Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I'm strongly considering getting a Hipshot bridge for my 2013 4003.

Read a lot online, and the reports seem pretty good - looks like it's very adjustable, and makes certain techniques (ie palm muting) easy.

Was going to go for the alluminium one - by all accounts the brass is quite heavy. The alluminium option seems to keep the same tone, but some say it makes things crisper.

Appreciate some opinion may divided on these, but I'd love hear from anyone who has fitted one to a modern 4003. Pics as well - especially if Fireglo!

A few years ago I tried the brass one. My ears could be full of it, but it seemed to make the sound warmer and a tad muddier to me. I switched too the aluminum Hipshot after that.

Thanks Bruce!

No problems with wobbly saddles, or any issues with the aluminium one?

qwezirider wrote:A few years ago I tried the brass one. My ears could be full of it, but it seemed to make the sound warmer and a tad muddier to me. I switched too the aluminum Hipshot after that.

Your ears are fine. To me, brass sounds to full. Aluminium sounds punchier to me.

I have had an aluminum one on my '74 4000 for over 5 years now. Wouldn't think of going back to the original....

spongebob wrote:No problems with wobbly saddles, or any issues with the aluminium one?

I did find a couple saddles that could pop a bit out of place if I got too aggressive. But I took it as a sign to calm down a touch, and I had no problems at all. Overall, I love the thing and would always use one. Just because.

I had an aluminum one on a V63 for a few years and it was great.

Ordered!

Looking forward to getting this on and set-up.

If I like it, I'd be looking to sell the original, it's a minter. I've not got much idea what it's worth - any ideas?

spongebob wrote:Ordered!

Looking forward to getting this on and set-up.

If I like it, I'd be looking to sell the original, it's a minter. I've not got much idea what it's worth - any ideas?

Are you talking it is an aluminum one? If so, you could name your price.

johnallg wrote:

spongebob wrote:Ordered!

Looking forward to getting this on and set-up.

If I like it, I'd be looking to sell the original, it's a minter. I've not got much idea what it's worth - any ideas?

Are you talking it is an aluminum one? If so, you could name your price.

Unlikely, given it is coming off a 4003.

Alright.... Time for bed......

This thread about the Hipshot bridges reminds me of a thread about the 60s aluminium bridge/tail and tone.
When I was discussing the old aluminium tailpiece some time ago I thought that
the aluminium parts gave my RMs a different tone than the modern zinc ones in the 4003 and vintage reissues.
Other members said that it made no difference.

There must be a valid reason why Hipshot use different metals in various editions of the same bridge
so maybe the old 4000 series aluminium parts were affecting the tone afterall.

Interesting stuff Pete - this I didn't know.

So the 4000 series basses used to use aluminium bridges? When was this from/until?

When did the move to a modern zinc occur, and any idea why the change came about?

SpongeBob, you requested a picture of a FireGlo with a Hipshot.... this was my 2010 that came with a Hipshot, before I had the Original Ric tailpiece reinstalled, as I'm a traditionalist.

pag wrote:There must be a valid reason why Hipshot use different metals in various editions of the same bridge . . .

Nah. It's just sales & marketing. They know that some people swear by brass, some prefer aluminum...etc... perhaps irrationally. It's easy enough for Hipshot to make them up in different materials once they have the design.