Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I have a Leo Quan Bad A** II bridge that I'm thinking of installing on my 2011 4003. I don't have any issues with the stock tailpiece / bridge, I just think it might be cool to try something else. And I'm a big Geddy fan and I know that he used a BA II bridge. Anyone have any install tips or tricks? I did a search here and on other sites but didn't really find what I was looking for.

From what I've read, the Bad A** bridge will fit without any need to route the body. Just drill new holes for it and install a surround to cover up the mute route. Does that seem about right or is there more to it?

Pickguardian has a bridge surround that should work. It might need a bit of rework, but that shouldn't be much a problem. I don't know of anyone else that makes a surround that would work, so please let me know if there's someone else.

TIA,

--jack

I would make sure the new bridge will allow the saddles to adjust low enough, especially when adding the height of a bridge plate.

I'm don't know what they charge for the bridge surround, but it would be easy enough to make one from some plastic source, a polystyrene sheet would be easy to cut with scissors and is available in different thicknesses.

I recently bought a '78 that a previous owner put a BA on. Larry Davis refin'd it and I had him leave the BA on it. I'm really enjoying it! Cool sound. I see why Geddy liked it.

jdogric12 wrote:I recently bought a '78 that a previous owner put a BA on. Larry Davis refin'd it and I had him leave the BA on it. I'm really enjoying it! Cool sound. I see why Geddy liked it.

Could you post some detailed pics of the bridge and surround? I would greatly appreciate it.

TIA,

--jack

I've seen a huge variety of these over the years it was huge in the late 70's to 80's around here.
Here's one that has way too much guard on it. This one's supposed to be Geddy's. And this one has too little. And ouch on the binding peel.

I found this of my old '79 4001, traded it for the '69. My advice is cover as little as possible.

Dirk wrote:I've seen a huge variety of these over the years it was huge in the late 70's to 80's around here.
Here's one that has way too much guard on it.

surround3.jpg

This one's supposed to be Geddy's.

And this one has too little. And ouch on the binding peel.

I found this of my old '79 4001, traded it for the '69.

My advice is cover as little as possible.

Thanks for these pics. Can you verify that the bridge sits directly on the body? I mean, the bridge doesn't sit on top of the surround, right? That wouldn't be good IMO.

I plan to have the surround be the same color as the bass (black or white, depending on the bass.) I went ahead and ordered a black and white surround piece from Pickguardian and I'll modify it as needed.

Again, thanks!

--jack

Yeah man, flat as a pancake on the top. The surround covers the route is all.
If you did it on top of the surround, it's not a surround (haha), and you lose all the mechanical connection of the bridge to neck/wood.

No need to cover the back edge to me. I think the White works on MG, but same color as guard makes most sense.

I always liked the performance and adjustability, and always felt like more sustain tone.

Oh and the last great thing, you can always go back.

Ged used a BA 1 and not a 2 on his main 4001's. That's what I installed on mine and it's great. They're just hard to find. The only one of his Rick's that had a BA 2 was the white 4080.

Credits from Bruford's "Feels Good to Me" (1977), back of the album cover:

"Apparently Jeff Berlin Uses Leo Quan `BAD ***' Musical Products."

with the A-word uncensored by forum software. No other manufacturers or endorsements are mentioned. This was my first exposure to the name Leo Quan, and to Jeff Berlin for that matter. Had no idea at the time what musical products were being referred to.

Adios a la Pasada,
bluewhale

Great album too Steve! I've had it on album, cassette and now CD.
Jeff is an amazing player/writer, certainly a great non-ric influence on me for sure.

Curious, did BA2's always have the II on them? In other words, if mine just says BA, is it definitely a I?

jdogric12 wrote:Curious, did BA2's always have the II on them? In other words, if mine just says BA, is it definitely a I?

The two BA bridges are completely different from one another. Taller vs. lower, 3-hole vs. 5-hole, etc.

jdogric12 wrote:Curious, did BA2's always have the II on them? In other words, if mine just says BA, is it definitely a I?

Judging from the pics, I would say yours is a BA 1.

--jack

No numbers back then. There's even a III version of the tall now.

I decided against installing the BA II.

I removed the stock bridge to get a look at the route and the work that I thought would be needed to install the BA II. It seems like the route would need to be filled, or partially filled, to get the BA II to have full contact with the body. Either that or install it further back. I don't want to do either of those things.

--jack