The Rickenbacker Club Part Eight

[Kopfjaeger]

amazing 4080.

question - are there any other places to source a replacement treble pickup cover for a 4001 other than pickofthericks? they have been out of stock for a long time!

edit: and to contribute - my 4001's headstock, with a bit of mojo due to it being 13 years older than i..

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Hey, put a shirt on!! LOL!!! They pop up on ebay from time to time. The early 70's covers were shorter and less squared than the newer ones but a new one should work in place of either style. Most people look to get rid of those things, you'd think there would be more of them for sale.

Sepp

 

[thiocyclist]

Niff, I think for your bass you need the older style which will only come up on eBay, or else get a treble pickup bezel from Tubeampology.

 

[shadven]

I know there are likely 50 threads / responses to this question - Truss rod adjustment: My neck is too bowed - I turn both truss rods clockwise, right? And no more than an 1/8 of a turn at a time?

Thanks for your indulgence

 

[shadven]

Other than just removing the pickup cover and leaving the bass looking "unfinished" IMHO, are there any inserts that could be installed so I don't leave a gaping space around the p/u?

 

[rkatapt]

I am fixing to put up for sale my Red 4003. I'm just trying to figure out what exact model it is.
Looking on Rick Resource they have /4, /6 then letter codes. I'm not sure what all that means.

I will soon be, no longer a member of this club.

 

[DaveSill]

Other than just removing the pickup cover and leaving the bass looking "unfinished" IMHO, are there any inserts that could be installed so I don't leave a gaping space around the p/u?

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Available from:

http://www.pickofthericks.com/products/Treble-Bezel-for-Rickenbacker-4003.html

 

[DaveSill]

I am fixing to put up for sale my Red 4003. I'm just trying to figure out what exact model it is.
Looking on Rick Resource they have /4, /6 then letter codes. I'm not sure what all that means.

4003 is a pretty exact model. Are you talking about the serial number and/or year of manufacture? Try the serial number decoder:

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[rkatapt]

4003 is a pretty exact model. Are you talking about the serial number and/or year of manufacture? Try the serial number decoder:

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It also seems the Red color, with black hardware, and black binding is somewhat rare. I've never seen another one in person and only see a photo here and there online.

 

[Kopfjaeger]

I know there are likely 50 threads / responses to this question - Truss rod adjustment: My neck is too bowed - I turn both truss rods clockwise, right? And no more than an 1/8 of a turn at a time?

Thanks for your indulgence

First off, do you own a 4001 or a 4003? Next, by bowed do mean too much relief or back bowed? Too much/excess relief is when the neck bends forward. Backbow is just that, bends backward.

For 4003 (contemporary truss rods) tighten nuts 1/4 turn or so, let rest and check several hours later. If you neck has a tone a relief you can make two or three small adjustments per day. Once it start getting close, let it rest for 12 hours or so to make sure you don't go too far. Make sure your strings are to pitch, each time, when you start adjusting.

Sepp

 

[Kopfjaeger]

It also seems the Red color, with black hardware, and black binding is somewhat rare. I've never seen another one in person and only see a photo here and there online.

I'd say scarce, not rare. They do pop up on ebay now and again. The painted fretboard Red neck's are rare.

Sepp

 

[shadven]

First off, do you own a 4001 or a 4003? Next, by bowed do mean too much relief or back bowed? Too much/excess relief is when the neck bends forward. Backbow is just that, bends backward.

For 4003 (contemporary truss rods) tighten nuts 1/4 turn or so, let rest and check several hours later. If you neck has a tone a relief you can make two or three small adjustments per day. Once it start getting close, let it rest for 12 hours or so to make sure you don't go too far. Make sure your strings are to pitch, each time, when you start adjusting.

Sepp

Too much relief. I have a 4003. Thanks for advice!

 

[Kopfjaeger]

Too much relief. I have a 4003. Thanks for advice!

Not a problem. Too much relief, tighten. For backbow loosen.

Sepp

 

[Niff]

Hey, put a shirt on!! LOL!!! They pop up on ebay from time to time. The early 70's covers were shorter and less squared than the newer ones but a new one should work in place of either style. Most people look to get rid of those things, you'd think there would be more of them for sale.

Sepp

Niff, I think for your bass you need the older style which will only come up on eBay, or else get a treble pickup bezel from Tubeampology.

thanks dudes. my 4001 is a '77 - will the new "4001/4003" ones at pickofthericks not fit at all on it? or will it just look a bit out of place?

i didn't know there was a difference between the sizes, i thought they were all ubiquitous between models old and new!

 

[Kopfjaeger]

thanks dudes. my 4001 is a '77 - will the new "4001/4003" ones at pickofthericks not fit at all on it? or will it just look a bit out of place?

i didn't know there was a difference between the sizes, i thought they were all ubiquitous between models old and new!

The newer style will fit. The older ones from the early 70's were not as tall. I'm not sure when they changed over but the holes both line up and the new one will fit in the surround without issue.

There are several on ebay right now.

Sepp

 

[Niff]

The newer style will fit. The older ones from the early 70's were not as tall. I'm not sure when they changed over but the holes both line up and the new one will fit in the surround without issue.

There are several on ebay right now.

Sepp

lordy, those are expensive on ebay! i didn't realise. i assume the differing heighs won't interfere with my string action at all.

last question, do they require extra screws/springs to install into a 4001, or does it just hook into the bridge surround assembly as is?

thanks everyone!

 

[Drewbacca]

Hey all, another quick question.
So my mono jack is still loose, and while bending it back I'm pretty sure I loosened my bridge ground. Going to put that right, but is there anything I need to do before removing all the strings from my 4001? Never worried about this with my precision but just in case...

 

[Kopfjaeger]

lordy, those are expensive on ebay! i didn't realise. i assume the differing heighs won't interfere with my string action at all.

last question, do they require extra screws/springs to install into a 4001, or does it just hook into the bridge surround assembly as is?

thanks everyone!

For a piece of chrome coated plastic, yup, expensive. If you look at your treble pup through the gaping crevasse you'll see two machine screws within springs. These screws are the same ones that go through the pup surround and adjust the height of your pup. It's not a bad idea to put on new springs while your in there since they can lose their tension. To put the cover on, it's easier to pull the strings off the tuners, unscrew the pup surround, to be able to install the cover without fighting the springs. Dealing with the springs and trying to keep them from flying out with the strings on and surround in place will be frustrating.

Sepp

 

[Kopfjaeger]

Hey all, another quick question.
So my mono jack is still loose, and while bending it back I'm pretty sure I loosened my bridge ground. Going to put that right, but is there anything I need to do before removing all the strings from my 4001? Never worried about this with my precision but just in case...

Normally you can pull off the pickguard with the strings still on. Where do you think the ground pulled off? Dose the amp buzz loudly but quiet right down when you touch the strings??

The ground makes contact with the tailpiece via the mute pad bar. If it has come loose from there, you will need to remove the strings to get the tailpiece off.

Sepp

 

[Drewbacca]

I had removed the pickguard to get at the control cavity while the strings were on. Loud buzzing that quiets when I touch the strings/bridge.
All I really need to know is should I do anything while removing the strings to lessen the tension change on the neck? I'm just unsure because it has the old-style rods.

 

[2nd Wind]

I am fixing to put up for sale my Red 4003. I'm just trying to figure out what exact model it is.
Looking on Rick Resource they have /4, /6 then letter codes. I'm not sure what all that means.

I will soon be, no longer a member of this club.

Early 4003 with the old style truss rods adjustable at the body end, which is why the pickguard is the split one. Use the RIC decoder to get the year and month of manufacture. Rare but not real rare.