Hiding Rickenbacker 4003s5 Dorito Pickups

[Snert]

the shape of the pickups is because it is a dual rail pickup and one rail is straight and one is slanted. The slanted pickup rail helps the B and E strings perform better.

Thank you, that was interesting to learn.

 

[BruceWane]

Get some square plastic pickup shells that'll cover the "doritos", cover them in chrome vinyl wrap. Cheap and easy.

 

[alembicbones]

I own a midnight blue 4003s5 and am a big fan of the pickups. They sound great on the bass. To each their own as to if the pickup looks turn you off.

Bones

 

[dbsfgyd1]

I've wanted a Rickenbacker since I started playing at 16. I think they just look and sound great for punk rock. Now I'm finally in my thirties with a little extra money and have been eyeing their latest five string model since 2018, but man, I just cannot get past those black Dorito-shaped pups. Over the past few years, I've gotten past the other cosmetic hang ups that I had, but this one just irks me to no end.

I still prefer the older models, but they are very hard to find, especially the 4-5 conversions. Alas, I will have to settle for the new 5er. Any ideas to hide the pups aside from a black pickguard? Due to the odd shape, the only thing I could think of fitting is maybe a Mudbucker cover? I know I'm obsessing but just want to grab some creative ideas wherever I can find them.

Considerreplacing the pick ups? I'd do it if I really wanted a Rick 5 banger in a heartbeat.

 

[christpncher]

I cant find the thread but recently someone converted a 4003/s/5 to a 4000/5 by covering up the neck pickup and somehow getting the bridge pickup inside the chrome treble pup surround with cover. It looked really nice

 

[Snert]

the shape of the pickups is because it is a dual rail pickup and one rail is straight and one is slanted. The slanted pickup rail helps the B and E strings perform better.

Forgot to add, the nerd in me would love to see some magnetic paper over one.

 

[hieronymous]

Would you replace them with Fritos pickups?

 

[ctmullins]

I think the Dorito pickups look super cool.



And that's coming from a guy with a huge chrome fetish..

 

[Ric5]

Forgot to add, the nerd in me would love to see some magnetic paper over one.

Somewhere I saw where someone took one of those apart ... maybe on talkbass somewhere?

 

[bholder]

But I like Doritos! Yummm.

 

[J Wilson]

The '1st Edition' 5-strings looked better, and Ric 5's better still. I'm afraid I'm not a fan of the current fives.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Since Ric is the only company I know of that makes triangular 5 string pickups, its hard to buy that being a purely technical decision, particularly with Rics long track record of form over function, looking cool first, working well often a distant second. Whatever the rationale, they sound good, but so do lots of other more traditionally shaped rectangular "soapbar" style 5 string pickups. I suspect both utility and aesthetics played a part in that decision, and the user response seems about evenly split. I hated the look at first, but its grown on me over time.

 

[mikeswals]

Consider replacing the pick ups? I'd do it if I really wanted a Rick 5 banger in a heartbeat.

Replace them with what? The body cavities are also triangles.

 

[HaphAsSard]

Replace them with what?

Delano Xtenders?

 

[Snert]

Somewhere I saw where someone took one of those apart ... maybe on talkbass somewhere?

Thanks. I'll have a search and see what I can find, but if you recall where you saw that, I'd be grateful for a link.

 

[Ostie]

Would you replace them with Fritos pickups?

No, cuz the Fritos pickups are scooped.

 

[Mike Vee]

I like the way it looks

 

[mike buzzetti]

they dont look like Doritos !!! they look like a hypersonic plane shape from the X planes ! think of it that way then you got something REALLY COOL and FAST

 

[bobyoung53]

The new 4003s5 is very well made and well designed. there is a reason for the shape of the pickups, it improves the response across all 5 strings.

get a jetglo with a black pickguard and the pickups will blend in also a black bridge would be nice.

I like that.

 

[Ric5]

Forgot to add, the nerd in me would love to see some magnetic paper over one.