Shine Bass Bridge Problem

[Mojonuts]

Hello all!

A while ago I purchased a Shine RK2000NT, that is, the Chinese Rickenbacker copy/ripoff/homage. I was pleased with it until I noticed that the E-string dropped dramatically in volume when switching to using both pickups or just the neck pickup. I asked the dealer what the problem was and he told me, after lengthy examination, that the bridge "wasn't right". Apparently the bridge is built with too wide string spacing so the Seymour Duncan pickups (made for a proper Rick) strain to pick up the sound from the strings, resulting in a very noticeable loss in E-string volume.

This is the way it was told to me. I'm not familiar with the intricacies of bass setup, so this may all sound like gobbledegook, in which case I'll try my best to clarify.

My questions are: Assuming that the "the bridge is too wide"-hypothesis is true, what would the recommended remedy be? Adjusting the bridge somehow? Installing a new one, and if so, what kind? Would a bridge made for a proper Rick fit? I'd appreciate any help you could spare me and if technical information on the bass is needed, I'll try my best to deliver.

Thanks in advance.

[daveman50]

Please post a photo that shows the bridge and pickups so we can see the spacing issue.

[Mojonuts]

Thanks for the quick response. Unfortunately I don't have a digital camera at hand to photo the bass at the moment, although that shouldn't be a problem to arrange. There are a few photos of it at the dealer's website though: http://www.tiptop.se/cgi-bin/multipage.cgi?id=2522

I understand these pics are hardly ideal, but I'll try to fix up a few better ones ASAP.

[daveman50]

Based on these photos -- yes, the pickup may be too narrow in relation to the string spacing. However, this may be more of a pickup issue, than a bridge issue.

You could narrow the string spacing at the bridge without changing out the stock bridge. It would be a bit fiddly, but a decent luthier/repair shop can do it, and it would be better and easier than trying to change out the stock bridge. (Don't bother with a "real" Rick bridge - hard to find, don't work that well, and you have no idea whether it will fit).

However, narrowing the string spacing may not be the answer. First issue is whether that will make the string spacing too narrow on the fingerboard. Second issue, and more important, the small amount of narrowing you can achieve may not solve the problem (may not be enough to get the strings properly over the pickup).

Think about changing out the pickup to one that is sufficiently wide to work better. That might require a small amount of routing under the pickguard, and widening the pickguard opening, but that's not a big deal. I bet that's the best solution.

Good luck!

[Pilgrim]

The string doesn't have to go right over the exposed pickup...but how close isn't a fixed answer.

Based on that bridge's appearance, I think you could have another slot cut in the saddle and move the string over. I can't quite tell from the photo, but in some cases you could modify the bridge and move the saddle over. (Edited to add:Here's a thought - what about removing the saddle and machining another screw passage in it - to the left of the existing one - to offset the existing slot?)

If there isn't room to do either of those with the existing saddle, a more expensive option might be to have a new saddle fabricated from a piece of round stock...with the slot in the best place for your purposes. But by the time you had that saddle made and chromed, you'd have some money into it.

A pickup change might be more economical...and might even sound better. You have a pickup cover, so your work would be hard to see if you ned to enlarge the rout.

[Mojonuts]

Thanks for the thoughts, lads. You've been really helpful considering what little you've been given to work with.

So, a pickup change might be preferable. What kind of pickups should I be looking at? Any brand or kind you could recommend, perhaps? My current SDs are pretty nice, so I'd naturally prefer not to have to trade down on new ones.

Also, what kind of rewiring might be needed in order to make wider pickups viable? Can it be done at home by reasonably tech proficient people not necessarily familiar with guitar setup or is it the kind of job you just bring to the shop?

As always grateful for any answers.

[daveman50]

Just bring it to the shop and talk it over. If they like you they'll trade out your neck pickup for a suitable used pickup if they have one.

Anyway I'm not sure why you like a pickup that doesn't work properly