Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

ledbye wrote:I think this is good news and wish that my Ric 650 was fitted with a Schaller model. I have trouble with my A and D strings breaking ... ... the strings on the Schaller bridges run through straight, the ones on the ABM come in on angle, which seems to explain my frequent string breakage....

I agree. I tried to capture this in a picture of the bridge of my former 650C but it is a bit fuzzy since I cropped it from a larger pic. Also the saddles can move from side to side on the ABM due to clearance in the channels that they sit in. The Schaller looks to be better engineered to me but until I can play one of each side by side to compare the sound I will reserve final judgment.

ken_j wrote:I agree...the saddles can move from side to side on the ABM due to clearance in the channels that they sit in. The Schaller looks to be better engineered to me but until I can play one of each side by side to compare the sound I will reserve final judgment.

Do you know what? I have never noticed the whole saddle moves like that on some strings...guess which one it moves the most on my 650?! Yup, the dreaded D!

I'd love to know the exact dimensions of the Schaller one so I could see whether it could really be a direct replacement...

My 650's bridge has some weird metal thing sticking out of it. Sometimes I accidentally hit it while I'm playing and the guitar goes out of tune. Hopefully the new bridge RIC uses will solve this problem.

86kubicki wrote:My 650's bridge has some weird metal thing sticking out of it.

That's a guitar stand, Steve. I have seen that on a whole bunch of guitars, but no one seems to know how to really use them.

ledbye wrote: I'd love to know the exact dimensions of the Schaller one so I could see whether it could really be a direct replacement...

Wow, awesome! Thanks!

I love the way it's even a 'blueprint'!!

I think a Tune-o-matic style bridge with stopbar would look great on the 650c.

Why on Earth would you want it to look like a Gibson?

The idea isn't to make it look like a Gibson.

The ABM was a truly inspired design, with many little engineering details well addressed. The break angle of the strings was one of the better points, providing more down pressure on the bridge and better sound as a result. It also has some real style too it, clean lines and curves, whereas the Schaller bridge products have always looked like something left over from a U boat. ABM's also machined from solid bell brass rather than die-cast from zinc as are the Schaller parts, which is to say the plating was exquisite (as well as being done in Germany, rather than just across the border in the Czech Republic where the environmental standards aren't so tight).

Still, the Schaller bridge was improved somewhat before we deployed it again to bring it closer and I hope further refinements can be made- to make it more like the ABM.

Very interesting information John.

What do you know about this Schaller bridge?

http://schaller-guitarparts.de:80/hp105 ... 90b3eX198a

Since the ABM is no longer available I wonder what will be used on the 4004.

ken_j wrote:Since the ABM is no longer available I wonder what will be used on the 4004.

I am fully aware of the issues RIC has with Hipshot, but this is a perfect alternative to the ABM. It fits with no modifications, same mounting hole positions, looks great and is fully adjustable with even greater range downward in string height than the ABM bridge.

I found a better pic showing the ABM bridge from my 650. Notice how the 6th string (low E) is at a sharpe angle from the anchor point (ball end) to where it goes up a channel in the saddle. Strings 1 through 4 (high E through D) are all at an angle between the channel and the saddle roller. I never broke a string on my 650 so I didn't consider it a problem but I thought it was odd that the saddle didn'e have a lower profile for more clearance. There is no doubt that the chrome is near perfect on these and brass a better material.