Why the Pickup Cover?

lyle_from_minneapolis · Thu Jul 05, 2007 6:35 pm

Curious: other than the fact that it looks really cool, what is the purpose of the pickup cover on a 4001?

Sure, some keep it on and use it as a handrest, others take it off because it impedes where they like to hit the strings...let's not get into all of that. The question is, is there a particular purpose for this piece other than the cosmetic aspect?

Thanks...and let the thread drift begin...

!

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Thu Jul 05, 2007 7:48 pm

It is an anachronism ... it is there to make the high gain pickup look like the horseshoe pickup ... back in the late 60s when they switched from a horseshoe to a high gain they put the cover on the replace the shoes ...

ilan · Post by **ilan** » Thu Jul 05, 2007 8:23 pm

I use it as a handrest. Years of playing Fenders with the covers.

IIRC John Hall once posted about installing the cover under the strings, inside the pickup surround, but I've never seen a follow up pic.

mfb · Post by **mfb** » Thu Jul 05, 2007 9:44 pm

What would the purpose of that be, apart from not losing it?

Oh, I see, so you could pluck the strings on that position maybe, but would there be enough clearance to do that? The height adjustment of the p/up and all that ...

86kubicki · Post by **86kubicki** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 12:06 am

I always remove the bridge pickup cover on my Rickenbacker 4001/4003's as thats where I anchor my thumb while playing, (which is why V63's are such a challenge for me to play). Although Pickguardian makes a kit to replace the stock bridge pickup surround, I've always wished there was a RIC solution.

pflash4001 · Post by **pflash4001** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 12:17 am

Is there a way to adjust the gap with the horseshoe p/u? With my '68 4001 it seems like if I have it set high enough to get complete clearance with my low E string, the string will hit the pickup when I play higher than the 12th fret. If I clear it for the string in the higher register, the open string clangs against the horseshoe. Any suggestions?

cheyenne · Post by **cheyenne** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 12:40 am

JH also mentioned that the cover helps shield the pickup from noise.

ilan · Post by **ilan** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 1:05 am

Javier: my guess is that the bass has a high action. Try lowering the action and flattening the neck (if you haven't already done that).

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 3:07 am

my old 68 had a similar problem ...

and the cover is supposed to shield the pickup ... but in reality it does almost nothing when it comes to shielding ...

rickaddict · Post by **rickaddict** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 4:33 am

"Curious: other than the fact that it looks really cool, what is the purpose of the pickup cover on a 4001?"

You think it looks really cool? I think that Rick 4001's and 4003's look just as cool without it, and probably more so. I do think that the horseshoe pickup looks more cool with the shoes on, but I'm more concerned with how my bass plays than how it looks.

pflash4001 · Post by **pflash4001** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 5:18 am

The action on my'68 isn't really high...but I'll check and see if it can be improved a bit. Thanks for the tip...I wouldn't have really thought of that, since it feels good, playingwise.

I think it looks cool. And I don't seem to have any trouble playing with it there, either. I guess I just adjusted to it.

jps · Post by **jps** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 10:33 am

Javier, you can't do this to a real magnetic HS but with my two RI HS pickups I bent the shoes to gain more clearance. It looks better, too!

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 12:23 pm

the old 60s horseshoes are already shaped like that ...

jps · Post by **jps** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 2:59 pm

Not all of them apparently. Chris Squire's is not, for one example.

johnallg · Post by **johnallg** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 3:50 pm

Chris could be playing a RI horsey - he asked for two of them while at the HOB at the 75th.

Is it possible you saw him playing a 4001CS, saving THE BASS from more wear and tear?