Ric's Position On Their Bridges??

[scottrolf]

I recently purchased my first Ric, a new 4003 Maple Glo built in 2014.
After a complete set-up by my tech I can honestly say that I really like it.
I don't really find anything "sucky" about the bridge but know that the majority of Ric players prefer to change them out. e.g. Hipshots.

Since this mod appears to be very popular and comments from owners regarding their bridges are by-in-large negative, I was curious as to Rickenbacker's comments/position on this perception.
I would have thought if they are so disliked that the company would at least somewhat address this with an updated version of their bridge.

I'm hoping that a rep from Ric may see this post and offer to comment.

Thanks,

 

[Killed_by_Death]

Why bother with R&D at all really!
I'll tell you, because it costs money.

 

[Jonithen]

Pretend for a minute you have people throwing so much money at you that you don't have to care. If you want Y instead of X, buy that one instead. For the most part, people seem to prefer the weird old bridge even though they have models that have newer design considerations.

 

[DigitalMan]

I bought the hipshot and found it unstable. The saddles on the higher strings had a tendency to flip over when I dig in to the strings. I swapped back to the original. I guess experiences vary because I have never heard anyone else complain about this particular problem.

 

[Mastermold]

My Rics are stock, always been the case. The bridge is quirky but works just fine for me.

 

[Warpeg]

....majority of Ric players prefer to change them out....I would have thought if they are so disliked that the company would at least somewhat address this with an updated version of their bridge.

If you're Rickenbacker, then you don't have to address it. There is no shortage of demand for their basses the way they are.

 

[wraub]

Pretty sure Ric's opinion is, "It good as is, and if it breaks you did it."

 

[Mosstone]

I don't really find anything "sucky" about the bridge

And you probably never will, until you have to intonate it yourself, and/or the tailpiece starts bending off of the body from string tension.

I

I would have thought if they are so disliked that the company would at least somewhat address this with an updated version of their bridge.

The company's take on the issue is there's absolutely nothing at all wrong with their bridge design.

When asked why they've never changed the design of the bridges, John Hall said: "Tradition".

They'd rather waste their energy and money trying to sue Hipshot for coming up with a better bridge design than do anything about it themselves.

 

[scottrolf]

I guess I'm approaching as being a bit naive I suppose, but normally most companies actually do listen to their customer-base. "You spoke, we listened" sort of thing.
At any rate, I'm fine with the stock unit thus far.

 

[scottrolf]

And you probably never will, until you have to intonate it yourself, and/or the tailpiece starts bending off of the body from string tension.

I

The company's take on the issue is there's absolutely nothing at all wrong with their bridge design.

When asked why they've never changed the design of the bridges, John Hall said: "Tradition".

They'd rather waste their energy and money trying to sue Hipshot for coming up with a better bridge design than do anything about it themselves.

Can you post a photo of your bridge? I'd like to see it.

 

[Snowglo]

I much prefer the Hipshot replacement over the stock bridge. Individual height adjustment, much easier to intonate, and I can palm mute when needed. I've never experienced any issues that some encounter. Very solid IMHO.

 

[callofcthulhu]

As easy as it is to jump on the JH hatewagon, you do need to understand that there is a VERY vocal minority of Rickenbacker enthusiasts who have absolutely rebelled against any and every change - no matter how minor - to any element of their instruments' designs.

The man himself has stated that he feels he's in somewhat of a no-win situation. If he ignores the complaints, he's accused of being stubborn, close minded, trapped in the past etc. by people who (generally) are not already Rick fanboys and who may or may not become converts if he takes a chance on appeasing them. If he caves to the complaints (as they have in the past, for example the 7 screw tailpiece that came out in the 80s), he has to face the pitchforks of the people who actually ARE stubbornly trapped in their close minded past, namely, the people who are already Rick fanboys and are guaranteed to keep buying the same instruments over and over again, as long as they don't change.

Couple that with the fact that, as already stated, the factory hasn't been able to churn the things out fast enough to meet demand for something like 10 years, yes, there is little incentive to alter the design. They obviously do have an active R&D department however, given their recently introduced (or reintroduced) models, W and S, as well as the one-off experimental builds that occasionally pop up on Rickenbacker's official ebay shop.

All that being said, I love the original bridge design, and I've modded nearly everything else about my Rick. It's a pain in the ass to intonate, sure, but what it lacks in practicality it makes up for in style and stability (the "tail-lift" years notwithstanding - I've got the 7 screw tail on mine so I've never had to worry about it). I only wish they had a brass version.

Oh, and don't hold your breath on "a rep from Ric" offering to comment anywhere but on their corporate forum, and even there they'd be unlikely to acknowledge the beating of such a thoroughly dead horse as the topic of bridge design.

 

[lfmn16]

I don't really find anything "sucky" about the bridge but know that the majority of Ric players prefer to change them out. e.g. Hipshots.

Not anywhere near the majority.

 

[Mantis Tobaggan]

I've had my Rick for a year and have had no issues at all with it. I think they actually have updated the bridge a few times so I don't know why people are saying they have never updated it. I have heard there are issues with them bending up off the body "tail lift" but I don't have it on mine.

 

[bholder]

I've had my Rick for a year and have had no issues at all with it. I think they actually have updated the bridge a few times so I don't know why people are saying they have never updated it. I have heard there are issues with them bending up off the body "tail lift" but I don't have it on mine.

The original tailpiece on my 4003s/8 lifted and bent to the point that there wasn't enough down force to hold the strings against the bridge saddles. Definitely not adequately designed / implemented. The black powder coated tailpieces (like mine) seem to have the worst problems. I hope that by now they use finishing options that don't degrade the strength of the metal.

 

[Khronic]

 

[scottrolf]

Well, just as an update to my original post, I went ahead and ordered (from bestbassgear.com) the Chrome plated Solid Brass Hipshot just to have in the event I want to give it a go.
I have an outstanding tech who can do the install if/when I decide to do so since I am not blessed with that gene.
I appreciate all of the sound input here folks.
Thanks much.

 

[daveman50]

"I don't really find anything "sucky" about the bridge but know that the majority of Ric players prefer to change them out. e.g. Hipshots."

Not really. Once you get the stock bridge set up, it's very stable (as are the necks). I've had my 4001 since 1973 and the bridge has never lifted or given me any trouble whatsoever. It never needs adjustment as long as I stick with the same gauge strings. I tried the Hipshot on 2 other Rick basses and ultimately didn't like it. The break angle is too low and the saddles wobble. No real benefits. IMO.

PS - edit: easier palm muting was a benefit of the Hipshot, but that wasn't enough to make me want to keep it.

 

[Coolhandjjl]

I guess I'm approaching as being a bit naive I suppose, but normally most companies actually do listen to their customer-base. "You spoke, we listened" sort of thing.
At any rate, I'm fine with the stock unit thus far.

This is Rickenbacker, you understand.

 

[Coolhandjjl]

I've had my Rick for a year and have had no issues at all with it. I think they actually have updated the bridge a few times so I don't know why people are saying they have never updated it. I have heard there are issues with them bending up off the body "tail lift" but I don't have it on mine.

The tailpiece casting has been modified to include additional ribbing on the underside for strength. The actual bridge piece, AFAIK, has never been changed. No problems here.