Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

When did RIC start and stop putting the extra screws in the bridge tail piece? I'm trying to find out if a tail piece may have been modified.

Mid 80's. Not sure how long it lasted.

They went from 5-screws to 7 screws with the introduction of the 4003 in 1980. The 4003 had 7 screws until about late 1988 or early 1989. The 4001 never had the 7 screw tail.

Here is what I'm trying to figure out:
1990 has the extra screws
1996 no extra screws
1999 has the extra screws

This doesn't seem right.

That could be correct if you are talking 5 string basses

To tell if yours has been modded, remove one of the extra screws and see if there's chrome plating in its pocket, or bare metal. If there's chrome, it's original. Few people take the trouble of replating after adding those holes. If it's been replated, it's possible to tell that as well, but it's difficult to describe in words--a certain waviness on the flatter surfaces and softness where edges were rounded in buffing.

rikk wrote:Here is what I'm trying to figure out:
1990 has the extra screws
1996 no extra screws
1999 has the extra screws

This doesn't seem right.

It could be right. A 1990 4003 could have been made with a 7 screw tail. A 1996 4003 probably wouldn't have a 7 screw tail. A 1999 4003S/5 probably would have a 7 screw tail.

Most RIC 4003S/5's and 4003S/8's had a 7 screw tail.

As always with RIC, exceptions to the rule are possible.

I should have specific on the models. The 1996 and the 1990 are 5 strings. The 1996 does not have the extra screws.

rikk wrote:I should have specific on the models. The 1996 and the 1990 are 5 strings. The 1996 does not have the extra screws.

Damn!

I had a 2004 with stock 2-extra-screw-tailpiece.

Rikk, are there two holes in the bass where the extra screws should go on that 1996 one? If so, then the tailpiece was replaced at some point.

johnallg wrote:Rikk, are there two holes in the bass where the extra screws should go on that 1996 one? If so, then the tailpiece was replaced at some point.

No that's the thing, the 1996 has no extra holes.

I might have to put two extra screws in my C64. The bridge has some tail lift to it. It's odd how these things are. My V63 has the two extra screws and no lift, my 4003 has no extra screws and no lift at all, and the C64 has lift. It's not that big of a deal really. I just find it kind of strange.

Randy, if you look, your C64 only has 3 screws, not 5, holding it down. If the 3 screws under the bridge are overtightened, that tends to exacerbate the lift at the string threading end. Putting the washers in the gap between the wood rout and the bottom of the tailpiece helps that problem. If the lift showing is really small, it could be just the wood tapering towards the edge of the instrument.