Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

bridge over the river quan..... http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=930767405
HAY. check out this puppy currently on the bay.
click on the pic of the bridge end of the bass. what the neck is that, any ideas? im currently pursueing the 4004 bridge fit for the 4003 bass. looks promising as does the hipshot A style bridge. very cool. i must say however that all this posting regarding grinding, drilling, retapping, hexing, etc just solidifies my point regarding a bridge that should have been abandonded eons ago. it would be quite simple to maintain the "LOOK" while at the same time jumping into the 21 century. apparently according to the ebay link at the top of this post someone took a quantum leap back in the 70's. i was adjusting the stock bridge to accomadate my BEAD tuning and said fagetaboutit! this thing is beat. more later.

David, by all means do as you wish, but understand that the 4003 bridge design will never be abandoned, it's an essential part of the tone.

I just measured my 4004 bridge, it's 3 1/8" wide by 2 3/8" long, and the whole bridge sits in a squared-off rout that seems to be about 1/16" deep.

But you also have to consider string spacing. A 4003 has a spacing of about 2 1/16" at the bridge (from the centerline of the E to the centerline of the G) but the 4004 bridge at its narrowest will be 2 3/16". The 4004 has blades instead of polepieces so polepiece alignment isn't a factor. But if you use a bridge with wider spacing, you will have a polepiece/bridge misalignment.

The Badass is set up for 2 1/4" spacing, although you could cut slots off center (IMO the Badass is a terrible sounding bridge anyway, its mass absorbs most of the low end).

Have you considered a Schaller 2000? http://www.schaller-guitarparts.de/1255.htm Don't know how it would sound on a Rick but it's low profile and string spacing is adjustable to under 2".

any idea who made this ric replacement bridge.. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=4713&item=930767405&rd=1