Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

A while back I bought a used Model 1996 AGF reissue with a poor substitute of a roller bridge. I've searched and read through these forums and I know (?) that most guys probably take these of and replace them with the standard (non-roller) bridge -- maybe this is why the Ric Boutique does not sell them...? Anyway, I'm going to give it a try.

I want the best and most authentic replacement available, and posted somewhere here is this offering:
http://www.winfieldvintage.com/parts/roller-bridge.html

This seems the best... well, actually, it's the only one I can find. They also sell a compensated baseplate which has me curious. There is a warning about different (truly vintage vs. modified/"new" vintage) baseplates. I have no idea, however, how authentically vintage the baseplate features/dimensions are on my reissued model
http://www.winfieldvintage.com/parts/baseplate.html

Any advice about replacing the bridge with the best correct roller bridge assembly would be appreciated. Thanks.

Personally I'm not a fan of the roller bridges in general - they don't easily intone, they rattle and don't sound as good, IMO.

AFAIK, the bridge plates on all modern Ricks, even the C-series aren't vintage correct as the adjustment screws arent set as wide apart as a 60s original (The footprint is smaller).

Since it's not 100% accurate anyways, you might as well mount stuff that works. Talk to Winfield and explain your guitar, Chip will point you in the right direction.

Thanks for the reply. I've been thinking this over -- taking your input into account, esp. the tone issues -- and perhaps I should just not get the roller bridge. It would be a bummer to spend $200 and then find out it was money wasted.

So, are there ANY fans of roller bridges here?

I mean...they look cool I guess. But they're pricey and they don't do anything for the playability of the guitar.

Are the rollers on roller bridge guitars really the end loops of guitar strings. One of his, "The Fiesta" model, has what looks like the string ends serving as rollers. I don't know if they are just colored to match or if that is what they are made of.

scoobster28 wrote:Are the rollers on roller bridge guitars really the end loops of guitar strings. One of his, "The Fiesta" model, has what looks like the string ends serving as rollers. I don't know if they are just colored to match or if that is what they are made of.

There might be a more technical term for that part, but yet - that's basically what it is...