Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

JackTheRipper wrote:I decided against installing the BA II.

I removed the stock bridge to get a look at the route and the work that I thought would be needed to install the BA II. It seems like the route would need to be filled, or partially filled, to get the BA II to have full contact with the body. Either that or install it further back. I don't want to do either of those things.

--jack

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It does look like there is plenty of saddle travel on the BA II, how does it look width wise?

WillyWonka wrote:It does look like there is plenty of saddle travel on the BA II, how does it look width wise?

It's just wide enough to cover the width of the route.

--jack

Dirk wrote:No numbers back then.

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Well, at the time, that was the only model Leo Quan made until the newer BA II became available, so, no need for any numbers.

That sounds like a good idea to me. The BA bridges are nice. I have never put one on a ric, but i have swapped two of my stock ric bridges (1976 and 2016) for Schaller rollers (my favourite) and they turned out better than i could have hoped. Instead of covering the hole with a surround, i like to fill the hole with a block of wood from an old cutting board to give the bridge a bit more of a contact surface and skip the surround. It's tue, they look pretty "custom" (visible ground wire, "wood coloured" block sitting in a "not wood coloured" surface, black bridge on instruments with chrome hardware) but i'm not one to mind, especially considering the improvement in function on those two. One had major saddle rattle and burrs in places that would eat my flatwounds. The other had wonky string spacing and too flat a radius. The sound on both those instruments came noticeably more solid/less "hollow" with the replacement, too. I don't think you'd be disappointed, but if you are, it's easy to switch back. Good luck if you decide to do it and make sure to let us know how you like it!

I remember those Leo Quan Jeff Berlin adds in Guitar Player magazine.

"The finest crafted Fender bass can be improved by the Hipshot Bad **s bridge" ..or something like that.

Resurrecting this old thread...

I had some time and took another look at putting the BA II on my JetGlo 4003. I made a small filler block out of a piece of maple, spray painted it black, and installed it using the existing screw holes. Then drilled 5 new holes for the BA II and installed it. I was a *little* hesitant to drill the new holes, but all of them would be covered by the original tailpiece if I decide to go back to that. I have a plastic surround piece, but it doesn't fit well, so I'm having Pickguardian make a new one for me that should arrive soon.

Intonation and setup was easy and no issues with the BA II so far. I don't think it "helps" in any way, although I would say that intonation was easier. And I will need to drill some new holes for the plastic surround. I may just use some double-sided tape for a while to make sure that I want to keep it before drilling the screw holes for that.

Thank to everyone that provided pictures and other helpful information!

--jack