Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I see that a different bridge/tailpiece combo is now being used on the 650 models. It looks like a Schaller 3D6. By any chance, is this a direct replacement for the previous style, without drilling? Has anyone had the opportunity to compare the two? Obviously, the string path is much straighter on the newer style. What would be the other benefits of this design, if any?

And, just out of curiosity, who manufactured the previous design units?

The older bridges were made by ABM, which unfortunately no longer exists. The person in charge of ABM (I apologize for not remembering his name) passed away and apparently took most of his design and manufacturing secrets with him. There were rumours of a stronghold of new old stock ABM parts at one time, although that may have already gone the way of eBay without me noticing. I also heard that the patents were on the market for a time. No idea what happened there either.

The ABM bridges were and are very nice, but Schaller parts are exceptionally good quality, too. I can't imagine there's any discernible trade-off in the performance of the instrument as a whole.

I'd love to see a 650C made with Schaller's "ruthenium" parts. I think it would look very sharp indeed, although the pick-up housings would probably be impossible to properly match.

More info..

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