Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I stand corrected. Both my 4004's came stock with the ABM bridge. Never had one with the Schaller, thanks for clearing that up Jeff.

The ABM and Hipshot A style have 4 mounting screws that line up perfectly; the Schaller is a 3 screw mount. I had a '72 Jazz Bass that I put a Schaller on; they are really nice bridges, my only wish for it is to have string quick release slots on it. I do have a Hipshot A style in my parts box for some future project.

jps wrote:my only wish for it is to have string quick release slots on it.

In my mind, the one thing that would make the 4004 series even more perfect, would be a factory installed quick hook/release type of bridge.

vulcan_creedler wrote:...Slight change of topic. Do you notice any drop-off in E-string volume with the lower positioned bridge pickup. With my ABM bridge, even with the rollers adjusted to get string spacing as small as possible, the E and G strings are almost at the edge of the pickup (viewed from above, on the chrome/black-plastic join). For me it is more noticeable with the E string rather than the G...

I have that problem with my 2008 4004 Cii. Using the ABM bridge to tighten the string spacing helped:

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=393086#p596224

but the problem persists. Wish I had a helpful suggestion, but I don't.


bluewhale

vulcan_creedler wrote:Slight change of topic. Do you notice any drop-off in E-string volume with the lower positioned bridge pickup.

I haven't noticed this specifically on the E string of my '04 Jetglo. The bridge pickup does have a little less out overall than the neck pickup. The closer the bridge pickup is to the bridge, the more it's in a spot where the strings have less excursion, therefore less power when vibrating. That's typical of any guitar or bass guitar with a pickup close to the bridge.
As far as I'm concerned, this IS my 4 string Jazz Bass. My 5 string Jazz Bass is a TUNE Bassmaniac 5, from '85, when they were extremely well made in Japan. Not the garbage they are making in China now.

rickenbrother wrote:

vulcan_creedler wrote:Slight change of topic. Do you notice any drop-off in E-string volume with the lower positioned bridge pickup.

I haven't noticed this specifically on the E string of my '04 Jetglo. The bridge pickup does have a little less out overall than the neck pickup. The closer the bridge pickup is to the bridge, the more it's in a spot where the strings have less excursion, therefore less power when vibrating. That's typical of any guitar or bass guitar with a pickup close to the bridge.
As far as I'm concerned, this IS my 4 string Jazz Bass. My 5 string Jazz Bass is a TUNE Bassmaniac 5, from '85, when they were extremely well made in Japan. Not the garbage they are making in China now.

Nice bubinga on that one, Joey. I miss the bubinga....

My 4004cii sounds like a Pbass with massive ballz

vulcan_creedler wrote:

woodyng wrote: On my basses,which both have the ABM bridges,the edge of the (dropped) Cii's bridge pickup surround is 1 3/4" from the edge of the bridge. On the custom Laredo,it is 1 1/16".

Slight change of topic. Do you notice any drop-off in E-string volume with the lower positioned bridge pickup. With my ABM bridge, even with the rollers adjusted to get string spacing as small as possible, the E and G strings are almost at the edge of the pickup (viewed from above, on the chrome/black-plastic join). For me it is more noticeable with the E string rather than the G. I suppose there's the possibility that my Ashdown rig could be causing it rather than the actual bass (.....time to get a new rig.......any excuse will do!)

Joking aside, does the current Schaller bridge offer a closer spacing than the ABM?

Other than that, I rather like the ABM bridge.

I have not noticed any drop off in volume on the e or g strings,or from either pickup. But remember,neither of my basses have the stock wiring harness or stock control setup. I also really like the ABM bridges,which i think are both a very functional and elegant- looking design.

My 4004 sounded nothing like a Jazz Bass. One thing I will say is it had a very different character depending on what I plugged it into. Through the Ashdown combo in our rehearsal room it sounded a bit flat and lifeless, but through my little Hartke Kickback combo I got quite possibly the best sound I've ever had, which made it all the more annoying that I had to sell it. I watched some footage I recorded in my front room when I had it and it sounded, huge, stringy, ballsy, with that real singing upper register thing going on in spades. It sounded like the best 4003 I've ever heard.

My 21 fretter had a lot of Jazz Bass character about it, which didn't work for me (I hate the sound of me playing a Jazz Bass, it's the sound I'm trying to avoid).

Regarding string output... my 4004* has 19 mm string spacing (actually a little less as a I narrowed it a smidge) and no string coverage problems whatsoever. I was shocked as the strings are barely over the bridge pickup (I agree with Joey that it is quieter than the neck pickup, but the relative string levels are even). The only two reasons I can think of that I am having better luck than you guys is either strings or setup. Strings are DR Sunbeams which vibrate like champs (i.e. the bigger gauges don't "choke" up and lose tonal quality), and the setup is pretty much to Fender's posted specs with minimal relief. Before I bought it the relief and action were much higher and the E string sounded pretty bad, but the set up cured it and then some. One of the best sounding E strings I've run across...


*Link: http://www.premierbassguitars.com/ricke ... ject-sold/

cassius987 wrote:Regarding string output...The only two reasons I can think of that I am having better luck than you guys is either strings or setup…

Thanks for the input, but in my case, the fact that I can aggravate the problem simply by increasing string spacing suggests to me that the problem lies elsewhere. Maybe variation in pickups? Again, the E string sounds full when plucking downward; pluck upwards, and the sound drops out.

bluewhale

cassius987 wrote:Regarding string output...

I notice a little less bite on the E string when just using the bridge PU. But since I have separate VT controls for each PU I tend to keep both PUP's on and adjust the volume, so I can get a good bright tone with a bit of the bridge mixed in, which adds a little more "bite".

My main musical partner says he doesn't notice it, and he's a very discriminating ear, so maybe it's an aural illusion/effect of how my ears work?

Interesting about the Hipshot A - I'm using that for my custom build (which apparently is stalled ). If I were to get one for replacing the stock Schaller, should I go with brass or aluminum? My guess would be the Aluminum, as the Laredo is a deep sound to begin with.

johnallg wrote:Nice bubinga on that one, Joey. I miss the bubinga....

If you like the fingerboard on that Jetgo Cii, the bubinga on my Blueburst Cii is really nice.

rickenbrother wrote:

johnallg wrote:Nice bubinga on that one, Joey. I miss the bubinga....

If you like the fingerboard on that Jetgo Cii, the bubinga on my Blueburst Cii is really nice.

Actually, Joey, I like them a little less grained, like the first one. Yeah, this coming from Mr. MapleGlo.

Or this one.