Horseshoes crooked

sinjunkie · Post by **sinjunkie** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 6:43 am

Sorry if this has been covered….
I have a brand new 4001C64 and the horseshoes don’t line up one is slightly forward or is that the other is slightly back?.... well either way. Also one is slightly higher then the other.
I’m sure this is only an ascetic problem and has no affect on the sound … BUT IT BUGS ME.
Is it easily fixed or does it need it go back to the factory?
I like the bass and waited a long time to get it in, but I’m a little disappointed with the finish work and lack of attention to detail and other issues like:
The front pickup does not sit straight
The toggle switch won’t stay in the up passion
Dry wax buildup along the frets
I will call Kenny if I have to, but I was just hoping I can “tweak” a screw here and there so I don’t have to ship it.

jps · Post by **jps** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 5:28 pm

I wouldn't worry about the HS pickup looking the way it does, that makes it more authentic to the '60s pickups in look.

sinjunkie · Post by **sinjunkie** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 11:19 am

thanks for the photo Jps of course Mine isn't that bad.
I guess I was just expecting more with everyone always saying how good the Qty. is on theses instruments.
On the plus side the bass is very comfortable, it is easy to play and sounds just great through the Ampeg B100R can't wait to try a set of flatwounds on it.
here are a couple of photos I don't know about you but I just love seeing photos of Rickenbackers

jps · Post by **jps** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 4:44 pm

You can get those to line up, all you need to do is loosen the mounting screws for the shoes and rotate them. As far as one being higher than the other, one of the shoes has the wiring for the pickup under it deliberately to act as a strain relief; this is normal.

jnbass · Post by **jnbass** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 4:52 pm

my toggle had that problem.

Since it had no warranty, I took off the scratch plate and cleaned the contacts that the switch rotated on.

Voila!

Of course doing so may ruin your coverage-if still under.

jnbass · Post by **jnbass** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 4:57 pm

oh yeah,

there's a ball end that may need tightening

sinjunkie · Post by **sinjunkie** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 11:17 pm

Thanks for the tips

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Sat Sep 16, 2006 6:21 am

I would hardly chalk up ever-so-slightly misaligned horseshoes as "lesser quality". As JH, would say, "It's just the nature of the beast".

sinjunkie · Post by **sinjunkie** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 4:35 pm

a little up-date... I pulled the pickguard to check if I could see why the neck pickup was at such a steep front to rear angle.
I found that one of the two screws that mount the pickup were cross threaded from the factory.
I was lucky enough to find a tap small enough in my old tool box and cleaned up the threads.
I just wanted to share my fix in case anyone else is experiencing the same problem with the neck pickup.

beatlefreak · Post by **beatlefreak** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 5:26 pm

Good deal, David. It's always nice to find solutions to problems that keep bugging you.

rickfan63 · Post by **rickfan63** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 8:11 am

That bass looks great to me. The toggle switch and toaster issues are simple to fix. The cap issue was the only thing that bugged me on mine. Once bypassed though, the real character of the bass came out. A fine instrument indeed! You will throughly enjoy it.

rickysyurbass · Post by **rickysyurbass** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 1:49 pm

I had an RM 1999 that had the magnets not lineing up, just as you described, and they were a bit annoying to me, but I wouldn't worry about it. Its just how they come from the factory.

RYB