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New 2019 Rickenbacker Bridge
- Thread starter Maestro29
- Start date
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- rickenbacker bridges
Looks like the front bar might impede with palm muting, or is it just an optical illusion? 
You don't get to palm mute with your palm... you gotta screw up the little piece of foam rubber like GOD (and Leo) intended. Young whippersnappers with your fancy palm muting... harummmphhhh!!!
Yes, that photo is from my local Ric dealers web page. Only 2019 Ric they have in stock right now.
I wonder if the haters will finally stop ahem...complaining now?
I will still take the Hipshot. Fender and Musicman ditched the foam mutes ages ago. I've yet to meet a Rick player who actually uses it. No clue why they included it on the new bridge. And as other mentioned, palm muting is the way to go which you cannot do even on the redesigned bridge...but you can on the Hipshot.
I use the mute occasionally, I do like to palm mute though but the best mute I've found is a rolled up piece of cloth under strings near the bridge, it doesn't damp the string as much only takes the high end off.
They are selling the new bridge on their site. $190. Which is actually more expensive than the Hipshot. Probably because of the foam mute.
a step forward from the original design... like basically any other bridge on this planet.
Pleasantly surprised to see the new bridge when I received my new Ric. .
A definite improvement, but still no palm mute behind the bridge pup, which isn't the end of the world. It's a good compromise between the Hipshot and old style bridge. It's a bit of an odd design with a separate string retainer screwed into the body under the rear part of the bridge. Seems like one solid casting would have been simpler, but the extra weight might have been a concern. The need to drill 4 new holes in an older 4003 to mount the string retainer (and the $190 price) may limit its appeal as an aftermarket retrofit. At least there are some options now, if you never use a mute (99% of Ric players), the Hipshot is probably a better choice, but if you want the retro look, and don't palm mute, this fits the bill.
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Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
you literally have to drill about 14 new holes and get them all in the right place to install that thing and then you still can't palm mute your bass … arrgghh … what were they thinking?
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
Although the new bridge would check one box on my list of improvements, I would still also like to see them dump the double truss rod design for a single and thereby thin the neck profile a little, and last but not least offer pickups with the vintage winding (and tone) as an option.I wonder if the haters will finally stop ahem...complaining now?
In fact if I could only have one of the above, I'd take the option of vintage pickups because I own and play Rics due to their signature tone.
