Hipshot bridge on 4001c64s?

[teeder]

Dan,

I put an aluminum HS on my V63 and notice an improvement in it's sound. The notes were more defined with improved sustain and a more even balance. I prefer the looks of the factory tailpiece, but for this gigging bass, it was an improvement.
As an added bonus, the HS covered most of the chips in the finish caused by the factory tailpiece.

[fourstringfrank]

You dont have any picture of your bass to upload...just curious to see how it looks whit the Hipshot on.
Best Dan.

Dan,

I put an aluminum HS on my V63 and notice an improvement in it's sound. The notes were more defined with improved sustain and a more even balance. I prefer the looks of the factory tailpiece, but for this gigging bass, it was an improvement.
As an added bonus, the HS covered most of the chips in the finish caused by the factory tailpiece.

[aceonbass]

I'd upload a pic of my basses with my modified bridges on them, but I guess they look too stock

[bigbajo60]

You dont have any picture of your bass to upload...just curious to see how it looks whit the Hipshot on.
Best Dan.

Here's my C64S with it's Hipshot on...

It's a gigging bass, so the Hipshot has it's advantages... but I have decided to go back to the stock bridge. Just need to find the time to make the switch.

[cassius987]

I think the biggest limit to the stock bridge is the teeth because of its effect on palm muting. The other stuff, like intonation, isn't that hard to get around. But after Dane's mod pretty much anyone's complaints are addressed, without saddle wobble--and the saddles remain frozen in place to match the radius of the fingerboard. The tone doesn't "flatten out" as much either (not a bad or a good thing, just a preference-based thing--probably good if you like stock Ric tone). Good stuff. For those contemplating a move away from the stock bridge I would consider it as another good option along with the Hipshot. Apparently Dane has done several by now and he did a great job with mine.

Again, review coming. I want to spend enough time with it to give a very accurate and objective review. I think I've had it for 2-3 weeks now.

[teeder]

You dont have any picture of your bass to upload...just curious to see how it looks whit the Hipshot on.
Best Dan.

Dan,

I put an aluminum HS on my V63 and notice an improvement in it's sound. The notes were more defined with improved sustain and a more even balance. I prefer the looks of the factory tailpiece, but for this gigging bass, it was an improvement.
As an added bonus, the HS covered most of the chips in the finish caused by the factory tailpiece.

[teeder]

without saddle wobble--and the saddles remain frozen in place to match the radius of the fingerboard

I have no saddle wobble on my HS, and wouldn't put up with it if I did. Plus it's no great trick to match a fretboard radius with these saddles. So that should be a non-issue.

The only thing that has been a slight issue with the HS is that I had to put fingernail polish on the saddle height adjustment screws to keep them locked in place.

[cassius987]

Could you speculate on why you don't have saddle wobble? Both of the Hipshots I tried had it majorly. If there's a way to stop it it would be good to know because one of my basses still bears a Hipshot.

I'm not sure I get the finger polish thing, you mean so that your saddles would stay positioned the same VERTICALLY?

[aceonbass]

I think he means that the screws vibrate out of position and that the fingernail polish acts like "Lock Tite' to stop movement.

[teeder]

Exactly, Dane.

The saddles would wobble if I grab ahold of them and make them wobble, but they don't do it as I'm playing, and I play very hard with fingers back behind the Horseshoe.

[fourstringfrank]

Thanks for all the replys guy´s...well for me the main problem whit the stock bridge is one really:
When you wanna do palm muting: Forget about it whit the stock bridge+ I dont like these damper screws...I tend almost to hurt my picking hand sometimes...when I play Live and the adrenaline is high so to speak.
By looking on the pics whit the modded stock bridge it seams like you can do palm muting now right...but the damper screws is still there.
OK the stock bridge looks better...but after all I am willing to sacrifice a bit of retro cred for playing comfort...the bass must work all the way for me...IMO it dosent work all the way whit the stock bridge...each to its own.
If I was playing only fingerstyle...I would have no problem at all whit the stock one...but thats not the case for me...lets say I play about 70%...pickstyle and 30%...fingerstyle.
Rock on friends.
Best Danny.

[cassius987]

Dan, palm muting is EXACTLY why I tried the Hipshot and Dane's mod. They both palm mute equally well, although I kind've prefer Dane's because (unlike others here) my Hipshot has wobbly saddles and if I lay my palm on them from the wrong angle they can get pushed aside, goofing me up. I have found with the stock bridge that once those teeth are gone the twist knobs aren't an issue. However, you could always take those knobs out and replace them with bolts, thus solving any complaints there if you still had them.

The saddles would wobble if I grab ahold of them and make them wobble, but they don't do it as I'm playing, and I play very hard with fingers back behind the Horseshoe.

I play all over the place--with my fingers--and no matter where I am plucking, the A, D, and G saddles wobble and click loudly if I play at medium intensity or higher. When did you buy your Hipshot? I know there are "two versions" but according to Bill they are exactly the same except the second has a slightly different shape that doesn't infringe trademark. So I don't get why some experience wobble and some don't. It's not like you're saying, "Play softly," or anything. You're saying you have zero problems with it. Which boggles me... if mine did not wobble I'd like it quite a bit more.

[tomersg]

I don't have 4001c64s. i just have 06 4003. is it matter? the bridge is the same, right?

i installed the aluminum hipshot bridge, mostly because of the palm mute. but there were problems with th HS. the saddles were hardly wobble. E a A the most. i had to make another groove with dremel to stop them from moving.
the saddle screws were going loose after playing, even in the middle of gig, and destroyed the setup. i had to put some loctite to lock the screws in place.
i didn't like the look of the HS bridge. like putting modern part on a classic Porsche..
and its change the sound, not to my taste. it wasn't sound like Ric anymore.

i moved it and reinstalled the original bridge. but took out the mute pad and it's screws that interrupt my right hand.
now everything OK!

[fourstringfrank]

That sounds like a great Idea...do you have any pic of your Bass whit this mod done?....ohh one thing only.
The ground wire is attached to the metal plate that the mute pad is lying on...have you moved the ground wire or does it lies in place anyway?
Best Dan.


i moved it and reinstalled the original bridge. but took out the mute pad and it's screws that interrupt my right hand.
now everything OK![/quote]

[tomersg]

because i installed the HS bridge before, i resolderd the ground wire and just attached it to the body with a tape, i a way it will contact the plate of the HS bridge and same with the original bridge.