New 2019 Rickenbacker Bridge

[Guzzi Toad]

View attachment 3616994

Ok so I put one of these new ones on my ‘78 this weekend. Easy and straightforward. Very happy with the look, the ease of string height adjustment, intonation, and spacing. I’ve owned this bass since the beginning, it has had other mods over the years, so I was not concerned about modding an all-original vintage bass. I like it better than the Hipshot as far as looks and overall functionality. My take: 1. New Ric owners will love this bridge stock on their new bass, 2. Nice upgrade for those owners who don’t have any issue modding their older Ric bass, and 3. Stick with original bridge or Hipshot if you don’t want to drill holes on your older Ric.

Nicely done John. I think you're the first TBer to document and post this.

 

[Teijo K.]

Have you tried a strap lock? It’ll add probably 2cm to the horn...

I use a strap locks, and a fancy dual shoulder strap, both help, but if there were ultralights for my ric, I would buy em immediately.

 

[Picton]

I use a strap locks, and a fancy dual shoulder strap, both help, but if there were ultralights for my ric, I would buy em immediately.

I counterbalance mine, too, with a 1-lb dive weight woven onto my strap at the body end. Works great.

 

[Koshchei]

I use a strap locks, and a fancy dual shoulder strap, both help, but if there were ultralights for my ric, I would buy em immediately.

The mute itself does. The "cage" that surrounds and covers the mute does not. It's an integral part of the casting. When Ric folks talk about "teeth" on the bridge, that cagelike thing is what they're referring to.

They're right that it's hard to palm mute. But there are several workarounds.



This.

A lot of people here don't get that Rick has its niche, seems satisfied with it, and doesn't want to become FMIC. They have people willing to pay exorbitant prices for EVERY INSTRUMENT THEY MAKE, both new and used. By that metric, the only one that really matters in a capitalist society, why should they make any kind of major change?

They certainly shouldn't, without thinking about it very carefully. They lived through (and, I'm sure, watched carefully) Norlin and CBS. They know what happens when you expand in an ill-considered way.

$1800Cdn isn't exorbitant. It's pretty much in-line with every good quality USA-made instrument before you start getting into exotic options like buckeye burl tops. Rickenbacker is many things, but overpriced, they ain't. An Ibanez Premium is more money than a Rickenbacker.

 

[Picton]

$1800Cdn isn't exorbitant. It's pretty much in-line with every good quality USA-made instrument before you start getting into exotic options like buckeye burl tops. Rickenbacker is many things, but overpriced, they ain't.

I was talking "exorbitant" vs, say, a run-of-the-mill MIA Fender.

From a lot of what I've read here, folks don't balk at the pricing; they balk at the pricing on an instrument that, in their mind, STILL doesn't work well. Thus requiring expensive changes. My takeaway from such people is that they'd be far happier paying a lower price, since they'd then factor in all the aftermarket stuff they'd need in order to make their "good quality USA-made instrument" even marginally playable (or marginally palm-mutable, anyway).

My take is that a) you don't really need a lot of the aftermarket stuff, b) you can just choose to buy a different bass anyway, and c) from Ric's perspective, the product is priced just fine.

FWIW, I agree with you 100%.

 

[Ric5]

Is this commercially available? or is it a custom job?

the badass bridge is commercially available for the last 40 years … and there are 100's or people who can make the surround

 

[Hounddog409]

Cool, but will it actually intonate? Also, are they adding warp-free fingerboards to the mix?

Cool. Have anything interesting to add?

 

[Hounddog409]

ok 8 screws … and if you don't get them in the right place it is crooked

View attachment 3616511

Whats you point? Any bridge with 4 or 6 or 8 screws, if not placed properly, will result in a crooked bridge.

 

[Matt R.]

Cool. Have anything interesting to add?

Aw. Someone took something personally on the internet that has nothing to do with them.

 

[RissKippery]

Just did earlier tonight, in fact... so we'll see what they say.

I’d be curious to hear what they say. I have an email from them saying this issue was corrected.

 

[Snakeman1066]

Commercially available. The new production basses have them installed. Aftermarket purchases are available too. It started with the limited edition AC model, but became the new standard.

was actually talking about the surround on the Badass in the picture...

 

[Snakeman1066]

the badass bridge is commercially available for the last 40 years … and there are 100's or people who can make the surround

was actually inquiring about the surround...is that a 1 off or is it commercially available? If so where?

 

[monsterthompson]

was actually talking about the surround on the Badass in the picture...

Ah. Didn't see the quoted pic when I was skimming the thread on my phone. Carry on.

 

[Ric5]

was actually inquiring about the surround...is that a 1 off or is it commercially available? If so where?

That is a picture I found on the internet ...

If you want one made maybe try Tony at Pickguardian.com

 

[BassVibes]

A no from me to retrofitting the bridge to my 2019 4003S. It's disappointing that new holes have to be drilled into a $2000+ bass and there is no way I am going to do that. I know in another related thread someone mentioned it would have been a better piece of engineer if it was a one-piece bridge - I would agree with that too. Saying that, it is a welcome improvement and if was buying a Ric again I would be more than happy. But making it a bit easier to intonate the bass is not enough for me. My bass intonation is spot on and stable with the old bridge, so couldn't be happier.

 

[Auspuff]

I wonder if the haters will finally stop ahem...complaining now?

No.

Because Rics have more quirks than just the bridge.

 

[bobyoung53]

No.

Because Rics have more quirks than just the bridge.

Some of us like the quirks.

 

[Auspuff]

Some of us like the quirks.

Never stated I did not appreciate the quirks.

 

[bobyoung53]

Never stated I did not appreciate the quirks.

I guess I'm paranoid from all the haters.

 

[Auspuff]

I guess I'm paranoid from all the haters.

No worries.

We love our Ric's, quirks, and all.