What makes rick sound?

[Rickengretsch]

Along with all of these other elements, I also believe the aluminum bridge saddles have a TON to do with the Rick sound.

[grazioso]

perhaps even more important than those aluminum saddles is the way the bridge is elevated on 4 bolts. that itself makes for rather different transfer of vibrations. i finally got my "stars guitar" 12 saddle i craved for for ages (big thanx to forum member who was so kind to sell it to me) and that is massive chunk of non-aluminum and it still sounds like it is supposed to (perhaps even more of high end comes out). i also have "ed roman" bridge which is beautiful cast chunk of brass which came with horrible plastic saddles so had them changed to brass and again the sound is there with no aluminum in sight. all put together i would say that the rickenbacker sound comes from combination of scale/bridge/pickups/material - maple/strings/players' style/amp. tube amp can be good and solid state too. fender twin or super reverb are excellent clean sound tube amps...