Picking on a Rickenbacker

[catyak]

Not sure if this is should go here or the general instruction forum. Please let me know and I'll fix that.

I looked at a Rickebacker 4003 today. I love the action and the way that it feels and sounds. It was really easy on the left hand. My fingers just seemed to fall in place.

There were two things that I'm not sure about.

Are there issues with picking and having a lower action? I was reading something by Carol Kaye and she said that she liked a higher action. The lower action was great for finger plucking.

When I play with a pick, I've gotten used to muting the top strings with the heel of my thumb and the bottom strings with my pinky. I can't do that on the Ricky because of that ginormous guard. How do others use a pick on the Rick? Is it just a matter of getting used to muting everything with the left hand?

For that matter, should I be muting with the left? I don't when plucking, I use the thumb and third/fourth fingers on the right hand. If I'm going to switch, I may as well go lefty all the way.

I should say that I think that it'd be worth the effort. It's a nice bass.

Thanks.

[MrGotBass]

Why don't you just put your right hand on the strings? Maybe I'm not understanding something here, but thats what I do when I pick to stop a string from vibrating.

[catyak]

That guard is right in the way.

There's not enough room between the bridge and the guard for me to get my hand and the pick in there.

It's a far stretch to try and put my hand between the neck and the guard. And I'd be picking out over the neck.

[electracoyote]

Most Ric players remove that pick up cover. Also, you can set a Ric for high action if you want to.

[catyak]

Originally Posted by electracoyote

Most Ric players remove that pick up cover.

I saw that in a couple of postings (Rickenbacker 4003 pickup cover) but I'd be scared to do that - things I take apart never work right afterwards.

Do they do that because picking with that cover on is just too hard? I don't want to spend that much money on something that I can't learn to play.

[Floyd Eye]

Originally Posted by electracoyote

Most Ric players remove that pick up cover. Also, you can set a Ric for high action if you want to.

What is a Rickenbacker 4300?


The pickup cover comes off easily. The action on my 4001 is ridiculously low. Just the way I like it.

[catyak]

Originally Posted by Floyd Eye

What is a Rickenbacker 4300?

It's the dyslexic version

I'll ponder removing the cover. The guy at the shop made it sound pretty involved. The diagrams make it look simple.

[Floyd Eye]

You do not have to do all that crap to take the cover off. It's plastic, you can carefully squeeze the thing together and pull it out. It's also not that complicated to just get a screwdriver and remove the ring and take the cover off. There's no reason to keep it on there, it doesn't do anything. Plus if you accidentally break it, they're readily available and inexpensive to replace. When I got my bass 20 something years ago it didn't have a cover. I finally bought one and put it on about 5 years ago. It stayed on for about a month and went into a drawer, where it is still.

[catyak]

Originally Posted by catyak

I'll ponder removing the cover. The guy at the shop made it sound pretty involved. The diagrams make it look simple.

This is going off topic, but I watched the Gearwire video on removing the bridge pickup cover (Rickenbacker 4003 Bass: How To Remove The Bridge Pickup Cover (Video) | Gearwire). That's not something that I'd want to do.

I'll look into left hand muting. If I can't do that, then I'll stick with the Fender.

Thanks.

[Floyd Eye]

Why wouldn't you do that dude? It's easier than changing the strings. lol That video was so ridiculously thorough I could barely get through it. It's 2 screws and 2 springs. It isn't scary. I've had my '74 completely apart so many times it isn't funny. Anyway, that pickup cover has slots in it, not holes. You can loosen the screws and gently squeeze it and it will come out of that ring without removing it.

Or you could just settle for a Fender.

[electracoyote]

Originally Posted by catyak

If I can't do that, then I'll stick with the Fender.

This would be my recommendation. Stick with the Fender.

[catyak]

Originally Posted by Floyd Eye

Why wouldn't you do that dude?

Because the hole that it leaves is ugly. And scary in a Freudian way.

I noticed that Pickguardian offers a replacement cover. That would solve the problem for me.

[Ric5]

Rickenbackers are one of the best basses for pick playing.

Even better when the pickup cover is removed and a new bridge is installed.