New Hipshot Bridge on 2022 4003?

[cb4]

Hello all..

I have a Rickenbacker 4003 2022. I'm interested in buying the new Hipshot bridge. It says on the site...
"Notice: In 2020 Rickenbacker changed the design of their bass bridge. Hipshot replacement bridges are not compatible with the new Rickenbacker design"

Does anyone know if it's just that it's not a "drop in" and it's the screw holes that don't line up? Can I just have my luthier drill new holes? Is there anything else about the design that makes it incompatible?

Thank you

 

[lowendblues]

Interesting, did not know that.

 

[TeeSee]

Absolutely no idea why they say they they're not compatible with newer models as I don't own a Rickenbacker but hopefully the attached file will help you decide if it's right or not.
Make a template up to scale then take your existing bridge off, see how it fits. If it's just the hole spacing then fill your existing holes and drill new ones.
Thanks to @kodiakblair for the Hipshot drawing he sent to me

 

[TeeSee]

I put one on a Harley Benton RB-414 but I had to make a 3mm shim up to raise the bridge in order to get a decent action. If you measure your existing strings and they fall outside the Max/Min heights shown on the drawing then you may have to do the same. That's the only other compatibility issue I can guess at.
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/i-own-a-harley-benton-club.1123735/page-758#post-27816618

 

[Gluvhand]

They aren’t drop in compatible. The Hipshot is a drop in replacement for the older Ric bridge/tailpiece. The hole patterns are different because the newer stock Ric has a piece under the hood for hooking the strings on to.

 

[SteveC]

Interesting. I thought nothing had changed on those basses since they went 4003.

 

[Gluvhand]

Interesting. I thought nothing had changed on those basses since they went 4003.

First change was the bridge about 2-3 years ago. Individual saddles like the Hipshot but keeps the mute. Next change, last year or so, was going to one dual action truss rod. They introduced it, IIRC, in the Al Cisneros sig and slowly rolled it out to the production 4003.

 

[TeeSee]

They aren’t drop in compatible. The Hipshot is a drop in replacement for the older Ric bridge/tailpiece. The hole patterns are different because the newer stock Ric has a piece under the hood for hooking the strings on to.

First change was the bridge about 2-3 years ago. Individual saddles like the Hipshot but keeps the mute.

Assuming the OP still really wanted to fit the bridge then, it looks like it's just the hole spacing. In which case he'd need to drill new holes to fix it which isn't a massive biggie. Depends on whether the upgrade is worth it to them, they're pricey, you're drilling more holes into your pride and joy and may have to fill existing if one of the holes comes close to an existing hole, and also if Ric has fixed the bridge issues of the older models then there seems no point unless its purely to change the look.

 

[Gunga Din]

Isn't the new bridge on these models far superior to the antiquated one?

As for the Hipshot, I put one on an old Greco RB I converted to a 4000, and the saddles were a bit rattly.

 

[MattZilla]

As for the Hipshot, I put one on an old Greco RB I converted to a 4000, and the saddles were a bit rattly.

View attachment 5282658

I always wondered if they would be.

HS put these divider fins between the saddles on the Gibiphone 3pt that seemed intended for you to raise both saddle screws above where you want your action, then retract one screw so the saddle twist-locks into place. Without twist-locking they definitely rattled on my Epi EB-3 despite it being 34” and having regular gauge strings.

It always seemed strange that they didn’t put the fins or some other legitimate locking mechanism on all of their models. Their Ric one just has the groove for the height pin.

eta- Ric’s newer 01160 bridge does seem like enough of an improvement over their old design that the Hipshot would be kind of a downgrade. Good job, Ric. I’d been wondering if you actually cared.

eata- …but they don’t care to have a site that shows their current lineup. Just one to sell hardware & pickups. Where the heck did they learn the word “boutique” and ascertain its meaning to be what they seem to think it means?

 

[TeeSee]

Isn't the new bridge on these models far superior to the antiquated one?

I believe it is, but the OP has the new Ric bridge which has supposedly fixed the issues of the old bridge, namely individual adjustment of saddle height, better intonation access. I say supposedly because I can't speak from experience as I've never owned a Ric, but it's just what I've read.
Nice bass BTW, here's mine.

 

[Gunga Din]

I always wondered if they would be.

HS put these divider fins between the saddles on the Gibiphone 3pt that seemed intended for you to raise both saddle screws above where you want your action, then retract one screw so the saddle twist-locks into place. Without twist-locking they definitely rattled on my Epi EB-3 despite it being 34” and having regular gauge strings.

It always seemed strange that they didn’t put the fins or some other legitimate locking mechanism on all of their models. Their Ric one just has the groove for the height pin.

eta- Ric’s newer 01160 bridge does seem like enough of an improvement over their old design that the Hipshot would be kind of a downgrade. Good job, Ric. I’d been wondering if you actually cared.

eata- …but they don’t care to have a site that shows their current lineup. Just one to sell hardware & pickups. Where the heck did they learn the word “boutique” and ascertain its meaning to be what they seem to think it means?

That's a very good point. And that single groove was a feature of the Hipshot that annoyed me.

 

[TeeSee]

I thought the groove was only there as a guide to ensure string spacing remained consistent.
My saddles don't rattle, did you lock down the single grub screws on the back of the saddles once you'd done your intonation?

 

[Gunga Din]

I thought the groove was only there as a guide to ensure string spacing remained consistent.
My saddles don't rattle, did you lock down the single grub screws on the back of the saddles once you'd done your intonation?

When I say 'rattled', they did move a bit when I was playing heavily with a pick and palm-muting. That one grove doesn't stop the saddles from moving.

Perhaps my bridge had a fault, if yours don't rattle.

 

[Gluvhand]

Assuming the OP still really wanted to fit the bridge then, it looks like it's just the hole spacing. In which case he'd need to drill new holes to fix it which isn't a massive biggie. Depends on whether the upgrade is worth it to them, they're pricey, you're drilling more holes into your pride and joy and may have to fill existing if one of the holes comes close to an existing hole, and also if Ric has fixed the bridge issues of the older models then there seems no point unless its purely to change the look.

The only issue that remains with the newer Ric bridge is the mute dials are still in the way for palm muting. Some can work around them. The Hipshot removed the mute. There is a third alternative. Babicz makes a bridge. The tail piece remains but you replace the saddle assembly with a Babicz drop in.

 

[woodyng2]

Isn't the new bridge on these models far superior to the antiquated one?
As for the Hipshot, I put one on an old Greco RB I converted to a 4000, and the saddles were a bit rattly.
View attachment 5282658

That’s a gorgeous bass!
I never had a problem with the Hipshot bridges on my two 4000 basses. I tend to have a light touch, though.

 

[Gunga Din]

That’s a gorgeous bass!
I never had a problem with the Hipshot bridges on my two 4000 basses. I tend to have a light touch, though.

It became my nemesis. and no longer exists on this earth. But is was good for a while.

 

[TeeSee]

It became my nemesis. and no longer exists on this earth. But is was good for a while.

I'm not gonna ask what happened, but the World is in a sorrier state since.

 

[woodyng2]

It became my nemesis. and no longer exists on this earth. But is was good for a while.

Now I’m Sad.

 

[Gunga Din]

I'm not gonna ask what happened, but the World is in a sorrier state since.

Best not ask. Though its removal from this realm was cathartic.