Rickenbacker 4003 bridge pickup died

[garrett77]

Hi all. I picked up the bass yesterday and the bridge pickup was barely making a sound. The switch was also sticking, so I thought easy fix. The switch was easy. But it didn't solve the problem. Odd coincidence. So I tested the impedance. Nothing. (The neck reads 11k ohms.) I clipped the pickup out of the circuit and and tested it again. Nothing.

So… what should I do? Ric sells a replacement, but it is V2. Looks like I'll have to drill new holes? But an easy fix.

Or do I buy another brand?

Or do I buy a neck pickup and finally make that alternative pickguard?

For now, I have a working bass with the neck pickup and a gaping hole.

 

[garrett77]

Or do I repair it?

 

[MrAB4003]

Sorry to hear about your bridge pickup OP! I have two Nordstrand Nordenbockers in my 2022 Ric 4003. It was a customization done by my bass' previous owner who was friends with Carey Nordstrand himself. They sound amazing and they make my bass pretty unique among Rickenbackers.

Nordenbockers are technically neck pickups. But they sound fantastic in the bridge position too! I would have never known that my bridge pickup was meant for the neck had I not traded for my bass and met Carey Nordstrand 3 years ago.

Nordenbocker - Rickenbacker™ Neck Replacement

Love your hi-gain Rickenbacker™ 4003 bridge pickup, but the neck pickup is a little lo-gain? Here is the answer! The Big Single is available in Ric size.

nordstrandaudio.com

 

[kodiakblair]

Or do I repair it?

Either you do or hand it to a pickup winder.


Tom Brantley quotes $80 + shipping for rewinding Ric pickups.

Rickenbacker — Purchase New Guitar Pickups

tombrantleyrewinds.com

 

[garrett77]

Tom Brantley quotes $80 + shipping for rewinding Ric pickups.

This is a great option. Thanks.

 

[garrett77]

Sorry to hear about your bridge pickup OP! I have two Nordstrand Nordenbockers in my 2022 Ric 4003. It was a customization done by my bass' previous owner who was friends with Carey Nordstrand himself. They sound amazing and they make my bass pretty unique among Rickenbackers.

Nordenbockers are technically neck pickups. But they sound fantastic in the bridge position too! I would have never known that my bridge pickup was meant for the neck had I not traded for my bass and met Carey Nordstrand 3 years ago.

Nordenbocker - Rickenbacker™ Neck Replacement

Love your hi-gain Rickenbacker™ 4003 bridge pickup, but the neck pickup is a little lo-gain? Here is the answer! The Big Single is available in Ric size.

nordstrandaudio.com

Good to know. Thanks. I get the feeling the Ric pickups are interchangeable anyway, so this makes sense.

 

[garrett77]

Update. I removed the electric tape and exposed the coil. I found a loose end - Rick wire is thinner than human hair... The lead wire rests on the coil under the tape. Not ideal… just another Rick thing.

I wrapped the loose end on the end of the lead wire and soldered (after sanding the lead wire a little). The pickup wire is so thin that I couldn't tell if I actually soldered it securely, and I didn't want to add a big blob of solder - but the 13 kohm reading was a good sign. Wrapped the coil with electric tape and reassembled the bass, checking the impedance and continuity along the way. The bass works again. The pickup is loud. I wasn't expecting it to work…