Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hey all,

I have a '78 3001 that I love....got it for way less than I should have back in the mid 80's. It's my fave fretted bass. It had been modified when I got it, with a Badass bridge, and also additional set of Dimarzio P-Bass pickups, switchable between the stock pickup

The badass bridge mod sounds great, but looks way clumsy...the routed area is filled with a wood plug, but the bridge doesn't entirely cover it, so it's visible, and a little ugly. I'm wanting to either go back to original Rick bridge, or maybe get a Hipshot. Any recommendations? I read that the original Rick bridge wasn't all so desirable, but I like the idea of getting it back toward the original look.

Also wondering what an original Rick bridge would run, if I decide to go that route. Is that available via Rickenbacker?

Thanks!

original rick bridge is just fine, or anything else that tickles your fancy. you'll need to replace the missing wood to remount rick type units. or just make a plastic surround like geddy lee did on his two 4001's and 4080/12.

There's nothing wrong with the original Rickenbacker bridge/tailpiece, other than it's a bit hard to adjust intonation. But how often do you really need to do that?

It's hard to say how it would fit after wood was routed out for a badass, or whether it would cover whatever they removed. Pictures of your bass might help.

The original bridge/tailpiece is available from Rickenbacker, or most of their dealers. I know that Pick of the Ricks usually has them in stock...

Welcome to the RRF mark. If I am reading your post correctly the factory routes have been filled. It would be easier to replace the BadAss with a Hipshot or you will need to re-route for a factory bridge.

Photos of the factory bridge route on a 3001.

Here's pix of my 3001, plus the bridge hackjob. Wow...didn't realize how much the finish on the bridge had deteriorated. I don't think the original bass lived very long with the rick bridge, as you can't see any fading to the finish outside of outline of the factory bridge.

I'd just keep the 3001 like it is, it does look like a great player instrument as is. The only thing I would do is add a Jazz Bass pickup in the bridge position.

why do people insist on putting fender style pickups in ricks ??? if you want more bottom buy a bottom end bass like a fender or get a bigger butt !!! btw, jeff, i'm gonna spank you for the j-pickup thought !

howzabout throwing those metal thunderbird pickups on a rick...that should do some structural damage.

markoos wrote:Here's pix of my 3001, plus the bridge hackjob. Wow...didn't realize how much the finish on the bridge had deteriorated. I don't think the original bass lived very long with the rick bridge, as you can't see any fading to the finish outside of outline of the factory bridge.

that's a badarse 2 bridge...that shoulda been a surface mount and no need to dig trenches. a geddy surround would fix the ugliness, or put a rick bridge as dicussed before.

BAD RONBO, KiLLeR DWaRfS wrote:why do people insist on putting fender style pickups in ricks ??? if you want more bottom buy a bottom end bass like a fender or get a bigger butt !!! btw, jeff, i'm gonna spank you for the j-pickup thought !

I don't know why people do this either for two very important reasons... one, a pickup is not a magic tone device that sounds the same in every bass (or position), and two, a Ric has way more bottom end than a Fender! Yes I will stand by that in a court of law. Fenders are awesome but Rics, and Hofners for that matter, sound a whole lot deeper.

those two choices are deeper, but hollow sounding where the "other bass" has a more solid tone. i prefer the hollow sound as is has more character.

Yeah I'm with you. I think the difference is one favors bass and the other favors low mids.

[quote="BAD RONBO, KiLLeR DWaRfS"]why do people insist on putting fender style pickups in ricks ??? if you want more bottom buy a bottom end bass like a fender or get a bigger butt !!!


Lets face it. Some people love the look & feel of a Ric But hate the stock pickups. I've never played a 4003 with the Hi-gains but I had a 4001 & a 4000. I hated the pickups in both of those. I will admit Fender pickups tend to look ugly on Rics. I bought a 4003s that someone put Bartolini"s on so I wouldn't be the one performing a sacrilegious act.

Badanovski wrote:

BAD RONBO, KiLLeR DWaRfS wrote:why do people insist on putting fender style pickups in ricks ??? if you want more bottom buy a bottom end bass like a fender or get a bigger butt !!!


Lets face it. Some people love the look & feel of a Ric But hate the stock pickups. I've never played a 4003 with the Hi-gains but I had a 4001 & a 4000. I hated the pickups in both of those. I will admit Fender pickups tend to look ugly on Rics. I bought a 4003s that someone put Bartolini"s on so I wouldn't be the one performing a sacrilegious act.

but playing one so equipped is a sacrilegious act ??? bad boy !

I agree with BadRonbo!!!!

I personally like the Stock without Mods though, Yet I am old fashioned that way. I still prefer cars with dimmer switchs on the floorboard too. Heres a photo of my 3000 and 3001