Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

is 2mm tail lift ok for a c64?
whats the most that would be unacceptable?
i push the bottom (where the lift is) and heard a cracking noise might be the screws in the wood
will the tail lift split the wood or anything bad happen to my bass?



thank you

Yes, it's fine and normal. It would be unacceptable if the lift got so high that you didn't have a string break angle or not much of a string break angle. That would happen if you decided to use very high tension strings or tuned your strings above concert pitch. Pushing down on the end of the tailpiece would not help anything.Relax and go enjoy your C64!
If you are that disturbed by it, which you shouldn't be, here's is a link with a template which you'll have to drill holes and counter sink for 2 wood screws to bring the end of the tailpiece flush with the body. This template was made by forumite doctorwho and used mostly by those who have had tailpieces that lifted excessively.
Tailpiece template

thanks again joey , i do get over worried thanks for the info.
one last thing are pyramids ok to use

all the best dave

dave001 wrote:one last thing are pyramids ok to use

all the best dave

Let's just say that I wouldn't.

jps wrote:

dave001 wrote:one last thing are pyramids ok to use

all the best dave

Let's just say that I wouldn't.

Neither would I!

rickenbrother wrote:

jps wrote:

dave001 wrote:one last thing are pyramids ok to use

all the best dave

Let's just say that I wouldn't.

Neither would I!

Ditto.
Thomastik-Infeld Jazz Flats are fantastic.
If you want "Old School" thump , Optima 4099.

Both are low tension strings and are "kinder" to the necks and hardware of Ricks.

And in case you're wondering if putting the extra screws in would look non-original, here's my factory stock 1984 4003:
As you can see, the factory put the extra screws in for some period of time, probably due to excessive tail lift from high tension strings. There have been a number of design changes over the years that make this less of an issue on modern basses.

As for the cracking noise when you push down, it's most likely the strings making it as they slip a bit over the bridge saddles (assuming you did this with strings on). Tail lift won't ever pull the screws out of the wood, but if you have high tension strings, it could eventually bend the tailpiece to the point where the strings no longer contact the bridge saddles with enough force to work correctly.

The bottom line is, this is rarely a problem with most basses and most strings. Pyramids are known to be higher tension than some others, so they may not be a good choice (I've never used 'em so I have no idea). I've used RotoSound RL66D strings on just about every RIC bass I've owned and never had a problem even though some people say they are high tension and can cause issues...

cjj wrote:As you can see, the factory put the extra screws in for some period of time, probably due to excessive tail lift from high tension strings. There have been a number of design changes over the years that make this less of an issue on modern basses.

All of the 4003S/8's and most of the 4003S/5's had the two extra screws even after they stopped putting them in the tailpieces of the 4003. Doctorwho's 4003S/5 SPC Blackstar did not have the two extra screws. The extra tension of the 5th string and probably also neglect of the part of the owner previous to doctowho, is what prompted him to make the template to fix his tailpiece, since the lift was severely excessive.

My '03 4003 had some some tail lift. It bothered me so much that I decided to do something for it. The template mentioned earlier in this thread was a great help (thanks for that!). Tail piece itself was made of very soft material and was easy to bend back. Now it is fixed with 7 screws and it is doing fine. So if you are bothered with tail lift, it's an easy and quick fix. If you can live with it, just leave it as it is.

chefothefuture wrote: If you want "Old School" thump , Optima 4099.

Both are low tension strings and are "kinder" to the necks and hardware of Ricks.

Little OT, but do your Optima E-string sound different from the other strings? I mean a lot more thump there? I'm just wondering if it should be like that or do I just have a bad E-string.

If you desire to add the additional 2 screws to the tailpiece: a template it not necessary; the RIC factory drilled those holes into the middle of some shapes left by the casting process.



This was confirmed when I had a factory 7-screw tail and a 5-screw tail side-by-side.

do the 5 screw tailpiece have lift too?

dave001 wrote:is 2mm tail lift ok for a c64?

Not in my opinion. It changes the strings' break angle and there must be some effect on tone or sustain.

so if i get this right nearly every 4001/4003 will have tail lift unless they have 7 screws?

mikko wrote:

chefothefuture wrote: If you want "Old School" thump , Optima 4099.

Both are low tension strings and are "kinder" to the necks and hardware of Ricks.

Little OT, but do your Optima E-string sound different from the other strings? I mean a lot more thump there? I'm just wondering if it should be like that or do I just have a bad E-string.

That is EXACTLY my experience with Pyramids (round core). Not sure if Optimas are this way too.

dave001 wrote:so if i get this right nearly every 4001/4003 will have tail lift unless they have 7 screws?

The zinc ones, probably a little, but the newest zinc ones with 5 screws barely show any lift at all in many cases. The only ones that don't lift even a little are the old aluminum ones and the 7-screw zinc ones.