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The Rickenbacker Club Part Six

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#741
Hey fellas, anyone know where you can get proper solid metal bridge pickup covers now? I have a '77 4001 that has been through a lot of hands and the cover never made it to me. I'd really like to put one on there and perhaps get a design of some kind etched on there. Is it worth sticking it out on ebay to find an original part, or does anyone machine good solid metal replacements?
 
#742
Niff said:
Hey fellas, anyone know where you can get proper solid metal bridge pickup covers now? I have a '77 4001 that has been through a lot of hands and the cover never made it to me. I'd really like to put one on there and perhaps get a design of some kind etched on there. Is it worth sticking it out on ebay to find an original part, or does anyone machine good solid metal replacements?
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The bridge pup cover has always been plastic since it came out in 1969 (year?). Are you perhaps referring to the original horseshoe pickup you see on the pre-1969 4000/4001, RM 1999, 4001CS, or the re-issues like the 4001v63 or 4001c64? I've only seen one pair of 'shoes' for sale in the past few years, otherwise you have to buy the entire horseshoe pickup, available from the Ric Boutique.
 

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#743
By 1977, RIC had changed from the "squat" PU cover that sits on top of the springs (and does not move with the PU height adjustment) to the slightly taller PU cover that sits under the springs (and moves with PU height adjustment).

Other than 35 years of wear, there's no difference between your 1977 PU cover and one made today. $25 from RIC. Sure, you can hold out for a "vintage" one on ebay, but there's no way to tell what year it is (other than squat vs. tall, which changed in about '74) and the ones I've seen on ebay tend to be very overpriced considering what they are and the lack of any traceable lineage.

And, as jjl said, they are all plastic. '69 is about right for the transition from horseshoe to the currrent style.
 
#744
Thanks for the info guys - the only other Ric I have played besides my own was a friends 4003, and he has informed me that he got a custom machined metal pup cover cause he didn't like the feel of the plastic - I just assumed they all came with metal ones!

Cheers.
 
#746
woodyng said:
FrankieC,it looks like you have taken very good care of those vintage beauties. I wish i still had some of the basses i purchased around the same time you did! That is a beautiful 4001. Does it have the checkerboard binding?
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Since this bass has FWI it does have CB, the FWI went away before the CB during the early Spring of 1973.

My March '73 4001 has both, my former July '73 has CB but the smaller inlays.
 
#748
Spectrum said:
I have thought it would be cool to have a custom pup cover that can clipped on or off quickly without having to take the thing apart. On for looks and pick playing and off for fingers. Make it metal and chrome, and yeah you could engrave on it too.
Click to expand...

I've refined my playing technique to the point where I generally don't pick around the area the cover would obstruct, anyway. My 4001 is pretty beat up and I reckon an etched cover would look pretty boss.
 
#749
Still in Mapleglo heaven.
I'm playing the Ric so much that it took me a few minutes to remember where I place my right hand on the Birdsong.

Can I get a number, please?

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