevent general buzzing anyway. Then if the buzz comes from the mute plate, you could carefully stretch the springs a bit to get higher pressure of the mute plate on the tailpiece. Also make sure the mute plate otherwise does not have any contact to the tailpiece or the wood.

Thaks Peter i will have another look tonight.

Shawn, hard to say why your strings are buzzing without seeing your bass. Can you tell where the buzzing is coming from?
Just a guess, but are you sure it is not fret buzz? Maybe the relief in the neck has changed from the sudden changes in tension.

It's not truss rod rattle?

No i checked that.I have two spare strap buttons so i'll change them over tonight. Just in case there is any vibration with the grounding plate and the other buttons.

Shawn, check your e-mail.

Thanks Gary just seen it,thanks for the information.If the replaced strap buttons don't work,i will try another new set of strings.Failing that then i will take it somewhere for a pro set up.And if i ever get another Ric bass i think i will go for the 4004.