Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

“If so it would have made the saddles sit rather high“

Agreed, maybe I should explain a bit of my thinking it’s just an idea though. Maybe the original tailpiece folded itself in half (it happens right) from string tension and the work around was to remove it and place the bridge unit/wooden base ...

Looking again I wonder if the wooden bridge base has been shaped to fit in the route for where the tailpiece would have sat?

Not sure if this would be of interest to you but I came across this bridge unit on Project Guitar Parts in the UK who sell Hofner parts as well as vintage parts for many brands.
It looks like something that has been cobbled together but to me at least the bridge unit looks like a genuine RIC part of ...

Does it have side dot markers? It’s a bit difficult to tell from the pictures.
If it hasn’t that may support the theory of it having once been fretless?

Here’s a pic

“I was thinking about either going with three Creamery ‘63 toasters or two toasters and the HB1.”

Just a heads up regarding the Creamery Toasters, great pickups for sure but they are taller than RIC’s and might be to close to the strings when mounted on the grommets.
I put a couple on a 620/12 and ...

Looking at online pic’s of the new pickup surround the mounting screw locations have changed compared to earlier versions, it can be flipped for right hand/left hand use.
Looks like this one left the factory upside down

“Any chance on how and where to get good matching replacements here in Europe?”

You could try and contact Robbie at Rickysounds, he knows he’s stuff!

The “push/pull” tone pot with its “vintage capacitor” only affects the bridge pickup, so I think your 480XC is working correctly!

Labella deep talking flats 39-96, nice “rubbery” Macca tone!

Is your bridge base plate the latest version with slotted mounting holes allowing for more adjustment back and forth?
Maybe as your 330 is a 95’ the base plate is not, in that case you could fit the newer slotted type and move the whole bridge back and then re-adjust the saddles forward to ...

Here’s a pic of my 350v63 bridge fitted with the Rickysounds screws/nuts

“Like you implied, a slotted screw head would be easier to deal with. Here's an example; a "combo" screw that accommodates both slot and Phillips screw drivers (and it's stainless steel). Maybe there's a similar screw in the UK.“

https://www.rickysounds.co.uk/product/vintage-guitar-bridge-repair ...

Personally I would remove the bridge from the guitar to lubricate all the threads first with WD-40 and then some light machine oil to free them up. To save time with the re-instillation measure the location of each saddle in relation to the bridge channel before making any adjustments, should be ...