Hipshot Rickenbacker bridge replacement

Jazz Ad · #1 07-29-2006, 01:14 PM

Uh, what's wrong with Hipshot design team ?
This thing is damn ugly.
WHo would want it on a Rick ?

vindy500 · #2 07-29-2006, 01:16 PM

Jason Ungleich · #3 07-31-2006, 12:52 PM

So far about 350 Rick players.

Atoz · #4 07-31-2006, 01:10 PM

If it:

Allows independent string height adjustment
Provides easy access to the saddles for intonation, etc.
Eliminates the annoying "tail lift" issue
Doesn't significantly alter the classic Ric tone
Is a simple "drop-in" replacement (no drilling)

I don't give a rat's @$$ what it looks like!

slowburnaz · #5 07-31-2006, 02:36 PM

Actually, I'm one of those 350 or so Rick players with this bridge. It's a great bridge, with one minor (major) drawback:

On mine, at least, the height adjustment screws on the bridge saddles don't sit in the threads right, I guess. This causes one side of the saddle to lower after playing for a little while due to the vibration of the strings. This kinda sucks because that causes the action to change slightly while you're playing, and it of course also affects the tuning.

I've heard of people putting fingernail polish on the screws. I guess this kinda gums up the threads so the adjustment screws won't rattle loose. Haven't tried it, though...

tplyons · #6 07-31-2006, 02:59 PM

Ugly, but easier to adjust than the real Ric bridge

6pack Jon · #7 08-05-2006, 12:45 AM

I have them on my 4001 and 4003. Alot better then the stock bridge. The reason I believe its that big is to cover the area the original bridge took up. In real life they look fine on the bass anyway.

Akami · #8 08-05-2006, 12:51 AM

I like the looks of it, but I guess as a non-owner my opinion doesn't count.

scottyg11 · #9 08-05-2006, 01:09 AM

I put a black one on my jetglo 4003. I also replaced the pick guard and neck pick up surround with parts from pickguardian black of course. Now I have the option of palm muting when I play with a pick. And with the neck pick up surround gone I can play finger style more comfortably. I have not lost any of the classic tone and I find the instrument now suits my style better and more sonicly versital. I had it down at Bass NW a while back (they had a SVT VR I wanted to play through cool amp) and a lot of the employees thought that it played very well and looked cool almost like a Blackstar.

6pack Jon · #10 08-05-2006, 01:25 AM

Scotty...did the same thing to my 4003...its jetglo with a blackpickguard and bridge pickup surround from Pickguardian. Also "traded" ($20) the trc for a black one from Rickenbacker.

Nino Valenti · #11 08-05-2006, 06:12 AM

I wouldn't dare put the original back on!!!!!

keb · #12 08-05-2006, 07:25 AM

I've thought about getting one of these for my Rick, as my stock bridge suffers from the infamous bridge lift problem.

FaithNoMan · #13 08-07-2006, 10:20 PM

Keb, that is the coolest avatar.

Saint · #14 04-07-2008, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6pack Jon

Alot better then the stock bridge. The reason I believe its that big is to cover the area the original bridge took up. In real life they look fine on the bass anyway.

Agree with all of the above. I put a brass one on my mid-1990s 4003 and it's been great. It makes the bass so much easier to play, because I can finally get the fairly low action I like and have had on my other basses. The brass version doesn't noticibaly alter the sustain but I have found it much easier to intonate my Ric than ever before.

tomersg · #15 10-16-2008, 07:54 PM

received earlier today the hipshot bridge and installed it.
its looks OK - and the sound is the same.
i just happy to get rid of the mute assembly and be able to put my palm on the bridge when picking and perform palm mute picking.
one thing that upset me is the saddle wobble.
so i rolled three small pieces of duck tape and stuffed them between the saddles to eliminate the wobble.
i thinks its help, at least until i figure out a better solution.
what do you think?
any other, better suggestion?

tomersg · #16 10-30-2008, 09:01 PM

I've got a problem with the hipshot Ric bridge.
the saddles screws are getting free from the vibrations when playing and the saddles go down and so does the action...
should i use loctite Threadlocker?
which type? any other advise?
thanks.

JLS · #17 10-31-2008, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jazz Ad

Uh, what's wrong with Hipshot design team ?
This thing is damn ugly.
WHo would want it on a Rick ?

Anyone with enough sense to pour piss out of a boot, if the instructions were on the heel.

Ric bridges are criminally bad designs.

rokkitt · #18 09-07-2009, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nino Valenti

I wouldn't dare put the original back on!!!!!

looks fine to me.....what is so ugly about it?

looks pretty slick from this angle.......

big al

**Engine207** · #19 05-05-2010, 02:37 PM

Okay...I just slammed one of these on my '80 4001 after 26 years of BadAss II. I like both, but I'd have to say that the Hipshot looks "more stock" than the pickguard-surround BadAss.

I thought the Hipshot was designed to adjust the string spacing laterally, but I can't figure out how, and can't find any instructions online. I'd love to nudge my E and G a few millimeters to line up a little batter with the bridge pickup's pole pieces (where I spend most of my time) a bit better. Anyone?

Ric5 · #20 05-05-2010, 02:41 PM

I would buy one if they made a 5 string version.