Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I thoroughly enjoy my Rickenbacker Model 350. After playing it for a number of years now I have adjusted to all its charcteristics but one. I would still like to see the bridge permanently attached to the body. I cannot see how this would make any difference to the sound and it would certainly make restringing and working on the setup easier.

I realize that this bridge arrangement harkens back to earlier times and from an historical perspective I like that aspect. I am wondering, however, if anyone else feels the same way.

Define "permanently attached" please.

I know what you mean - but I think you mean that you wish the bridge didn't "fall off" when there are no strings on the guitar?

A typical TOM bridge is just "sitting" on posts. OK, they have threaded adjusting "knobs" that raise/lower the action, but the bridge span itself can simply be lifted off.

Tele bridges are pretty loosey-goosey when all strings are off the guitar.

I know what you mean - but I think you mean that you wish the bridge didn't "fall off" when there are no strings on the guitar? Grsnovi

Yes, I wish it stayed on the body when strings were not attached. It could be attached to the bridgeplate, for example, perhaps even a sliding or adjustable bridgeplate.

I'd love to redesign every bridge we have, something more like the 650 or 4004 style, but the sound of 1,000 people screaming that we changed something makes me realize that I'm dreaming.

John: From at practical point of view, would the introduction of a new design be an all or none thing? Or would you have to wait and see and cross that bridge when you come to it?

I understand that you may be burning bridges should you change in one fell swoop. How about bridging the gap with a limited edition Model 330 with a new bridge and 1 3/4 inch neck. Perhaps the Rickenbacker Millennium Model 330 Limited Edition? You could still continue to offer the unabridged Model 330.

Wouldn't a 650 bridge on a 330 change the sound? I always thought that the harp tailpiece contributed to the shimmer in the tone - could be wrong...

Yes Andrew, it would change the sound. My comment was based on the idea that the bridge would be attached to the bridgeplate as opposed to being bolted directly to the body.

Peter, your idea makes a great deal of sense, and I understood where you were coming from with that - my post wasn't clear. I was directing my question more so to John Hall.

If anyone has tinkered with putting a 650 bridge on a 330 (or 360, or any of the other models with "harp" type bridges) it would probably be he or some RIC employee. I would wonder what this mod would do to the sound - not to mention the aesthetics.

Peter - did you miss any bridges in the post four slots up? I didn't see Lloyd Bridges or any of his kids worked in there. You need to try harder.

Hey, wait a minute! Didn't this whole forum grow out of a community of dedicated fans of a product we were all in love with as is?? If Rickenbacker doesn't make what you are looking for, someone else probably does. Try the Ibanez forum.

Marty Willson-Piper has a Badass (string-through-body) bridge on one of his vintage Rics (Rose Morris 1998?). While he concedes it is an aberration to modify a Ric as such, he did state it made his the 'twangiest' Ric ever.

Tracy, the Ibanez forum?! I love Rickenbackers for what the ARE, what they were, and what they will be.

Me personally, I'm interested in the RCA model Laguna/360 which appeared on Ebay recently:
Walnut roundtop body with 380L neck, but with traditonal Ric tailpiece, bridge, etc.

Cheers, Noel

Peter; are you Seriously contemplating trying to do a "lockdown" of your bridge? I know exactly what you are asking, and on more than a few occassions, I have done a "little mod" to these bridges that is not readily noticeable,and perfectly addresses the problem.E mail me if you are interested in more info.You need a few tools to do this, but nothing requiring rocket science.

I might be missing the point here but I always thought that when changing strings, you shouldn't take them all off unless absolutely necessary and that where possible, the neck should be kept under tension.

If it aint broke, don't fix it!

Graham: There are times in which you need to remove all the strings to work on the instrument. It would be convenient during these times to have the bridge secured to the guitar.