@Al1885 knows every bridge on earth … and beyond!
Maybe you can find a bridge with adjustable spacing? I know they exist, but can’t remember what model.
Let me think…
EDIT Fixed 16.5mm 4 String A Style Bass Bridge – Hipshot Products
1 Like
Wouldn’t this fit?
It looks quite cool 
1 Like
just because it’s a Rick clone doesn’t mean it has a similar bridge. I mean look at its original bridge, nothing like a Rick’s.
2 Likes
Yeah, I know. But would you really put the same bridge on that bass again?
If @Landonius17 can find something better that looks better and fits - why go for the original?
1 Like
Literally no one suggested the original 
I meant there is no indication the HipShot Rick bridge would fit without drilling.
3 Likes
Only one way to find out: measure!
The original is 3+2 (??) hole … but maybe 2 or three holes are sufficient for a test?
1 Like
I would have to go with a maybe on that one, only because if it were to fit I’d need to redrill all the holes and relocate the ground. I think I’ll take the ill-advised modding of the original piece of crap and give it a shot with some 17mm saddles and hope for the best.
1 Like
As an aside, does anybody know anything at all about these basses? Nothing on the internet turns up any information. 
1 Like
I don’t. Is it the same Kay that used to make uprights?
1 Like
Kinda, but not really. The original US Kay made uprights, electric guitars, and electric basses until the late 60s when they went under and were bought by the same company that ran Teisco and made bass copies in the 70s out of Taiwan and Japan. That’s about all I know from there, though.
1 Like
If you plan on replacing the nut, i would suggest looking for an adjustable one. One less thing to worry about.
That’s fair; I’m trying to just get the essentials down to make it playable again first, but I’m planning on giving it the full fix once I have the time (and the money).
As it’s a zero fret the strings should be permanently on it shouldn’t they? I’d imagine that fret should be a millimetre or two higher than all the others. So if the string is not touching that zero fret then you need to have the nut a little lower. Surely the only thing you need to do to achieve this is file the nut. with having a zero fret the nut is really just a string guide isn’t?
I’m no bass tech expert so you’d want someone else to check me on that. But adjusting the truss rod is all about the clearance on the middle frets isn’t it?
3 Likes
See, that was the thing. The zero fret is significantly taller, and the strings were just barely hitting it. I checked the truss rod and it was so loose it rattled. After I properly set the truss rod, bringing the strings to the proper height, they hit correctly.
1 Like
Sounds like it’s time for a bonfire. Just be careful breathing in the lacquer fumes when you first put it in. That stuff’s no good for you.
4 Likes
It’s not quite that bad! (Yet) 
1 Like
These are likely good instruments.
1 Like
They’re pretty good! I like them, even if they are a little issue-prone
Amazing they went with that bridge
1 Like
It was the age of the mass produced and cheap; if it was cheap enough, it didn’t matter how well it worked.