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Rickenbacker 4001/3 pickup cover - why is it there?

S

SpottedBass

Mar 12, 2012
86
59
#1
OK.. back in the 80's I owned a 4001 and removed the bridge/treble pickup cover on day 1. Played it for 10 years that way then sold it (yea that was a mistake). After playing nothing but Jazz basses for years, I've decided to buy another Ric - found a beautiful 4003w yesterday. It really sounds great (better than my 4001 - that could be due the maple fretboard, walnut body, or the fact that I am a better player now than I was way back then.) But...what to do with the pickup cover? Does it serve any purpose? There seems to be a ground wire a attached to the screw, does it somehow reduce single coil hum? If it serves no sonic purpose, I'm inclined to remove it. The Ric has slightly lower string tension than I've grown used to on my Jazz basses, so my instinct is to want to finger pick a litter closer to the bridge - right where the dang pickup cover is sitting. Removing the pickup cover seems like the logical thing to do, however, because its not exactly a simple task, I wanted to know if it serves any real purpose other then as a palm rest for pick players before I do it.

Thanks!
 
#5
Yes, one of the reason it's there is to mimic the look of the original Horseshoe pickup. However... this is a very oft-asked question, that comes up a lot. On a certain Rickenbacker forum a few years ago, John Hall (RIC's CEO) felt compelled to chime in on a very lively discussion about the cover. He said that YES, it is plastic, but it's some hi-tech plastic that's specially plated with trick stuff; and that it actually does act as an RF/stray cosmic ray/whatever shield. Is it true? Maybe yes; maybe no; or, maybe he just didn't like the thought of people throwing pieces of his basses away...personally, I like the look, and they don't get in my way, so both my Rick's still have them on. Lots of people like them off, though, and their basses seem to work just fine. So, who's to say?:)
 
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#7
GIBrat51 said:
Yes, one of the reason it's there is to mimic the look of the original Horseshoe pickup. However... this is a very oft-asked question, that comes up a lot. On a certain Rickenbacker forum a few years ago, John Hall (RIC's CEO) felt compelled to chime in on a very lively discussion about the cover. He said that YES, it is plastic, but it's some hi-tech plastic that's specially plated with trick stuff; and that it actually does act as an RF/stray cosmic ray/whatever shield. Is it true? Maybe yes; maybe no; or, maybe he just didn't like the thought of people throwing pieces of his basses away...personally, I like the look, and they don't get in my way, so both my Rick's still have them on. Lots of people like them off, though, and their basses seem to work just fine. So, who's to say?:)
Click to expand...

I put a meter across one, years ago, around about the time of the incident to which you refer. There was a resistance so there is the possibility of it acting as some kind of a shiled but certain people, IIRC, reckoned it affected the magnetic field of the magnet!!!
 
#8
When I had them, I found it odd to play them fingerstyle, which is my predominant style. I took the covers off but put them back on and decided I was happier playing Ricks with a pick, often resting the heel of my hand on the cover and picking over the front pup.
 
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#9
Play for a while with it on . Then take it off. Difference in sound = nonexistent. Its a shiny piece of plastic meant to replicate the look of the old horseshoe pup, John Hall is talking sh**, per usual. You can improve the hum a little with shielding, but they are single coils, part of the tradeoff for that classic treble growl. The Tubeampology bezel infill is a nice looking option, and keeps your fingers from catching on the bridge pup surround. Congrats on the 4003w , lovely bass. Never sell it!
 
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#14
FWIW, looks in videos like Squire always played behind the bridge pup with a pick, so the horseshoe pup bars the pup cover on the 4003 is intended to mimic didn't get in HIS way. Kind of like Fender Jazz ashtray bridge and pup covers, looks so cool, but in the way for most people. Post photos of NBD!
 
#15
GIBrat51 said:
On a certain Rickenbacker forum a few years ago, John Hall (RIC's CEO) felt compelled to chime in on a very lively discussion about the cover. He said that YES, it is plastic, but it's some hi-tech plastic that's specially plated with trick stuff; and that it actually does act as an RF/stray cosmic ray/whatever shield.
Click to expand...

What a bunch of malarkey. It's not like they're made of tort.
 
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#17
It's there to block the crooked pickups. :bag:

Didn't mean to start a war, but I actually believe this statement... I only saw one Ric in my life, and the cover was totally in my way. I loved everything about the bass, but I'd bang the cover off with my doorknob before I ever walked in my house. And yes, the pickup was crooked underneath.
 
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