Microphonic Rickenbacker 4001

[maxgrant]

My Rick is a 1973 4001. I have recently begun trading it off between an active-pickup Spector using an a-b switch. Since the two are so drastically different in volume I added a compressor to the B channel so that my Rickenbacker is approximately the same volume in rehearsal.

Yesterday I was facing the amp and I got a high shrieking feedback. Not what I'm used to from a bass. I have discovered that if I activate my wah pedal in the chain I also get feedback, even if I'm not facing the amp.

I probably need to get the pickups rewound or replaced. Anybody had experience with this phenom on a Rickenbacker before? What can I expect?

Note, I have had this bass for 20 years, and the amp for almost as long. It's never done this before.

[TrooperFarva]

How is your compressor setup? I think a better approach is to ditch the compressor, and just lower the volume on the Spector.

[maxgrant]

Originally Posted by TrooperFarva

How is your compressor setup? I think a better approach is to ditch the compressor, and just lower the volume on the Spector.

I am willing to bet that doing that, and turning up the amp to compensate, will still leave me with shrieking feedback.

The pickup is actually microphonic. I can talk into it. I don't remember it being like that before. I haven't played out in a few years so I'm guessing it's developed this problem recently. I am just thinking that I need to get the pickups either replaced or rewound, and on a vintage ric I wonder if someone else has had this experience.

[Deluge Of Sound]

I think you should just give it to me. A Microphonic Ric is useless, regardless of the vintage. I'll even drive to wherever you are to pick it up

But yeah, you can get the pickups replaced or rewound, and that should solve your problem.

[Jim Breece]

How about potted/repotted? I think they get microphonic when some turns of wire are able to vibrate rather than sitting solidly. Check w/a tech but I would think that would be less damaging to the instrument's value/vibe than rewinding. Or get replacements and save the originals.
As I write this I realize I heard or invented this theory 25 years ago and never doubted it since. Am I right, tech gurus?

[T-Bird]

Hi.

Originally Posted by Jim Breece

How about potted/repotted? I think they get microphonic when some turns of wire are able to vibrate rather than sitting solidly. Check w/a tech but I would think that would be less damaging to the instrument's value/vibe than rewinding. Or get replacements and save the originals.
As I write this I realize I heard or invented this theory 25 years ago and never doubted it since. Am I right, tech gurus?

Add another vote for potting.

If the winding is loose the pickup is nearly useless, so the value as an vintage part is in the "core" value IMHO.

Regards
Sam

[maxgrant]

Thanks for the suggestions.

I'm not nearly as concerned about the "vintage" value as I probably should be. I bought this bass in 1987 when it was rather commonplace . . . not long after that I replaced the vintage tuners, which had already been monkeyed with (there are drill holes all over the back of the headstock), and I have no idea where the mute screws are (mute is sunk into the tailpiece and is useless). Plus the thumbrest is lost somewhere in the morass of junk in my house. Couldn't find it to save my life. I really just want the sound -- and it's been my constant companion all these years.

I will see if I can get it to a qualified tech to check out the pickups -- it's just the bridge pickup as far as I can tell.