That is why I'm starting a new thread.Last night, I received my new addition to the family - 1993 620/12, midnight blue w/ black accessories... pristine condition.... except.... one of the bridge height screws is missing, and the bridge is nowhere near level with the body of the guitar. Currently there are a lot of dead spots on the fretboard, especially on the high e strings on the lower frets, and I've noticed that some bends higher on the neck do not sustain very well at all compared to my 360/12. It's obviously disappointing. Here's a photo from the auction I won where you can see it. Unfortunately I didn't notice it in the pictures when I purchased it, and the description said nothing of it. Fortunately, the seller feels I've been taken, and has offered a refund of $50 for a setup. Obviously this won't cover it, but it does lessen the pain a little bit. He said their inspection "missed it". Not the greatest inspection.... it was the first thing I noticed.
I've looked around online, and I found the screw & spring that I can get for about $10 shipped to my house, which is fine. However, I'm a total dullard when it comes to doing these kinds of setups to a guitar, and I've got a sordid history of making things worse when I try to do these things. In other words, I'd rather just play'em. I'm more than willing to try to fix this myself, but I'm pretty sure it will end in a debacle.
If anyone can give me some wise, sage advice on how to proceed, I would appreciate it. I literally have no idea where to start, beyond putting the screw into the spot where the original one is missing.
Furthermore, in anticipation of the impending debacle, I'd like to know how to find someone to set one of these up like we all know a Rickenbacker should be set up. I'm very very skeptical of the shops around my area (SE Michigan) because I've taken guitars in for setup, and got them back and they felt no different..... I also had a tech tell me he adjusted the intonation on my American Strat. When I got home, I noticed no difference, and a few days later I noticed that there was no way he could have adjusted it because there was years of grime and junk in the screws that would have precluded adjustment. And, the last thing I want to do is take it in and have it set up like a Gibson or Fender when I bought a Rickenbacker (no offense to those.... we just know why we have Ricks). So if anyone has any good experience w/ a tech setting up a Rickenbacker in SE Michigan I would appreciate it. I'm also willing to send it off to someone good if I can't find anyone local.
Thanks for any help.
~Andrew
