Hipshot bridge on 4001c64s?

[rickaddict]

Hi friends....I wonder if there are any 4001c64s owner who´ll had tried to put on a hipshot bridge on their bass.
The reason for me wanting to try that is as follows....whit the neck adjusted correct...and the bridge adjusted as low as it can be adjusted I still think the action is slightly too high on the E and A string...D and G is allright.
To my eyes and hands the nut is adjusted correctley.
Or could the case be that the Zero fret on the bass is a little bit to high?

Any advice guys?...Could installing a hipshot bridge on the 4001c64s be a solution to get a better action (lower) on the E and A string...I think these two strings are too high from lets about 7th or 8th fret and up.
Best Frank.

Hi Dan-

I have a 2003 4001C64S with the stock bridge and have no problems getting the action super low. I'd make double dog sure ( ) that the neck is adjusted right (mine goes arrow straight). Another option might be to file the bridge saddles a tad lower. My C64S's zero fret gets my action near the nut among the lowest of all my Rick basses, so I doubt that's your problem.

Any who...just thought I'd help you brainstorm. If you still wanna go Hipshot then go for it. Its easily reversible.

[fourstringfrank]

The only bad thing whit the stock bridge as I see it is these two matters:

1.Quite dodgy to adjust the intonation if you´re changing your string gauge...Well Im used to it nowadays...but for a first time Ric owner it can shurley be a tuff match to go.
2.If you´re wanna do palm muting when you´re playing pickstyle...you´ll have these useless height screws for the damper in the way for the pick hand...otherwise I think its OK...it does what a bridge shall do so...
Best Dan.

[aceonbass]

I don't know why anyone would say that you have nothing to lose trying a Hipshot. Are they giving them out for free now, 'cause last time I checked, they were well over $100.00. Joshua, please post your review of your new and improved stock tailpiece/bridge assembly.

[Mossman]

Just don't buy one from Hipshot directly ($145 for the aluminum version!), and steer clear of All Parts ($195! no indication whether it's aluminum or brass). The aluminum version can be had from an authorized dealer on eBay for $104.95 all day long... $119 for the brass version.

I'm not spamming for the dealer, so I won't mention their name, but they're easy enough to find.

[tennis_nick]

I don't know why anyone would say that you have nothing to lose trying a Hipshot. Are they giving them out for free now, 'cause last time I checked, they were well over $100.00. Joshua, please post your review of your new and improved stock tailpiece/bridge assembly.

It's just money I guess. For me, the definition of "nothing to lose" in the guitar word has to do with non permanent modifications like drilling and stuff like that.

[aceonbass]

The following pics show stock tailpiece/bridge assemblies that I have modified for improved intonation, adjustability, sustain and appearance over the Hipshot and even stock units.....

[aceonbass]

On all of the above assemblies, two extra screws have been added to the rear of the tailpiece, the bridges have been drilled and tapped for larger height adjustment screws than go through the tailpiece and 1/4" into the body, the slots between the "teeth" have been cut out lower to facilitate intonation adjustment from the front, the intonation adjustment screws have been replaced with stainless Allen screws, the mute bars have been chrome plated with narrower vintage style mute pads added that also make it easier to intonate, and the tailpieces have been triple plated. In addition, some have had the middle tooth cutout to resemble pre '73 aluminum tailpieces and others have had the teeth removed all together to facilitate palm muting. Some have also been converted to 8-string use as well on 8-string conversions for myself and others. In several cases it has also been necessary to modify the bridges so that the saddles sit flush with the top surface instead of rattle back and forth. All of the grooves in the saddles have been dressed with the proper size nut files also.

[espidog]

Fascinating stuff, Dane, and truly impressive work. It just goes to show what great improvements can be achieved on the basis of a stock 4000 series bridge.

However, I can't agree with the idea that any of those examples offers better adjustability than a Hipshot. For those who may not be aware, the saddles on a Hipshot can be individually adjusted for height, intonation and lateral position (string spacing), all without having to slacken any strings or get a hex key into any fiddly places.

One thing's undeniable, though: your modified RIC examples look sexier than a Hippy, any day!

[aceonbass]

The curvature of the RIC bridge matches the fingerboard. Once the saddle has been notched to the proper depth, it doesn't need to be done again. These saddles also do not rattle from side to side. Stock 3000,3001,4001,4002,4003 string spacing is 11/16". Why would you need to adjust this? The Hipshot saddles are adjustable because it uses the saddles from the Supertone bridge, which are also adjustable(and fit tightly on that bridge by the way), not because some RIC basses have different string spacing or different fingerboard radiuses. The intonation is easy to adjust on my tailpiece assemblies without slacking of the strings and they won't decrease the value or originality of a RIC bass like an after market part will. I should probably say mine are equal in adjustability to the Hipshot and for about the same price.

[teeder]

I don't know why anyone would say that you have nothing to lose trying a Hipshot. Are they giving them out for free now, 'cause last time I checked, they were well over $100.00. Joshua, please post your review of your new and improved stock tailpiece/bridge assembly.

He has nothing to lose because he already has one on another bass. He can just swap it out.

[rickaddict]

Lookin' good, Dane! Glad to see that someone has taken the initiative to modify the stock tail/bridge to work better. For those who don't like to fiddle with mechanical stuff, this looks to be a great option. You get to keep the stock appearance and tone, and you get a mute that works.

It's too bad that RIC doesn't see to it that the stock tail/bridge/mute works before a bass leaves the factory though.

So...Am I reading this right? Do you drill out the bridge height adjustment screw pockets on the tail? Does the screw then rest on the maple beneath it? I have a couple '79's that were made that way and I've seen at least 5 others (all from 1979). I don't know if a batch of tails were made this way by accident, or if it was an experiment, but these basses definitely left the factory like that.

[aceonbass]

Yes, the height adjustment screws rest in pockets drilled slightly over sized in the maple below the tailpiece. The bottom of the Allen screws is flat, so they don't dig into the wood. My 4008CS's tailpiece was done the same way (you remember her don't you ) although I did another one to further the vintage look as shown in the 3rd photo.

[cassius987]

I have tried the Hipshot on two separate occasions and Dane's bridge mod once. Personally I think Dane's is by far the winner for tone and playability. The Hipshot is a goofy mess by comparison and, trust me, I tried really hard to like it!

Yeah, the Hipshot in theory is more adjustable, but much of it doesn't really aid the player. The main thing it does is make intonation easy, but so does Dane's mod. Dane's mod has all the benefits of the Hipshot--ease of intonation and palm muting--without dulling the tone or having the issues of the Hipshot like saddle wobble and excessive mass (excessive mass is not necessarily a good thing--it can actually be very bad). The best part about his mod is that the bridge sits on the body wood. This doubles the sustain and gives the tone a little more punch without taking the original Ric sound away.

Like Dane said, the Hipshot's saddle height adjustment feature is a moot point. As long as your saddles aren't the floating defective type from a few years ago (you would know if they were... clack clack clack), the stock saddle arrangement matches the fingerboard perfectly, which is exactly how a luthier would set any bridge up.

I will try to post a detailed review later. Suffice it to say I am an advocate of his mod and no longer an advocate of the Hipshot.

[fourstringfrank]

Hmmm each to is own...but the issue whit the wobbling saddles...on the Hip Shot saddle...not In my case...I´ll guess its all personal playing style that comes in here.
In fact when I play pickstyle I attack the string quite hard...and my Hiphot Bridge on the 4003 works excellent.
Regarding the little change in tone comparing to the stock bridge...I dont know...I play live a lot and do a bit of touring also.
In front of a big crowd on a festival....when you´re playing on a Ampeg SVT whit a 810 cab and have a big PA system...together whit two guitarists who´s playing Les Paul through a couple of Marshall half stacks...I cant tell the difference between the two bridges....and Im pretty shure the audience cant tell the difference in sound between stock or Hipshot either..they are there to see a good show and listening to a good band first so...
Thanks for all the replys on this issue...but I will buy another aliminum version of the Hipshot for my 4001c64s also....If I wanna go stock again its a very simple thing to change back.
I love my RIC basses...but IMO the stock bridge is not the greatest thing on the RIC Basses.
Best Dan....
Stay safe...

[cassius987]

Dan, the only choice you can make is the choice that works for you. If it's the Hipshot, so be it! As for me I definitely hear a difference between it and the stock bridge, and that difference is important mostly to certain players. You're right--not everyone scrutinizes bass tone like we do. But some do and crafting your sound is quite important in being identifiable.

In any case I've finally found a bridge I can stick with, like you. It's a good feeling.