'74 Electra Corsair (Ric clone) Setup Problem

[bjlevine]

I have an interesting issue with my Electra Corsair, which is an old lawsuit era Rickenbacker copy. I replaced the pickups and electrical with real Rickenbacker items and then because the tailpiece was so chewed up, I replaced it with a Rickenbacker tailpiece and bridge.

Well, I figured out that the Corsair has a 33 1/2" scale, 1/4" longer than the Ric. No matter how much I adjust the bridge accordingly (16 3/4" from the 12th fret), I have a tuning problem. If I tune it to the open strings, the fretted notes are slightly sharp. If I tune it to, say, the 5th fret, its flat when played open. The nut is all the way up against the fretboard and does measure 16 3/4" to the 12th fret.

Should I slap on the old tailpiece and bridge? Any other suggestions? I'm a fast learner, but not real knowledgable yet (I'm your textbook tinker).

[Pilgrim]

Tune open and at the 12th fret - if those match, you're good.

[lunarpollen]

Can you unbolt the tailpiece, move it a little bit, redrill the screw holes holes, and rebolt it in place so that it puts the bridge within proper intonation range?