Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I tell you what Dane, I'd be happy to buy several sets; you know, just in case suddenly somebody gives me a bunch of '72s.

Pete, I suspect you're right regarding the influence of both the tail and saddles. Which leads me to wonder what the best-sounding metal (obviously subjective) for a Ric saddle would be.

It would be interesting to hear some sound tests with tailpiece/bridge assemblies made from different metals (or plastics, even) to see just how they affect the tone, and if the difference is even discernable.

I'm in the "aluminum sounds better" camp.

walker wrote:It would be interesting to hear some sound tests with tailpiece/bridge assemblies made from different metals (or plastics, even) to see just how they affect the tone, and if the difference is even discernable.

I've done this with pickups etc before, but never bridges. I have to agree it would indeed be interesting.

teeder wrote:I'm in the "aluminum sounds better" camp.

Well my favourite ever Ric has an aluminium tail with zinc saddles so I guess I'm in both camps. I think you'd have to try different bridges on the same bass to really get a conclusive answer.....except of course the same combination might not work best on the next bass, not to mention people may have different preferences anyway (the friend who now owns my '76 thinks it sounds better than my main '72, whereas I don't think it's even close).

Anyway, sorry Mark, back to your thread!

HA HA! It's all good - it'll be awhile before I have anything new to post. What to anticipate next: The RM refin'd and playable!

...playable with the exception of a few frets here & there. I'm thinking the refret will be the last step.

One thing I'll miss about playing it as-is is the smell of the freshly sanded Rosewood fretboard and headstock. I never knew how Cedary the wood smelled.

henry5 wrote:Which leads me to wonder what the best-sounding metal (obviously subjective) for a Ric saddle would be.

Interesting, usually it is the other way round:

"Which Rick is best for Metal?"

HA HA! Nice! And a very good question...

Lemmy presents a compelling argument for both the 4001 and 4004LK:

walker wrote:HA HA! It's all good - it'll be awhile before I have anything new to post. What to anticipate next: The RM refin'd and playable!

So... You've sprayed it yet?

Nope. Will post when it's done.

By the way, when I watched the recent Chris Squire rig rundown video,his bridge looked like
the E and A string saddles were zinc...could be a trick of the light but there was no sheen
as on the D and G strings to my eyes.

I definitely want to see an aluminium unit available again.
Surely its not that difficult to produce a redesigned mould for both zinc and ally versions for all us tone freaks?

I definitely want to see an aluminium unit available again.
Surely its not that difficult to produce a redesigned mould for both zinc and ally versions for all us tone freaks?

I've looked into an actual sand-cast pattern & mold for producing aluminum TP's, but couldn't get the A-OK from Mr. Hall.

The price was surprisingly reasonable.