Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

A couple of years ago I had to replace my R tail piece on my '91 330/12 as it broke on the loop that hangs on to the bracket. Last week I noticed the guitar was completely out of tune low, like it was when the R piece started to give way. But this time it's the bracket, which I've now ordered.

Is it because of the tension with 12 strings? Was '91 a bad year for cast metal? Have others experienced this, and will I continue to do so? Note that this has never happened on any of my 6 stringers.

Is it a black tailpiece?
The black ones are without a doubt weaker than the chrome ones...
emac.

weemac wrote:Is it a black tailpiece?
The black ones are without a doubt weaker than the chrome ones...
emac.

No, it's chrome. But that is interesting. Does the application of the finish cause an issue?

Apparently, the heat involved with the black powder coating process tended to weaken the cast zinc...

Yes. Apparently the heating of the part to flow out the black powder-coating has a weakening effect on the die-cast parts. I experienced the same issue with my '91 360/12WB/BT, last year, and had it replaced by the factory with a chrome one. I also located an NOS black one and installed it just for giggles. So far, so good, several months later.

If THIS one fails, I'm going to paint the chrome one with matte black epoxy, after I bead blast the heck out of the chrome to give it some "tooth", followed by Bulldog and then the epoxy.

It isn't just 1991 ... my 1988 370/12RM MG suffered the same fate, except with mine, the bracket went first, then years later, the R tailpiece (I discovered this just this last year). The R tailpiece on my 198 370/12RM FG also broke, about two years ago.

doctorwho wrote:It isn't just 1991 ... my 1988 370/12RM MG suffered the same fate, except with mine, the bracket went first, then years later, the R tailpiece (I discovered this just this last year). The R tailpiece on my 198 370/12RM FG also broke, about two years ago.

Makes me think the next time this happens I'm switching to a trapeze set up.

jingle_jangle wrote:If THIS one fails, I'm going to paint the chrome one with matte black epoxy, after I bead blast the heck out of the chrome to give it some "tooth", followed by Bulldog and then the epoxy.

How about black chrome plating? I know it's not quite the same look as paint/powder coat, but I've always thought it would look great. Do you know anything about black chrome plating Paul?

Anyone see these explode on early 80s, 70's, or 60's R tailpieces? I notice everyone affected in this thread is late 80s and up.

I know 91 was a bad year for hair metal

I have a R tailpiece on my 12 string 2006 should I replace it with a tranpeze before it brakes/if it brakes ?
I wonder why they would brake overtime ?
Billy

whojamfan wrote:I know 91 was a bad year for hair metal

I had a feeling someone would say that!!!!

egosheep wrote:Anyone see these explode on early 80s, 70's, or 60's R tailpieces? I notice everyone affected in this thread is late 80s and up.

My 6 stringers I reference are from '73 and '75.

cjj wrote:

jingle_jangle wrote:If THIS one fails, I'm going to paint the chrome one with matte black epoxy, after I bead blast the heck out of the chrome to give it some "tooth", followed by Bulldog and then the epoxy.

How about black chrome plating? I know it's not quite the same look as paint/powder coat, but I've always thought it would look great. Do you know anything about black chrome plating Paul?

I'm not Paul, but just Google "Melonite". That is what the process is called.

IHeartRics wrote:

egosheep wrote:Anyone see these explode on early 80s, 70's, or 60's R tailpieces? I notice everyone affected in this thread is late 80s and up.

My 6 stringers I reference are from '73 and '75.

Ah ok, there goes that idea!