Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hello there, I am hoping for some friendly, curmudgeonly advice about my unused 12-saddle bridge...

I ordered my 370/12 with an optional 12-saddle bridge. The six-saddle was installed at the factory, while the 12-saddle has been in the case since I got the guitar because I wanted to spend some time with the Ric before I set about playing (around) with it. The factory setup is still sweet after a full year of careful use and attention, but it's time for new strings (again) and because I will be changing them out, now would also be time to swap in the 12-saddle bridge to see which will ultimately become a permanent part of the guitar.

Just now when I took it out of the packaging, I noticed that I am going to have to file grooves in the saddles (don't ask me why this surprised me, but it did). I have a set of fine files of different shapes and I think that the narrow edge of my triangular-shaped one would do the trick, but I need some advice before I take a shot at this, namely- how deep should the grooves be? half the string? more? Less? Also, because it's a 12-string, should I "group" the grooves in pairs towards each other or simply centre them in each of the saddles?

Newbie stuff, I know, but it'd be a shame to mess this up the first time I tried it.

These photos might help some. This is how Mark Arnquist (former Rickenbacker employee) sets up a 12-saddle bridge to what he calls "Vintage Style".
http://webpages.charter.net/tbradshaw/M ... dge%20mods

Thanks, Todd. I'll study these carefully. Seems to be a little more involved than I first thought....

Just filing slots isn't that bad, but it is really nice to also have all the sharp spots polished smooth, especially for those of us who play without the bridge cover.

Tod, thanks much for posting those photos. While I think I would leave this to the professionals (I'd probably lose half the pieces of the saddle if I tried it myself), it's great to see how to do this.