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Rickenbacker bridge pickup cover: plastic???

bongomania

bongomania

Commercial User
Oct 17, 2005
35,688
3,917
PDX, OR
www.ovnilab.com
Disclosures
owner, OVNIFX and OVNILabs
#1
I have to admit I never closely examined the bridge pup cover on a Ric, as the few I've actually played did not have their pickup cover piece installed at the time. I ordered a brand new one direct from Ric, to go on my modded Electra Ric clone... $28 shipped, seemed a bit high for what I figured was a piece of chromed stamped metal with no moving parts... it arrived today, and it's cheap plastic!!! :mad: What the hizell? Are they like this on all Rics?

03315.jpg


I mean, it looks nice and chromey, and I bought it for the looks, but still...
 
#4
That's right. Every one since the horseshoe went away has been plastic - my 74 is. But at least it's chrome plated plastic.
At some point since mine they thickened that plastic cover up a bit. I'm not sure when that was but it looks clunkier.
FranF said:
Yep! Plastic since late 1968 I believe, with the demise of the horseshoe pickup. I love the look and keep them on any Ric I currently or have owned.
Click to expand...
 
#7
The old Rics had the horsehoe pickup. The horseshoe pickup had magnetized steel shoes. Late 1968 about November I think they started putting in high gain pickups in the 4001 basses. They put a cover on that resembles the horseshoe pickup. For a very short time these covers were actually metal. These metal covers are quite rare as are the original high gains with the adjustable pole pieces. But since 1969 or 1970 the pickup cover has been plastic. Pretty much every Rickenbacker owner removes the cover.
 
#14
Yuk yuk yuk ;) Reminds me of the old gag: A guy goes into an auto parts store and says "I'd like a rear view mirror for my Yugo." Guy behind the counter thinks about it for a minute, and says "OK, sounds like a fair trade."

In fact though the better quality old Ric clones are now selling for around $500-$700.
 
#15
Back in the 70s I had an Electra 4001 copy, the action was BAD but I imagine it coulda been improved if I'd known how at the time. took another year before I got the real deal, a white 4001 with black plastics and binding.
 
#18
5string5fingers said:
hahaha sorry thats hilarious. I seriously can't believe that thing is plastic? Someone pays that much to a ric to have parts on it be plastic??
Click to expand...

Yeah, we are such morons. The only reason we bought them was in the hopes that despite knowing better, we would get one with an ultra rare metal pup cover, knobs made out of platinum and a pickguard made of whalebone. HAte to break it to you, but tort Pickguards are plastic too. AS a matter of fact I suspect they may not even make piano keys out of elephant ivory anymore?
 
#19
bongomania said:
I have to admit I never closely examined the bridge pup cover on a Ric, as the few I've actually played did not have their pickup cover piece installed at the time. I ordered a brand new one direct from Ric, to go on my modded Electra Ric clone... $28 shipped, seemed a bit high for what I figured was a piece of chromed stamped metal with no moving parts... it arrived today, and it's cheap plastic!!! :mad: What the hizell? Are they like this on all Rics?

03315.jpg


I mean, it looks nice and chromey, and I bought it for the looks, but still...
Click to expand...
Rickenbacker started making these out of plastic sometime in late 1973 or '74. They had previously made them out of thin chromeplated metal, after discontinuing the horseshoes, which I understand had a tendency to de-gauss.
 

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