Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I just recieved a new 360 BurgundyGlo, (I'll post a review, pics and some observations shortly), but after I changed the strings and set it up to my liking, there seems to be a sympathetic vibration coming during certain pitches.

It sounds like hardware rattle. I've played and touched
evey visible piece and nothing seems to be the culprit. It sounds like its coming from the bridge, but the bridge is rock solid and there is no loose springs or pieces that I can see. Where else should I look? It's very distracting and
noticably affects the ringing of notes at the pitch.

My 1995-6 360/12 is rock solid and makes no sound except guitar sounds. The rattle on the new 360 is definitely metallic in nature and sounds like a loose knob or screw, yet I can't detect it on anything visually available. Anything inside that would cause this?

Bob

This is a tough one to find , but here is what I would go looking for.

1-Sometimes , and this is only on rare occasions , will you find one of the new bridges (these all have the hex headed intonation screws) with a saddle(s) that have any wobble in them .This movement causes this rattle.

2- The springs on the saddles are actually NOT touching the saddle AND the chassis. You must take the bridge off to check this one.
Shake it , just flip it back and forth , you should be able to hear the spring as it moves back and forth .I see this more often than loose saddles by a long shot.

3- check the feet of the bridge .They should not have any wobble in them .Also check their springs .

Reinstall the bridge if you have not found anything .Tune.
Now , here are the next two things to check.

1- the 4 feet/legs need to all be touching the plate .Are they all seated ? If one is not ...that is the rattle.

2-The slots of the saddles .They need to have the same angle or slightly less than the angle from the top of the saddle to the Tailpiece.If the slots are just flat ...that will causes this too.

Check all of these out .Let me know .

Checking the above, it seemed to be the 4 bridge feet. One seemed to be not touching completely. It was hard to get them both touching on both sides, as one seemed to be enough to support the bridge, so when one made contact, the other was not needed structurally. I would adjust one, and the other would be slightly not touching, then I would mod that one, and the first would not touch. I think I got them balanced, but I'll bet that it moves again.
I think the design would be better with 1 post per side, ala Gibson or others. (IMHO)
I adjusted the action and intonation again. The saddle slots seem too deeply cut, so they might be another cause. It seems to be fine now, but I'll be extra attentive over the next week or so. Thanks.
Bob