Badass II for a Rickenbacker 4003?

[MIgroove22]

Ever since I got my 4003 iv'e kind of wanted to replace the bridge with a Badass II, not only because Geddy Lee has one on all his basses, but iv'e heard it provides great sustain but I do have some concerns. I understand that you have to drill new holes, but would it be a problem to take it to my local guitar shop and have them order the bridge and install it? And also it looks like Geddys rick has a small pick guard under the bridge, can you buy a pick guard like that online or would I have to get one made?

 

[hdracer]

You want to kill the value of your bass for a crappy bridge?

 

[johnk_10]

You want to kill the value of your bass for a crappy bridge?

+1!

 

[bassmachine2112]

If your going that route get a hipshot.

 

[Baird6869]

If your going that route get a hipshot.

+1

Just because Geddy uses them, doesn't mean you should.

The Hipshot is much better looking and functional IMO....

 

[Human Bass]

The hipshot is expensive, but will preserve the bass.

If you want a high-mass bridge and don't care about drilling new holes, go with the gotoh 201, at least is much less expensive than the badass.

 

[mattj1stc]

If your going that route get a hipshot.

The hipshot is a drop in replacement that functions significantly better than the stock ric bridge. I have the hipshot (crome over brass) in my Ric and it has made a tremendous improvement in terms of saddle stability, intonation, etc. No noticable change in tone though - really just a change from a less than ideal bridge to a well designed one.

 

[JGR]

I actually like the Badass bridges, but I wouldn't hack up a bass to put one on, especially when the drop-in from Hipshot is available. I put one on my 4003 and much preferred it to the stock bridge. I preferred it's looks too though that is certainly subjective.

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

I love my Badass and yeah, my bass has sustain to next week. Most people are blown away. But to each his own. It's also a rosewood fwiw.

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

BTW Jeff Berlin has them on all his basses too.... don't know which one of them turned the other on but I suspect one of them had it first...

 

[woodyng]

hey JGR,nice looking bass! love the pick guard ,the black out around the bridge pickup,and i too prefer the look (and function) of the hipshot. i have an aluminum one on my 74 4000, and its the shizzle. i would say the brass version would get you more of the Geddy sound,since the badass bridge is brass. i think the aluminum version stays close to what the stock bridge sounds like,so just depends what ya want.

 

[JGR]

Thanks! Yeah, I believe JohnK used an aluminum one and felt it kept the stock tone pretty well. I put a brass one on mine and I liked what it did for the punch and sustain. It's cool the offer both materials.

 

[Baird6869]

IMO, that is the perfect RIC. Nice!

I actually like the Badass bridges, but I wouldn't hack up a bass to put one on, especially when the drop-in from Hipshot is available. I put one on my 4003 and much preferred it to the stock bridge. I preferred it's looks too though that is certainly subjective.

 

[danomite64]

 

[4001]

BTW, Geddy has Badass I bridges on his two jetglo 4001's. He also had a Badass I on his 4080/12 doubleneck. His 4080 doubleneck has a Badass II bridge.

 

[selowitch]

I am usually averse to any non-reversible mods on instruments with potential collector value. Rics definitely fall into that category, as do Fenders. I leave those kinds of modifications to (recent) Squiers and Rondos!

 

[4001]

I am usually averse to any non-reversible mods on instruments with potential collector value. Rics definitely fall into that category, as do Fenders. I leave those kinds of modifications to (recent) Squiers and Rondos!

I tend to agree with that, although I modded a couple of my Rickenbackers with Badass I's. I also modded my Squier CV Jazz Bass (not with a new bridge though) and I'll say it's worth more now.

 

[4001]

You want to kill the value of your bass for a crappy bridge?

If he dosen't intend on re-selling it, it won't kill it's value.

 

[selowitch]

If he dosen't intend on re-selling it, it won't kill it's value.

Yes, it will. But if he doesn't intend to sell it, then it would be more correct to say that the loss of value may not matter.

 

[Engine207]

I've gone both ways with my JetGlo '80 4001. I think I much prefer the Hipshot chrome-over-brass: