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Rickenbacker Pickup covers.

powellmacaque

powellmacaque

Aug 16, 2006
925
17
36
Clearwater, FL
#1
I am planning on getting a Rickenbacker in 2010. I play my drummer's dad's here and there and I really love the tone, the neck, the binding, the looks. Basically everything that's "love or hate" about a Rick, I love. The only thing that kind of bugs me are the pickup covers.

I'm not sure if my friend's dad has a 4003 or 4001 (or if it even matters), but he removed the pickup cover on his bass. While I understand these things are a hassle when they're on, the chrome around the pickups tend to slice my finger (I anchor my thumb on the neck pickup) so I think I'd leave it on to stop that.

How difficult are these basses to play with the pickup covers on? Any hints on where to place my thumb? I would like to be able to use all of my technique when playing (I play about 60% fingerstyle, 25% slap, 15% pickstyle) so is that doable with the pickup cover still in place? If not, how do I avoid slicing my finger on the chrome pieces?
 
#4
I immediately removed the cover when I bought my 4001 32 years ago. Too confining. I also immediately added a custom made thumb rest at the top edge of the pick guard. I only recently discover the pickguardian cover to hide the big ugly hole around the bridge pickup. I love it.

image0001.jpg
 
#5
Be careful. The bridge "pickup cover" on vintage 4001's (and also on reissues like the late 90's 4001V63 I have) is really the "horseshoe" magnet assembly for the pickup:
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On 4003's, it's just a cover though:
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drewfx
 
#10
I too have just purchased a bezel and installed it on my '06 4003. Looks great and is IMO far preferable, aesthetically, to the pickguardian of yore (plastic OD!). Moreover, the tubeampology.com chap was a pleasure to deal with, and provided a lightening-fast turn around on my order to boot.
All in all, an outstanding new solution to what is perceived by many to be an inherent design flaw in another wise fine instrument. Bravo!
:hyper:
 
#12
I've always played mine with the cover on. I like it. It's a comfy place to rest your hand.

You can go the pickguardian route, or you can lower the cover all the way down so it's covering the PUP, and underneath the strings. That's kind of a cool look too.
 
#13
I would like to offer my solution for the gap formed when the chrome bridge pu cover is removed. To each their own, but I am one of many in the 'remove the cover' camp. I like the way the cover looks, but I like to play right over the bridge pu for tone and string feel and the cover is just in the way for me. I think the Tube Ampology bevel piece is a well designed mod, but like some players use the inside of the chrome housing piece to 'hook' my pinky on while finger-playing, which is eliminated once the bevel is installed. Nice looking aesthetically, but not for me functionally speaking and it costs $30. I can see how the pickguardian works well, but I like the original RIC chrome housing piece look better. The best design solution always comes down to the happy marriage of function and aesthetics.., and of course cost.
So, here's the fix if you are a bit creatively inclined. I bought some inexpensive craft black felt sheets (9"X12") that are very thin (16th inch) and backed by a thin slick white paper. It's sticky backed if you pull the paper, but you don't need to. The paper helps when you cut the form out and keeps it somewhat rigid when installed. Basically you cut the shape to fit tightly inside the chrome housing, and slit & cut to fit around the adjustment poles. Then you cut out the pu shape to fit snugly. (slightly smaller opening than the top plate of the pu) Since the material stretches, it's a simple matter to fit the form around the pu and to it's settling place on the inside of the chrome housing. Done! The felt is very black/dark (looks almost like velvet) and hides all the innards. It's thin and allows access to hooking your fingers on the inside edge of the housing w/o disrupting it. The whole process took a matter of minutes, and the material is so cheap, you can cut out a few as backups to use once they get a little old looking.

Sorry for the long post, but maybe it will help save you a few bucks.
 
#15
The Tubeampology Bezel for 4003 is great. I have three. I prefer them to the Pickguardian solution even though I have used Pickguradian for other services. I also think the Tubeampology part is easier to install by conforming to the stock surround than fitting the altogether new Pickguardian surround.

steveinohio said:
What about grounding with the Pickguardian mod? This is about the only thing thats stopped me from doing it. Could I use sheilding tape and achieve the same results?
Click to expand...

Yeah, line the back with copper and attach the ground eyelet from the pickup and you're done.
 

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