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Tail lift on one of my 4001 C64 basses has gotten pretty bad over time. The angle of the G string over the saddle is approaching zero, and this prevents me from lowering the action to where I would like it.

What are the least intrusive replacement options?

The current tailpiece is original, the three-screw version. I am reluctant to drill into wood, but I might decide to do it. Or I might let it be.


Thanks,
bluewhale

Screw into the wood. Best real-world solution, IMO.

I have a 4001 with a little lift. If it ever got bad - two screws wold be added in a n instant! Would look like my 4003s5 tailpiece. I believe there were a few threads on how to do this. Let us know what happens!

Consider fitting one of the newly designed Ric tailpieces, they are solid and hopefully are immune to lift, they do require additional holes drilled but come supplied with a template to accurately locate the new holes.Once fitted the holes are not visible

Or .... a Chrome Hipshot drop in would work as well.

thx1955 wrote:Consider fitting one of the newly designed Ric tailpieces, they are solid and hopefully are immune to lift

Given the new bridge/tailpiece combo have a separately screwed-down anchor for the strings, there is no way for the back-end of the tailpiece to have any lifting forces applied to it.

Yes, it requires a feew more holes drilled into the body, but I would not have any problems doing such. Someone elses MMV.

ram wrote:...I have a 4001 with a little lift. If it ever got bad - two screws wold be added in a n instant! Would look like my 4003s5 tailpiece...

Also like the original 4003 models? I am trying to keep this method as a last resort, though I am sure it would kill the problem.

thx1955 wrote:Consider fitting one of the newly designed Ric tailpieces, they are solid and hopefully are immune to lift, they do require additional holes drilled but come supplied with a template to accurately locate the new holes.Once fitted the holes are not visible

Or .... a Chrome Hipshot drop in would work as well.

Thanks for all of your replies.

I think the tailpiece as it sits is compromised, so I am interested in any potential replacements. I am aware of three possibilities:

New RIC 4003 tailpiece
Previous RIC 4003 tailpiece, the one now being phased out (May, 2020)
Hipshot

For these, would the three existing holes be reused?

About the new RIC 4003 tailpiece, I have read the instructions for replacing a 4003 tailpiece with the new one, but the procedure for replacing a three-screw tailpiece might be different - I don't know.

bluewhale wrote:

thx1955 wrote:About the new RIC 4003 tailpiece, I have read the instructions for replacing a 4003 tailpiece with the new one, but the procedure for replacing a three-screw tailpiece might be different - I don't know.

No different.

Thumbs down on the Hipshot. The break angle is too shallow.

daveman wrote:Thumbs down on the Hipshot. The break angle is too shallow.

Interesting, can you expand on that ?

jps wrote:

bluewhale wrote:

thx1955 wrote:About the new RIC 4003 tailpiece, I have read the instructions for replacing a 4003 tailpiece with the new one, but the procedure for replacing a three-screw tailpiece might be different - I don't know.

No different.

The new bridge comes with a nice template that allows you to align the new bridge over the one being replaced, irrespective of whether it was a three or five screw version , the template works on both.

I am inclined to try installing one of the new 4003 tailpieces myself, but I am starved for information.

Does anyone have any tips? How would a novice most likely botch this operation?


Thanks,
bluewhale

bluewhale wrote:I am inclined to try installing one of the new 4003 tailpieces myself, but I am starved for information.

Does anyone have any tips? How would a novice most likely botch this operation?


Thanks,
bluewhale

Well, there's a few things could go sideways

In no particular order

• Putting the bass down on a surface that's not clean or object free, possibly damaging the body
  Not using the template properly
  Damaging or tearing the template
  Mis-location of the template register holes
  Slipping screwdriver causing a body or bridge scratch
  Using the wrong size drill bit (correct size to use is in the instructions)
  Drilling too deep and going through the body
  Over tightening the new screws

The main thing is to take your time, think through each step before you execute, cover the parts of the body your not working directly on with one or more towels

If you do buy a new bridge remember it comes in parts and will require assembly
The location template is included and that should help greatly with the changeover

Thanks for the thoughtful reply, thx. The one item on your list that had already occurred to me is "drilling too deep and going through the body." Makes me queasy just typing the words.

bluewhale wrote: The one item on your list that had already occurred to me is "drilling too deep and going through the body." Makes me queasy just typing the words.

Easily avoided, fortunately - you just sit your drill bit deep into the chuck so that only the right length of drill is protruding. If the drill bit won't sit deep enough in the chuck, you can buy a little adjustable device that fits onto your drill and prevents it going beyond a set depth.