Mastery Bridge for Rickenbackers in the works

[sloop_john_b]

[jps]

Those look like GFS pickups!

[IHeartRics]

one of my guitars one of the height adjustment screws is in a constant state of unscrewing itself from vibration no matter how I try to make sure everything is happily seated. Re-tightening it now and then by hand so it doesn't fall out has become an automatic part of playing the guitar, and I don't even mind. No doubt Rckenbacker would have liked to re-engineer these designs but are aware that the customers don't necessarily want the "new and improved" look and feel, and I guess I'm one of those customers.

One of my Ricks has the exact same problem and I hand tighten it every time too. And I'm one of those customers - I love the rattle and buzz as well as the brightness the standard bridge gives. To me it's part of the Rickenbacker sound. And playing in a trio, it's all that extra noise that fills the space.

But I'd don't blame people for wanting an improvement to sustain and tone, and a new bridge that fits in nicely sure beats someone hacking up a Rick to slap big humbuckers in it. The bridge does look a little too modern for me though, especially since I like the vintage look.

I just put a Winfield Vintage roller bridge on my 480 and so far I like it a lot.

[antipodean]

It appears that the Mastery bridge adjust consists of two solid bridge components, each of which seats 3 strings (like a traditional Telecaster bridge), and can be adjusted for intonation by changing the angle of the component via two screws (unlike a traditional Telecaster bridge). Is this correct? If so, am I right in believing this system won't adjust for intonation properly if you use a wound "G" string?

[Rickissippi]

It appears that the Mastery bridge adjust consists of two solid bridge components, each of which seats 3 strings (like a traditional Telecaster bridge), and can be adjusted for intonation by changing the angle of the component via two screws (unlike a traditional Telecaster bridge). Is this correct? If so, am I right in believing this system won't adjust for intonation properly if you use a wound "G" string?

I'm not sure, but it appears that way. Or perhaps you could angle it to have a wound G that was intonated, but either the B or E would be off.

However, this bridge looks to me like it has a few other moving parts allowing some swivel for that angle change. I think this is different from a traditional Tele bridge; I also believe a traditional Tele bridge has three components, not two, with two strings per saddle, not three.

I'm more floored by the price of this bridge. I am not sure I'll be trying it at $175 for an MIJ Fender.

[Grey]

John put up pictures of the first prototype. https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set ... 913&type=1

[sloop_john_b]

Oh man. I am super excited.

[IHeartRics]

Now that I see a better image of it, I don't think it looks so "modern" and has a vintage vibe of it's own coolness.

[electrofaro]

Oh man. I am super excited.

+1

[electrofaro]

Somebody got one yet?

[sloop_john_b]

They are available but I haven't pulled the trigger. After Christmas.

[winston]

JB where in the USA can these bridges be purchased? I want to install one on my 350.

Edit: Hold that thought I found one.

[Kingbreaker]

John put up pictures of the first prototype. https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set ... 913&type=1

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I'm tempted to buy one just based on the drool-worthy beauty of those photographs. . ..

[paologregorio]

Less jangle doesn't bother me at all; I love my ricks, but "jangle" isn't the sound I look for when playing them. I love they way they look, and play, and I like the resonance from the semi-hollow sound. Ricks could do with more "meat" in their sound without killing the jangle, IMO. I would be happy if I had one Rick that sounded like a Les Paul, but I don't want a Les Paul; I prefer to play a Rick, and a 300 series Rick at that, though If there were a new Combo 850 available, I'd buy a couple of those.

[pesimax]

Has anyone tried out these mastery Bridge's yet? I was thinking of selling my 66' Rickenbacker 365 because I feel like a baby it too much and get too worried about playing it live...but thinking If I replace the old bridge with a Mastery and get new Accent vibrato I may feel more comfortable about playing it live.