rick bridge on a fender

eupharies · #1 08-12-2009, 05:37 AM

I want to put a rickenbacker bridge on my MIA fender, mainly for the vintage look, but also its a good bridge..

How many extra holes do you think id need, im sure it would fit, it would be right on the end of the body just like on a rick bass..

Thanks

ggoat!!! · #2 08-12-2009, 05:40 AM

Hmmmm...you might want to double check the fitment. The Rick saddles are pretty much toward the front of the bridge...leaving alot of area behind this. Looking at some of MY Jazz and Precision basses, it seems to me that no way would a Rick bridge fit if you place the saddle part of the bridge in the right position to where it can be adjusted for correct intonation. At least on all MY Fenders, the Rick bridge would be hanging off the back of the bass.

Zooberwerx · #3 08-12-2009, 05:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eupharies

I want to put a rickenbacker bridge on my MIA fender, mainly for the vintage look, but also its a good bridge..

How many extra holes do you think id need, im sure it would fit, it would be right on the end of the body just like on a rick bass..

Thanks

Your pre-planning is way off on this. Does the fixed saddle radius of the Ric bridge even match that of the Fender neck? Doesn't a real Ric bridge require routing for the mute? String spacing?

Vintage look? That kind of throws me.

Riis

Ric5 · #4 08-12-2009, 05:54 AM

I would say don't do it ... the Ric bridge requires removing an area of wood about 1" by 3" ... Try the hipshot Ric replacement bridge instead.

eupharies · #5 08-12-2009, 08:50 AM

sorry thats the 1 i mean, the hipshot rick replacement is the 1 ive been looking at, how does it differ compared to a standard ric bridge

eupharies · #6 08-12-2009, 08:51 AM

i have emailed hipshot regarding the bridge

megadan · #7 08-12-2009, 08:55 AM

The original Ric bridge is not a good design.
The fender bridge is simple and it works.

The Ric bridge does not have the same range of fine-tuning as modern Fender bridges. The hipshot replacement fixes these.

Still, I'd recommend a Badass or a Gotoh bridge intended for Fenders. Otherwise you're making a whole lot of work for yourself for little gain.

eupharies · #8 08-12-2009, 08:58 AM

they are so normal looking though; i like part of the bridge being covered, and the metal plate underneath etc..

DO you think a hipshot rick replacement would work

RTL · #9 08-12-2009, 09:13 AM

You want to do what?!?!?

That would be like ripping the sink out of your kitchen, tearing up the floor, and replacing it with one of those old timey hand pump things. Not only are you taking a huge step backward, but you're doing irreversible damage in the process.

jgroh · #10 08-12-2009, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RTL

You want to do what?!?!?

That would be like ripping the sink out of your kitchen, tearing up the floor, and replacing it with one of those old timey hand pump things. Not only are you taking a huge step backward, but you're doing irreversible damage in the process.

+1 (if you were to use a stock Ric bridge...they stink quite frankly).

The hipshot is alot better but, Id rather have a Gotoh or even a BadAss bridge on a Fender. Oh, and those hipshots are not cheap either. I was looking at one for my Ric but I think at the time the cheapest one I could find was $90-$100. Dont know what they are now.

Ric5 · #11 08-12-2009, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eupharies

sorry thats the 1 i mean, the hipshot rick replacement is the 1 ive been looking at, how does it differ compared to a standard ric bridge

It fits flat on the bass and does not require wood removal to install and unlike the real Ric bridge it is easy to intonate.

The only nice thing about a real Rickenbacker tailpiece and bridge assembly is it looks pretty. Functionally it is cumbersome.

Schaller, hipshot and Kahler all make several good bridges.

eupharies · #12 08-12-2009, 11:46 AM

ok lol i didnt think it would be as beneficial to my bass as fender stuff.
I love the tailpiece, is there anything thats fits a fender well, which is say more uniaue looking, with a tailpiece, or extra metal etc..

Zooberwerx · #13 08-12-2009, 12:06 PM

Hipshot has the best selection IMO. Not exactly sure how your tastes run or what fits your particular Fender but here's the link:

http://store.hipshotproducts.com/car...oduct_list&c=3

If you still need guidance or assistance, contact Jason Ungelich on the website's contact page. He's a helluva nice guy and glad to contribute his 2 cents worth.

Riis

eupharies · #14 08-12-2009, 01:56 PM

Out of them id prob go with the transtone, ive found on another site a jazz bridge cover, which is half the size of a norm 1, so it would be more like a tail piece rather than a full cover which could work, or im thinking of a kahler tremolo...

I have a butterscotch MIA jazz, have upgraded jazz knobs to chrome, mirror chrome pickguard, upgraded pups to model Js with chrome pickuprings and a nice bridge would now complete it

rcarraher · #15 08-12-2009, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ggoat!!!

Hmmmm...you might want to double check the fitment. The Rick saddles are pretty much toward the front of the bridge...leaving alot of area behind this. Looking at some of MY Jazz and Precision basses, it seems to me that no way would a Rick bridge fit if you place the saddle part of the bridge in the right position to where it can be adjusted for correct intonation. At least on all MY Fenders, the Rick bridge would be hanging off the back of the bass.

Got to agree here,I assume you mean the Ric bridge, like on the 4001. It has a tail piece that I thin is pretty integral to the Ric bridge. I think this wouldn't fit on a Fender very well. If you mean the Combi bridge like on the 4004's, that might work, but no idea how many screws, etc...also don't know why you'd want to....

eupharies · #16 08-12-2009, 05:24 PM

well fender stock bridges look so insignificant compared to certain bridges out there, i want a bridge where people will draw peoples attention, of course i wouldnt want to compromise the sustain etc but...
my bridge looks boring!!!

eupharies · #17 08-12-2009, 05:44 PM

http://www.guitarpartsresource.com/c...enashtrays.htm
The last 1
Considering putting that jag mustang cover over half the bridge, would look good, plus its like half the size probably more than a jazz bass cover.
I use a pick and play just above 2nd pickup therefore, if i put a jazz bass bridge cover on, i couldnt play there anymore...
Would that work, my jazz is string through body so wouldnt have a problem with strings etc

walterw · #18 08-13-2009, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eupharies

http://www.guitarpartsresource.com/c...enashtrays.htm
The last 1
Considering putting that jag mustang cover over half the bridge, would look good, plus its like half the size probably more than a jazz bass cover.
I use a pick and play just above 2nd pickup therefore, if i put a jazz bass bridge cover on, i couldnt play there anymore...
Would that work, my jazz is string through body so wouldnt have a problem with strings etc

no, that snaps directly onto a jaguar guitar bridge, so not even close.

you could put a P-bass bridge cover on; it only covers the bridge itself, not the area around the pickup.

you'll have to take it off every time you change strings, you'll no longer be able to palm-mute, and i'll bet you a quarter that after a while you'll ditch the stupid thing and then hate yourself every time you look at the two holes you drilled into your nice american-made jazz bass

lowbass68 · #19 08-13-2009, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eupharies

well fender stock bridges look so insignificant compared to certain bridges out there, i want a bridge where people will draw peoples attention, of course i wouldnt want to compromise the sustain etc but...
my bridge looks boring!!!

Want something more significant looking, go for a Kahler Tremolo bridge. Check out the bass trem under the proucts tab:
http://www.kahlerusa.com/home.html

walterw · #20 08-13-2009, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowbass68

Go for a Kahler Tremolo bridge.

now you're ripping out the sink and tearing up the floor to put a hot tub in your kitchen!

fender bass bridges just aren't very visual (that's because they're well-designed), so you maybe should look at pickguards as the way to fancy up that bass.