Very nice! I have a late 2020 4003s with the updated bridge and vintage style knobs. I plan to get either a 4003 fireglo or walnut in the future. Undecided as of now
That's like my dream bass. I can't believe the action is stuck so high on a Rickenbacker though without a way to fix it other than replacing the bridge
@@Riffs4U1 Yah I don't doubt you needed to do that though. If the neck is straight and the bridge is as low as it can go you're not really left with many options. New bridge looks great 👍
The RIC OEM bridge is SHEET METAL. Very important to grasp why this swapout is needed. My 4001C64, I just discovered MASIVE bridge lift, and am likely bastardizing my Beatle bass to fix this. My Prog Rock "Instant 4001S" will be next. Mine, too, is Jetglo.
I put one of these on my Ric. Not terribly happy. I'm a fairly aggressive player and the height adjustment screw for the G string tended to pop out of its channel and allowed the saddle to swing up and smack into the A string saddle. I tried to contact Hipshot several times about this and was met with no response. My only recourse was to find a machinist to cut the guide channel a little deeper. Sad to spend the money and be hung out to dry and then spend more money to get it resolved elsewhere.
Did you end up soldering back the ground wire or did you just leave in like Fender does and just make sure it makes contact with the bridge? Just ordered one for my Rick but I haven’t seen any answers on this particular question.
I did the same thing in 1983 when I got my 4003. I installed a Badass II but they're so small, I had to cut a piece of wood to fill up the hole under the bridge. I put the ground wire on top of the wood so it would make contact with the bridge. I'm surprised the Hipshot just sits on top of the hole like that and doesn't include anything to fill the hole.
That is just bizarre. The action on all 3 of my current Rics is at or under 1mm at the 12th fret G and at or under 2mm at the 12th fret E with the stock bridges. In fact every single Ric I’ve owned, well over 20 from all eras (with the exception of the ‘71 21 fretter I had, which I sold for that reason) has easily achieved the same action as above.
amazing!! i´m looking to replace the bridge on my Ric 4003 in the future too, i also got a pretty high action on my 4003, and i´m hating to not be able to mute the strings with my wrist properly. thanks for the video
I would modify the way you positioned the ground wire. The last thing you want is intermittent grounding, which is going to happen with the wire not secured. I would either solder it to the bottom of the bridge, or sandwich it between the wood and bridge near the tail end of the bridge hole. Any damage to the finish will be hidden even if you reinstall the stock bridge.
Get a roll of aluminum tape from Lowes or home Depot. Use that on the ground to keep it where you want it but the bridge will make a better bond on the tape without worries of the ground wire having a loose spot.
Speaking of scratching the finish…There’s some dents on my Rickenbacker, there’s one on headstock when I accidentally gashed the paint off with a pair of pliers when I was changing the strings😅, it looks cool however haha
Do the new, current 4003 models need the bridge replaced? I thought I’d read on some bass forums that hipshot doesn’t make a bridge to fit current rickenbacker basses...
I have a '78 4001 but not sure if I should change the bridge since the bass is still 100% stock in the original case and may degrade the value. Is that true or am I a worried about nothing?
Just bear in mind it may depend how low you like your action. On all the 4003 basses the fingerboard typically sits a little higher off the body than on the 4001 basses. The Hipshot is designed for the 4003 and so may not go low enough on a 4001 if you like very low action; I know a few people who have encountered this problem.
9:44 you didn't need to make some screw holes deeper ? Looks like the head of the screws doesn't come in contact with the bridge here : O . Some other people drilled some holes a bit for the screws to fit entirely. Gonna install mine soon.
I ended up taking off the saddles on the E and G to be able to screw in the bridge. You may or may not have to.
Very nice! I have a late 2020 4003s with the updated bridge and vintage style knobs. I plan to get either a 4003 fireglo or walnut in the future. Undecided as of now
Always a touch choice 😉
;To my old eyes looks like the neck has a fair sized bow in it. I have owned 6 or 7 Rick`s over the years never had your particular problem.
That's like my dream bass. I can't believe the action is stuck so high on a Rickenbacker though without a way to fix it other than replacing the bridge
Maybe, but I’m no expert lol
@@Riffs4U1 Yah I don't doubt you needed to do that though. If the neck is straight and the bridge is as low as it can go you're not really left with many options. New bridge looks great 👍
Thanks a lot. Appreciate it whenever someone is not attacking me ha
Hi, my lowest action on all my basses without buzz is my 2018 4003 with standard bridge.
Maybe I got a lemon lol
The RIC OEM bridge is SHEET METAL. Very important to grasp why this swapout is needed.
My 4001C64, I just discovered MASIVE bridge lift, and am likely bastardizing my Beatle bass to fix this.
My Prog Rock "Instant 4001S" will be next.
Mine, too, is Jetglo.
I put one of these on my Ric. Not terribly happy. I'm a fairly aggressive player and the height adjustment screw for the G string tended to pop out of its channel and allowed the saddle to swing up and smack into the A string saddle. I tried to contact Hipshot several times about this and was met with no response. My only recourse was to find a machinist to cut the guide channel a little deeper. Sad to spend the money and be hung out to dry and then spend more money to get it resolved elsewhere.
That sucks dude
Did you end up soldering back the ground wire or did you just leave in like Fender does and just make sure it makes contact with the bridge? Just ordered one for my Rick but I haven’t seen any answers on this particular question.
Wanted to ask the same question! I am about to do the replacement and cant figure it out also.
I left mine pointing up just touching the metal. Haven’t had any problems. If you can do it tho I’d solder it
Mine is soldered but I’d recommend it
I did the same thing in 1983 when I got my 4003. I installed a Badass II but they're so small, I had to cut a piece of wood to fill up the hole under the bridge. I put the ground wire on top of the wood so it would make contact with the bridge. I'm surprised the Hipshot just sits on top of the hole like that and doesn't include anything to fill the hole.
Thanks for the comment!
Which version did you have, i see they do Brass and Aluminium. That said i cant find anywhere in the UK with stock.
Mines Aluminum. Pit bull .com try that
@@Riffs4U1 cant find that site, pit bull music, pit bull guitars and obviously Pt bull dogs !
www.pitbullaudio.com/hipshot-5rk400ac-rickenbacker-4-string-bass-replacement-bridge-aluminum-chrome.html
That is just bizarre. The action on all 3 of my current Rics is at or under 1mm at the 12th fret G and at or under 2mm at the 12th fret E with the stock bridges. In fact every single Ric I’ve owned, well over 20 from all eras (with the exception of the ‘71 21 fretter I had, which I sold for that reason) has easily achieved the same action as above.
amazing!! i´m looking to replace the bridge on my Ric 4003 in the future too, i also got a pretty high action on my 4003, and i´m hating to not be able to mute the strings with my wrist properly. thanks for the video
You are very welcome
Can someone tell me why this bass cuts through a mix so well …
I’d guess the mid range punchy tone. They do sound great 👍
I tried a hipshot bridge on my V63 but it didn't sound as good as the original. Pity because it's a great design.
Sorry to hear that
I would modify the way you positioned the ground wire. The last thing you want is intermittent grounding, which is going to happen with the wire not secured. I would either solder it to the bottom of the bridge, or sandwich it between the wood and bridge near the tail end of the bridge hole. Any damage to the finish will be hidden even if you reinstall the stock bridge.
Definitely. You’re 💯 correct. Thanks 😊
Get a roll of aluminum tape from Lowes or home Depot. Use that on the ground to keep it where you want it but the bridge will make a better bond on the tape without worries of the ground wire having a loose spot.
Yeah. I did sell it already but that’s a good idea
6:25 - always start everything before you torque anything, bud.
Hi there. I just got the hipshot. It comes with 4 screws same size and a pair that is larger. I’d like to know how they go in the rick. Thanks
Compare the size the the old ones once you take them off. I actually used my old screws I think because I’m lazy ha
Speaking of scratching the finish…There’s some dents on my Rickenbacker, there’s one on headstock when I accidentally gashed the paint off with a pair of pliers when I was changing the strings😅, it looks cool however haha
Omg ha. Well. Once you get a few dings it will look player worn ha. If you’re keeping it forever it really doesn’t matter. ✌️
Update: few more dents on my Rick, means it’s being used. Slowly writing my own story on it
Do the new, current 4003 models need the bridge replaced? I thought I’d read on some bass forums that hipshot doesn’t make a bridge to fit current rickenbacker basses...
No the new ones don’t need to be replaced they’re great
@@Riffs4U1 That is good to hear…thank you!!
I wish RICs didn't suck so bad. They look so cool.
I have a '78 4001 but not sure if I should change the bridge since the bass is still 100% stock in the original case and may degrade the value. Is that true or am I a worried about nothing?
If there’s nothing wrong don’t replace. But if so, no It won’t hurt the value as long as you keep the original bridge to go with it. 😉
@Riffs4U I appreciate the info thank you
No problem. Thanks for watching
Just bear in mind it may depend how low you like your action. On all the 4003 basses the fingerboard typically sits a little higher off the body than on the 4001 basses. The Hipshot is designed for the 4003 and so may not go low enough on a 4001 if you like very low action; I know a few people who have encountered this problem.
Thx for your comment
Yep those bridges are expensive,… but worth every penny.
Nice Job 🎸🎸🎶🎵👍
Thanks!!
9:44 you didn't need to make some screw holes deeper ? Looks like the head of the screws doesn't come in contact with the bridge here : O . Some other people drilled some holes a bit for the screws to fit entirely. Gonna install mine soon.
I didn’t have to drill. Maybe I used the old screws. I don’t remember but it’s fine
File down the v groove on the original rick saddles.
Worst mistake ever. Hex screws falling out from the saddles. What a POS! Replaced it back with the original. Terrible bridge.
I used the original screws that came with the bridge and they fit so I didn’t have that problem. Mainly because I’m lazy lol