Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

yes there are lots POS out there, and in time maybe someone will deal each of them.. some of us like or need to change a few things to make our instruments playable for US.

Now I have no problem with anyone who wants to make his instrument more playable -- for himself. But when you (and Dane) call something like the Fender bridge a "POS", then you're saying a lot about yourself, and it's not flattering. The overwhelming majority of Fender basses ever made still have the original bridge, and countless bassists from the well-known to the unknown have no problems with the bridge or feel that any problems are secondary to the tone they get from it. Have any idea how many hundreds of millions of records were sold by players using that stock bridge?

it really is a shame that countless numbers of perfectly good ric basses have been butchered over the years to correct a PROBLEM THAT NEVER REALLY EXISTED.

The problem has never really existed for most Rickenbacker bassists. Why is that so hard for you to understand? Some of us wouldn't mind an easier-to-adjust design if it didn't affect the tone, but the great majority of us wouldn't sacrifice tone for convenience. As for people who hacked up their basses, I couldn't care less. Their property, their loss, not mine.

John,
What is the current state and timeframe of the new bridge you have been working on?

And you still haven't answered my earlier question. Do you or don't you own a Rickenbacker bass? If not, did you register here just to take pot shots at the company? Or is Hipshot giving you a discount to promote their bridge here?

Jeez Dave, take it easy. It is not like you are on the payroll or anything.

Hmm...I don't think commenting on the bridge from my '76 P-bass says anything unflattering about myself. I was much less technically oriented back then as I think most musicians are concerning the intricities of their instruments are. It was a piece of metal bent at a right angle with screws that vibrated out and which had no mass to add to the tonality of the instrument. Stuff like that is why thing like BadAss bridges exist. I don't care how many have been sold or who plays them(John Wetton doesn't anymore). Quantity does not equal quality. It's a cheaply designed piece, plain and simple. For what American Fenders cost nowadays, they had better be using something better but I suspect they are not. Oh...I should have preceded this with "IMHO".

those cheap bent fender bridges ... and those cheap fender pickups ... gee don't get me started ...

Since Fender bridges were mentioned, I'll add that in my experience (almost 30 years playing and fixing Fender basses), the bent bridge is their best design for a P or J-bass, tone-wise. It doesn't look like much (and was intended by Leo to be hidden under a chrome cover), but it is far better tonally than high-mass bridges like BadAss and Gotoh. I have no idea why, I just know that it is. If you ever owned a Geddy Lee signature Jazz Bass that had no bottom end and you replaced the BadAss with a simple basic Fender bent bridge, and got the tone back, you'll know what I mean.

Jeff: just as "expensive" doesn't always mean "good" (Alembic comes to mind), "cheap" doesn't always translate into "bad". The Danelectro is a good example of a very cheap guitar, that really sang. It had masonite top and back over a plywood frame, pickups made from surplus lipstick tubes, the sides were covered in wallpaper to save paint. But tonally... something else.

Ted, not only am I not on the payroll, Rickenbacker is not my #1 choice of bass. My "desert island" bass is my trusty old Gibson EB-0L. But I'm tired of people who join forums for no other reason than to bash a company. And I think it's disrespectful of other players when you act like everyone else agrees with your assessment.

I mean, if you think Rics are horribly outdated, either don't buy one or modify yours to suit yourself. But the fact is that they're still selling all they can produce without any changes. So if you come in here and bash them and act like everyone knows that you're right, I'm going to call you out and question your motives. Especially if it looks like you don't even own one.

A bridge Battle!! I love em in Rome Total War...as far as the Fender bridge goes, I've never felt the need to replace one, never had an adjustment screw vibrate out and they always intonated just fine. The Rick bridge is kind of tricky, but looks so cool and apart from having a tendency to pull up slightly it's one of the best LOOKING bridge/mute assemblys ever made. I don't really know a lot about the + or -'s of bridge design or sustain value except what my old rock and roll ears tell me and I am quite happy with the sound and servicability from my several rick and fender bridges.
I agree with your last comment Ilan, and the modern day Reverend bass is a perfect example of a medium priced bass that gives you lots for your money and they have the bent f style bridge. I wouldn't even consider switching that bridge with a heavy gotoh or badass....just my opinion..dm

the worst bass I ever owned was a Gibson EB ... it looked pretty but it was one dimensional as far as tone ...

the first thing I do with a fender bass is change the pickups and bridge ... the first thing I do with a Gibson bass is sell it ... but when I want a bass to play I reach for a Rickenbacker ...

I understand what you are saying Dave but most of us come here for the pleasant banter and not for a battle. We all know that there are negative aspects to all instruments - Ricks included. Sometimes people don't express their displeasure tactfully enough for everyone's tastes. So what? Most of us just let it go. Insinuating that someone is here just bash a particular company can be inflamatory and is contrary to the spirit of the community. Expressing opinions, positive or negative about guitars is a legitamate and necessary function of this forum. Negative opinions about other participants: not so much. BTW I do think you are a good contributor here and I enjoy your posts.

Ted, Yea, I was just trying to lighten things up a bit with the bridge battle post. I certainly don't mind different views and opinions being expressed on this forum and, like you, that's one of the reasons I visit every day...We all have our different beliefs and preferences about color, strings, bridges, tuners, pups, bridge covers..blah blah blah ad infintum! and Jeff, isn't that also the first thing you do to a lot of your Ricks, change/alter the pups and bridge, as well as nut and tuners? wink-nudge!!

I understand what you are saying Dave but most of us come here for the pleasant banter and not for a battle.

I know I do! And differences of opinion are fine with me. But when someone with ulterior motives comes in here with nastiness, I'm not going to let it ride.

Insinuating that someone is here just bash a particular company can be inflamatory and is contrary to the spirit of the community.

I'm not insinuating anything, I'm saying it directly. All you have to do is read his posts to see who was being inflammatory.

Jeff, isn't that also the first thing you do to a lot of your Ricks, change/alter the pups and bridge, as well as nut and tuners? wink-nudge!!

Sure, he does, but I've never seen him express a whiff of malice toward the company or ridicule of anyone who wouldn't make the same changes.

I'm all in favor of making your bass or guitar work for you.

David Miner: Sorry, I was directing that to Dave Westheimer. I don't have a problem with what you said.

Dave W.: I know you were not insinuating anything, I was just being polite. The best counter to an inflamatory post is silence IMHO. Peter let it ride. That is good enough for me.