Re-bending a 4001 tail piece

[silverjet89]

I seem to remember a thread on how to re-bend a 4001 tail piece with tail lift but I can't seem to find it now. Any one know how to do this?
The TP on my '75 4001 has about 1/8" lift. I've tried all the suggestions I can find on the board but the string angle over the bridge is still a bit shallow.The G string buzzes no matter what I try. I thought I'd attempt to straighten the tail piece rather than replacing it.

Thanks,
Kirk

[doctorwho]

Kirk, that would be one of my threads. I'll see whether I can find it ... AHA! Found it.

Starts here:

http://www.rickresource.com/phpBB3/view ... t&start=60

Continues here:

http://www.rickresource.com/phpBB3/view ... t&start=75

And ends (happily!) here:

http://www.rickresource.com/phpBB3/view ... t&start=90

Let me know if you need any further explanation. I also have the drilling template if you decide to add the extra screws.

[silverjet89]

Awesome! Thanks Doc. I don't know how I missed that in my search.
It certainly gives me hope that I can straighten my bridge since it is nowhere near as bad as yours was.

Thanks again,
Kirk

[doctorwho]

You're welcome! And good luck ... remember to be patient with it!

[aceonbass]

Don't forget to add two screws to keep it down at the rear or it will come right back up. Gary's only stayed down 'cause he added two screws.

[doctorwho]

The main reason I added the two extra screws was that I figured that the metal, having been bent so severely, would be more likely to bend again. IIRC, someone else who straightened his/her less severely bent tailpiece did not need the extra screws, the tailpiece staying straight on its own.

[aceonbass]

Your tailpiece challenged bass is a 4003/5 is it not Gary? Certainly if it had had the two extra screws in the first place, it wouldn't have bent. Then again, my position on 5-screw tailpieces and tail lift is pretty well known by now

[aceonbass]

David...Shhhhh! What ever happens in Canada, stays in Canada.

[silverjet89]

I think I'll try it without the screws and see how it holds up. My bass is a '75 so I'd rather not drill any more holes in it, even if it is beat up a bit already.

Thanks again

[doctorwho]

Keep us posted as to progress and results, Kirk.

[silverjet89]

I'm giving the bass a full restoration/refinish so I'll post some before & after photos when I'm done. Some moron stripped the FG finish and gave it a bad rattle can.