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Help with Rickenbacker 4003 mute knobs

Mo cowbell

Mo cowbell

Mar 2, 2017
370
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Colorado
#1
Help please.

So the control side knob/screw seemed immovable. So I tried the other side. Well, it came out. I couldn't get it to engage and screw in so I grabbed a channel lock on encouraged the other side thinking the mechanism needed some relief. Well, that side came put as well. Now I can't get either one in. What DO I do?
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#4
I'm not sure if you can do it without removing the whole bridge, as @Gilmourisgod replied in your NBD.

I have a dental like tool... 90° angle, sharp point that might be able to hook under the mute, positioning it to a point where you would be able to at least start one side... I'm sure it would require a bit of luck, as well.

The bass is beautiful, though. I wish you luck! You'll get it, one way or the other.

Spidey
 
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#7
Its really not that hard, but even if you can somehow maneuver the nuts back on from above, they will still be loose. The bridge is held on by screws under the string saddles, so strings off, saddles off, lift the bridge off. The V2 is now a two piece assembly with chrome cover and a string anchor, but you dont need to remove the string anchor. The mute plate is a little piece of spring steel with foam glued to it. You have to pass the adjuster screws through it and re-glue the nuts to the screw ends. Ric used what looks like hot glue gun glue, but that seems to fail eventually, i did one nut on my Allparts clone of the bridge with a dab of epoxy. You could use CA gel too. The ground wire is fastened to the mute plate too, but you shouldnt have to take it off. I havent seen an installation video for the V2 pop up on Youtube yet, unfortunately, but this is 20 minutes work with a screwdriver and some glue, you got this.
 
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#12
#13
Gilmourisgod said:
I don't see any nuts on the ends of the mute screws, so they either deleted them altogether for the V2, or they are on the top side of the mute plate. If they deleted them, what's to keep anybody from unscrewing the mute adjusters and dropping the mute plate?
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You’re right, and that’s what happened to the OP.
Those bolts look like they might be too short to add nuts?
You could probably make them captive by crimping them with pliers once it’s all assembled.
 
#16
iiipopes said:
By using pliers, you may have stripped the threads to the mounting plate for the mute material. Yes, you must remove the bridge to get to everything. I suggest you consult the experts at rickresource.com so you don't damage your bass further. Good luck.
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I'll check that site out.

Your point about stripping the threads...I don't think so. I wasn't aggressive enough to do that in the clockwise direction. Possible, but doubtful. At least I sure hope I didn't. After looking at the above photos I think I just unscrewed too far and now can't get the things rethreaded.

Which now begs the obvious question. To use the mute one would need to tighten the screws to use the mute. Right? If so, those boogers were immovable.
 
#17
Mo cowbell said:
I'll check that site out.

Your point about stripping the threads...I don't think so. I wasn't aggressive enough to do that in the clockwise direction. Possible, but doubtful. At least I sure hope I didn't. After looking at the above photos I think I just unscrewed too far and now can't get the things rethreaded.

Which now begs the obvious question. To use the mute one would need to tighten the screws to use the mute. Right? If so, those boogers were immovable.
Click to expand...
That's why you consult the experts: to find out how to loosen them without damage.
 
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#18
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Whelp. I did the deep dive. I mixed up the saddles so need to do some adjusting but excited to get this up and running again.

Took everything apart. And sweated the whole time. I can't belive how complicated this system is compared to my Femders and Peavey. Still, so this bass is so cool.
 

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