Gold 4004 Bridge thickness question

green_us90 · Post by **green_us90** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 3:55 am

All,
I'm interested in purchasing a 4004 bridge from the RIC boutique, and needed to know what the dimension is for the thickness from the surface it mounts to the bass on, to the bottom of the string saddles. I plan on getting the gold bridge which I assume is the same dimensions as the chrome plated one.

My next project will be a "Frickensploiter" i/e, Fender Maple Neck with Gold Hardware, Warmoth Explorer body, and Rickenbacker 4004 gold pickups and bridge. I will reranch finish it Foam Green, I think.
I want to use the RIC bridge to address a slight issue I had with my Frickenbird project last year- I used a Fender bridge on that and of course the string spacing on Fender basses, near the bridge, is wider than RIckenbackers. That being said the 4004's I have on that bass adequately cover the wider string spacing, but I did have to tweak the heck out of the setup (pup height, etc) to get the string volume even, and still the E string is stronger than the others.

Like this bass, but with a better pickguard (and I need to redo a pickguard for this as well):

http://www.fenderforum.com/userphotos/i ... ecid=33386

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 4:45 am

I have a gold 4 string 4004 used bridge that I can sell you for less than a new one ... I also have a black and a chrome one of the same style that I can sell ... they are nice bridges ...

I did a few Fenderbird Frankenstein basses ...

http://www.3dentourage.com/425/fender-bird.htm

http://www.3dentourage.com/425/fender-bird2.htm

http://www.3dentourage.com/425/fender-bird3.htm

markbass99 · Post by **markbass99** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 4:46 am

Dave- check out the Hipshot "A" style bridges on their website, they'll do anything the one RIC sells (ABM) will do and more. Price is better- $117 vs $150 for the ABM and sometimes you see them on ebay for less. A lot of boutique bass makers use the Hipshot, it's good stuff.

green_us90 · Post by **green_us90** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 4:52 am

Jeff, that sounds great! The email in my profile is outdated so if you want to you can email me at

[email protected]

And we can work out the details.

Thanks for the info, as well Mark!
Thanks for the offer!
I really enjoy the look of these hybrids- and actually, the graphite reinforced neck I have on my Frickenbird complements the 4004 pups very well. The Fender guys as a group tend to dump on the graphite reinforced necks but those necks do tend to sound "modern" they have a snappy tone.
So with the Frickensploiter, I am using a '57 Precision neck for a different type of sound...
Unashamedly hero worship bass projects, RIP Ox.
-Dave

jps · Post by **jps** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 5:03 am

I second Mark on the A style Hipshot bridge for your Frickensploiter. The sliding saddles are easier to adjust than the rollers on the ABM for the side to side adjustment of the strings; you do not have to lift the strings to make any ajdustments. Another plus is the string slots, in addition to a greater range of adjustment for the string height.