Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

The strap button (the one on the bottom of the bass) keeps unscrewing itself on my April '74 4001.

Any tips on what I can do to prevent this? Bit worried it'll happen - and potentially fall out - during a practice/gig!

I've had this on both mine, simplest fix I've found is to wrap a little white plumbers tape (the PTFE stuff) around the thread and screw it back in. The tape provides sufficient friction to prevent the strap buttons undoing themselves (even with a tight fitting strap gripping them) but not so much that you can't undo them again if the need arises although it will take more effort of course.

Regular carpenter's glue has also worked for me.

Break off a couple pieces of toothpick and place in the hole. It should snug back up.

If it's just a little loose, just a few drops of water on the threads, then screwed back in, and the wood will absorb the water and swell to hold it. But this is not the best solution in this thread. Not sure I'd be so brave to put glue in there... is carpenter's weak enough to allow removal at a later date?

Yes, just a dab as a little goes a long way and it is weak enough to allow removal or at least in my case.

stevebasshead wrote:I've had this on both mine, simplest fix I've found is to wrap a little white plumbers tape (the PTFE stuff) around the thread and screw it back in. The tape provides sufficient friction to prevent the strap buttons undoing themselves (even with a tight fitting strap gripping them) but not so much that you can't undo them again if the need arises although it will take more effort of course.

I've got some in the garage (my Dad was a plumber) - sounds like a plan!

Great responses - I'll be trying this one first tomorrow.

The fix will likely depend on how loose it is. If simply gets unscrewed through use, one of the simplest fixes will work. If it is loose because the threads in the wood have become worn, then the more radical fixes are called for.

On my 1981 460 BG, the top strap bolt was loose when I got it because the wood threads had become worn and/or partially stripped, so I took a piece of pine, made some sawdust (Surform, IIRC, not sandpaper), mixed it with some carpenter's glue, put some of the mixture into the bolt hole, then screwed the bolt back in.

When I need to simply tighten the strap bolt, I use a piece of rubber from a bicycle light mount and a pair of pliers, and give the bolt a strong (but not too strong) turn. This makes the bolt snug for some time.

teeder wrote:Break off a couple pieces of toothpick and place in the hole. It should snug back up.

+1