Rickenbacker bridge saddles

BigBassBob · #1 05-02-2008, 01:02 AM

Hi all, I tried searching this topic, but I couldn't find anything that helped my predicament.

I've had my Rickenbacker 4003 for about three years now I believe. Anyway, my G-string saddle has always rocked back and forth slightly (namely with downstrokes/strums). This resulted in an irritating, but not very noticable "clicky click click". Also, I swear that the G string sounds kinda dead in comparison to the rest of the strings (doesn't sound particularly clear, punchy or resonant... kind of like diet, caffeine-free cola... it's cola, but it's missing something). However, I smiled and beared it but now it's become too much for me.

I thoroughly checked the bridge and I've just realised that on the corner of the G string saddle it looks like there is a small chip underneith... not very big, but it's not enough to support the saddle fully so the center of it sort of balances on the bridge. If I wedge the small gap with a plectrum or a folded piece of paper, the problem is gone (no more click, and the string sounds alot more "full").

So, the problem is this:
Rickenbacker sell replacement saddles for $5 but they don't ship to the UK. I've found a few places in the UK that sell the bridge piece (spring loaded piece of metal with the 4 saddles) that sits into the bridge housing for a whopping £85! (That's about $170approx which I feel is extortionate for such a simple few pieces of metal).

Does anyone know of a place where I can get a replacement saddle (just the saddle) for my G-string or, can anyone recommend a quick, effective, aesthetically pleasing remedy? I'm tempted to take the saddle off and try and fill in the small gap with some form of putty or just something so that it makes full contant with the bridge.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated

BTW: sorry for the drawn-out post, it's 7am where I am right now, and I've just spent all night finishing some university work.

Hemitom · #2 05-02-2008, 01:24 AM

Hi
Had the same problem on my 4003s. The "A" saddle actually did not sit down on the bridge (machined or cast 0.5 mm too deep on the contact surface)causing a rocking motion and the same annoying click. My fix was to remove the saddle and add a thin layer of 2 part metal type epoxy,them filed it down to suit.No more click,click

deekay911 · #3 05-02-2008, 01:31 AM

PM sent....

BigBassBob · #4 05-02-2008, 02:01 AM

Pm replied.

Thanks for the feedback guys! I'm going back home this weekend so I'll have a quick word with my luthier and decide the best course of action

I'll post again after I've had a look around (that metal type epoxy solution sounds like it would do the trick nicely

)

Thanks again guys!

cooldeals · #5 05-02-2008, 03:07 AM

I had the same problem on my 4003's 'D' string saddle. I haven't been overly impressed with the stock bridge and might change it to a hipshot. I get some wierd vibrations for some reason...

Jools4001 · #6 05-02-2008, 03:48 AM

I'm not impressed with the Rick bridge either, even after 30+ years of Rick ownership it still bugs me. The bridge insert rocks bacwards and forwards on the two grub screws and the saddles are impossible to intonate without taking the strings off....Oh, and the tailpiece can lift and lose contact with the body (as we all know).

BUT.....

It is an integral part of the Rick sound. I don't know exactly what gives Ricks such a distinctive sound. More than likely a complex interaction of the woods used, the pickup placement, the pickup construction, the lacquered fingerboard, the 33 1/4 scale length...who knows for sure. What I do know is that about 10 years ago I got so sick of the bridge on my '73 4001 that I had a luthier replace it with a Badass II. It seemed OK at first, the bass had a very bright sound using the Badass, but it just wasn't a Rick sound...close but no cigar.

I kept it on there for a good long while, at least 5 years, but ultimately I had the original bridge re-fitted at the same time as a re-fret, and the Rick sound came right back...

I play other basses now but I still have the Rick, it was my first 'professional' quality bass and my first love...I like to think of all the Rick foibles in the same way as a beautiful women who can be difficult to live with, but you can't help falling in love with

BigBassBob · #7 05-02-2008, 05:13 AM

Quote:

I play other basses now but I still have the Rick, it was my first 'professional' quality bass and my first love...I like to think of all the Rick foibles in the same way as a beautiful women who can be difficult to live with, but you can't help falling in love with

That statement sums up my relationship with the Rick perfectly. Well, it wasn't my first "professional" bass (my first high-end instrument was a Fender US Dlx Pbass-V). But, I love my Rickenbacker in a really strange love/hate way. I adore the looks, the tone can go from warm and slurpy to grind and clank just with a change of picking position, notes sing out and the instrument is just really comfortable to play. However, getting it just right is a major pain in the ****; I had it setup ages ago and it took a while for it to settle... then I had another setup with a different gauge and brand of string and then it took a while to settle down again... all the while having trouble with the bridge. Then some days, the whole tone and vibe doesn't cut it for me... so I grab my Fender and that normally gives me my "modern tone fix".

Yet, for all the positives and negatives of my Rickenbacker (and the several times I contemplated selling it), something about it keeps pulling me back to it... you're right. It's like a woman who does your head in, yet there is an "x-factor" about them that puts a spell on you.