Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I am searching for a horseshoe bridge bobbin for my 1965 4001. Any suggestions on how to begin this search? I use this bass for recording and am interested in trying to make it sound as original as possible. Thanks!

I would try to contact Sergio Silva on this site.

viewforum.php?f=33

To steal a line from "Taken", "Good luck".

You will be very hard-pressed to locate such a bobbin. What you need is a raised lip black plastic bobbin, if you want to be 100% correct.

Like this. If you want to be 100% correct, the only way you can do this easily, relatively, is find a 1963-67 6 string lap steel, cannibalize it, and have the bobbin converted to a 4 pole bass bobbin. The lapsteel bobbin height will need to be reduced as well. If being 100% does not bother you then Tom Brantley, Jason Lollar, Classic Amplification, of Sergio can build you a bobbin. It would be 100% correct but unless you are looking at it you won't be able to tell.

Sepp

Thanks! THIS IS GREAT FEEDBACK. Is eBay the best place to look? Of the names you suggested for bobbin builders any one particularly a good match?

Jonleiders@aol.com wrote:Of the names you suggested for bobbin builders any one particularly a good match?

Jason Lollar makes great magnetic horseshoe pickups himself, and I would expect him to know quite a bit about the horseshoe pickup. The bobbins he makes for his own HS pickup have adjustable pole screws. In my experience HS pickups can be very sensitive to string height, small variation being very noticeable, so I find the ability to fine tune the pole screws very useful.

Brad at Classic Amplification makes great pickups, great guy to communicate with, and will wind pickups the way you like them.

I have no experience with those other guys.

In my experience HS pickups can be very sensitive to string height, small variation being very noticeable, so I find the ability to fine tune the pole screws very useful.

I agree 100%! I got to the point where I took the HS out of my bass. Uneven string response and some kind of polarity issue made it unbearable. Maybe I should try Lollar's HS. Adjustable poles would be great!

Check this thread out. Down in there are pix of a converted lap-steel bobbin.

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=407260

teeder wrote:

In my experience HS pickups can be very sensitive to string height, small variation being very noticeable, so I find the ability to fine tune the pole screws very useful.

I agree 100%! I got to the point where I took the HS out of my bass. Uneven string response and some kind of polarity issue made it unbearable.

That is unfortunate that you had that kind of experience with one. The rebuilt one I got is nothing like that. Here is a (longish) sound sample that demonstrates the pickup in my old V63. The first part is just the scatterwound toaster, the middle is with both the toaster and the horseshoe, an the third part (except for the very end when I put the toaster back in) is just the horseshoe. I used a pick for this random noodlefest and varied between picking on both sides of the horseshoes.

TI Jazz Rounds, too. .0047µF cap in line with the horseshoe pickup.

Edit: the cap was not in this bass, I was thinking of the '73 4001 it is currently residing in that has the cap in-line, sorry.

I won't rate one of the pick up companies against the other. They are all quite suitable.

From a price point, the Lollar will run you $600.00 or $700.00 for the whole nine yards. That is a complete horseshoe magnet and bobbin assembly. A 63-66 lapsteel will cost you between 300-600 plus the cost to convert it. if you are looking for a completely stock horsie appearance, the lap steel is the only way to go. Lollars, Classic, and Brantley's bobbins will not look like it belongs in a vintage bass. that's not a knock on them, they just can't manufacture the raised lip bobbin.

Sepp

Here is a Sergio Silva rebuild with the 'lip' on 1963 shoes....

Here is a 2014 Lollar...
IMO, you won't be disappointed with either one.

jps wrote:Edit: the cap was not in this bass, I was thinking of the '73 4001 it is currently residing in that has the cap in-line, sorry.

Wait, it was late when I wrote that, the cap is certainly in place on this recording; I had it backwards!

Those raised lip Bobbins are made from vacuum form patterns...I recently found out this info from the guy who worked on McCartney's bass at the Rick Factory and also rebuilt and refinished Squire's bass...If ONLY someone could find or make the Vacuum form pattern....I know of a couple of shops that could pop out a bunch!!!!