• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Badass II for a Rickenbacker 4003?

#21
This has been puzzling me for quite a while and this thread is the place to ask: if you're gonna put a BadAss II on a Ric, do you need that plastic piece that pickguardian sells to go under it? I've seen pictures of Geddy's Ric and older photos show that it has that piece, more recent photos don't. Also, if you gotta have it, wouldn't it look better in black on a jetglo Ric?
 
#22
Geddy has a Badass 1 on his Ricky. You do need to route some wood out so the bridge sits lower otherwise you will end up with high action. The plastic is a surround to cover the hole left from the Rick bridge.
If you have to fit a new bridge, I would go with the Hipshot. It's a straight swap....
 
#23
I'm pretty sure that one thing Rickenbackers have always been known for is pretty monstrous sustain. Mine sustains forever with the standard bridge. But it's actually too much, depending on the style of music. Like with the reggae/funk I play... sometimes sustain gets in the way; I want the notes to have a nice quick decay, so that it can lock in better with the drummer. If/when I'm doing a prog jam however, then yeah i'm usually loving it!

I don't think adding a badass II will give you a whole lot more sustain than normal, if any. And, considering my last point there, is having even more sustain on a Ric something you actually need?

I would love someone to post an audio demo of a standard vs. badass vs hipshot bridge in order to really see what kind of difference we're getting
 
#24
sloppy_phil said:
I'm pretty sure that one thing Rickenbackers have always been known for is pretty monstrous sustain. Mine sustains forever with the standard bridge. But it's actually too much, depending on the style of music. Like with the reggae/funk I play... sometimes sustain gets in the way; I want the notes to have a nice quick decay, so that it can lock in better with the drummer. If/when I'm doing a prog jam however, then yeah i'm usually loving it!
Click to expand...
No snark intended, but isn't that what muting with the fretting finger/plucking palm is for?
 
#25
selowitch said:
No snark intended, but isn't that what muting with the fretting finger/plucking palm is for?
Click to expand...

No snark taken. Indeed, you're quite right. I just found I had to adjust my technique on the Ric when I first got it. I was previously using a flats-strung P-bass; talk about no sustain! I've fully learned to compensate, but was pretty blown away when I first got the Ric at how much it sustained
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back