Mastery Bridge for Rickenbackers in the works

[aceonbass]

Other than the bridge plate with the locking screws, I don't see the big improvement with this bridge. It doesn't appear to have individual adjustment of each saddle either. Taking a closer look at this piece shows that unless your E,A,D & G,B,E saddles are in a straight line when intonated on a stock bridge, you will NEVER get the A&B strings to intonate with this bridge. I could maybe see buying just the bass plate (if it's chrome plated), but what is the $175.00 price tag fixing? Seems to me a small tube of Permatex Lock-Tite from the auto parts store would solve the main problem with the stock part.

[paologregorio]

Loctite works for the four Allen key screw adjustments (good call on that, Dane! I keep tube of that in my gig bag. )

The problem I most often experience with the Rick bridge stems from the bridge not being mounted to the base plate; I aggressively use the whammy bar, which causes the bridge to rock back and forth, and I have straight up knocked the bridge over a number of times just in the past year or so, most recently on the Blue Boy whilst playing a gig with Joey sitting in on bass.

[paologregorio]

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.

I just ordered one today; I'll let you know in a couple of weeks. I won't be posting sounds samples or anything though-too much work; after I instal the unit and play it, I'll either love it to death, or be fed up with the unit after a month's patience and offer it for resale-ha-!

[aceonbass]

The problem I most often experience with the Rick bridge stems from the bridge not being mounted to the base plate; I aggressively use the whammy bar, which causes the bridge to rock back and forth, and I have straight up knocked the bridge over a number of times just in the past year or so...

If that's the case, I'd combine the Mastery base plate with a Winfield roller bridge.

[paologregorio]

That might work. Usually when I knock the bridge over, it's from aggressive strumming or picking; the aggressive whammy bar use just rocks the bridge back and forth.

[Grey]

You can't buy the plate seperately.

[aceonbass]

If that's the case, then Mastery's missing out on a broader market, 'cause the rest of their bridge is an over engineered compromise adapted from something they already did for Fender. I'm sure people will line up for this like they did for the Hipshot Rick bass bridge though. A roller bridge with their base plate would be the ultimate in functionality

[sloop_john_b]

You're ignoring the TONAL improvements Dane. Putting a Mastery on my '65 Jaguar was like night and friggin' day.

[aceonbass]

Maybe the tone IS better, but the intonation adjustment compromises two of the strings for the other four. I can just see anyone putting up with a two-saddle-early-Percision solution for a 4003. If mass is what ya want, get one of those bridges Ed Roman was making for Rick guitars. They're solid brass and chrome plated. I'll be they're heavier than the Mastery part.

[Grey]

but the intonation adjustment compromises two of the strings for the other four.

I've never had intonation issues with a Mastery. Maybe it's a "comprimise" on paper but that hardly matters in a practical setting as long as the instrument intonates properly.

[aceonbass]

Very seldom will you find that the E/A/D and G/B/E saddles are in a straight line in each trio. The Mastery saddles compromise intonation by having shared saddles. It's heavier and has a better bass plate, but beyond that it's a compromise. Simple as that.

[Grey]

The Mastery saddles compromise intonation by having shared saddles. It's heavier and has a better bass plate, but beyond that it's a compromise. Simple as that.

Just to be clear you've never actually owned a Mastery bridge?

[aceonbass]

Just so YOU understand Erik, the A and B saddles are not independently adjustable on the Mastery bridge. There are FOUR instead of SIX saddle adjustment screws on it. I don't need to own one to know that. Close enough doesn't cut it when I'm intonating a guitar or bass. I'll bet you'd just love the Danelectro Longhorn bridge

[Grey]

Just so YOU understand Grey, the A and B saddles are not independently adjustable on the Mastery bridge. There are FOUR instead of SIX saddle adjustment screws on it. I don't need to own one to know that. Close enough doesn't cut it when I'm intonating a guitar or bass. I'll bet you'd just love the Danelectro Longhorn bridge

That's cool and all but I've actually owned a Mastery bridge and had perfect intonation with it. You know, real, physical experience, not conjecture.

[aceonbass]

Has anyone here put one on their Rick yet? RIC guitars fretboards are cut on a 10" radius, and each trio of saddles on the Mastery are in a FLAT plain, while the stock RIC saddles are set on a radius like the fretboard. This thing's looking more and more like an over engineered version of Leo's original Telecaster bridge. Nope don't own one Erik, but I've never driven a Yugo either.