R.E.M. - Mike Mills' 4001 - odd bridge!

[espidog]

I wasn't sure whether to put this under basses or artists, but here goes.

I've just been looking at the RickResource facebook page (I don't have a FB account). Saw this video of R.E.M. on the David Letterman show in 1984.

https://www.facebook.com/OldSchoolTimes ... 376904475/

Couldn't help noticing that Mike Mills has a non-RIC bridge/tailpiece on his 4001. Rather hard to say for sure exactly what it is, given the image quality of the video. It looks kinda similar to what you might find on a MusicMan Stingray - but not quite.

Here's a cleaner shot of it. I still don't recognize it:



Anybody got any ideas - or maybe know for sure?

[jps]

That's a Leo Quan BAdAss II bridge sitting on top of a plastic (maybe, metal) plate. A very common mod from back in the days of Geddy Lee changing out his bridge/tailpiece in the '70s (?).

[Dirk]

Yes indeed I can confirm and certainly blame Geddy for the trend in the 70's- 80's.
It really did improve things back in the day. You'll see it on my '69 in my avatar picture. --->

And the plate was a surround to cover the factory routing.
Dirk

[espidog]

Aha! We live and learn. Thanks, guys.

[Benjamin]

I agree. I also spot a Strat-style pickup close to the bridge, doesn't look like the Bartolini model.

[espidog]

I agree. I also spot a Strat-style pickup close to the bridge, doesn't look like the Bartolini model.

Which no doubt explains the extra toggle-switch on his pickguard - I hadn't noticed it before you mentioned that!

[Dirk]

Ah cool I missed the extra single coil pickup in the mute spot, another popular 80's mod I think.
Just in case you weren't getting enough treble already.

When I got my '69 4001 it had 4 Treble tone knobs, that always made me chuckle.

Dirk

[prowla]

It's a Badass. I think with a surround (ie. not sitting on a plate). I had one on one of mine for a while, with a brass plate to cover the mute bay.

Cliff Burton had a pickup in the mute bay, so did I for a while on one Ric, but it sounded rubbish. Bartolini made one to fit there.

I guess on that one they decided if the hole was there, they might as well use it.

[Isaac]

I have a couple of those mute compartment pickups. Have to wire one up one of these days.

[thx1955]

Here's one of those Badass POS on my 73-Fretless, come November it's coming out to be replaced with the new style Bridge

[Kiddwad57]

I'm no fricking prude, but the idea of having the word(s) bad *** in chrome, as a corporate trademark, on a musical instrument just never appealed...now if I want to spray paint it on there, that's a different story!

[Dirk]

Well lets see, the original was the Bad ***, Hipshot has the Kick *** bridge, maybe someone needs to come up with a Good *** bridge.

To me the sound and function will always be more important than a brand name.

That said it's nice to have choices though.
Dirk

[Kiddwad57]

Not a big deal, just an aesthetic preference.

I didn't own a Rick back at the time the Leo Quan bridge was one of the few options available. There was the dedicated Starz Guitars replacement bridge which was supposed to be good, but it required surgery to install as well and looks bulbous.

Besides the slight tail lift, and maybe the rocking back and forth thing, I've gotten over the limitations of the stock bridge. The intonation is fine on mine and it works far better for me than the usual 3rd party replacement bridge, which looked cool but as a traditional finger-style player was nothing but trouble. They should call it the PITA bridge.

Now Rickenbacker's new version is out and from a distance appears to have resolved these quibbles. It's awesome that they kept the mute!

Thankfully that whole trend to "replace every piece with unfinished brass" seems to be behind us.

[jdogric12]

Thankfully that whole trend to "replace every piece with unfinished brass" seems to be behind us.

Don't worry, I'm sure it will come back at some point soon... just about every trend does!

[jps]

Thankfully that whole trend to "replace every piece with unfinished brass" seems to be behind us.

http://www.alembic.com/info/fcvault.html