N.O.S. Holy Grail

bear · Post by **bear** » Sun Mar 14, 2004 3:20 pm

Andrew,

I remember that thread and also remember cringing at the thought of messing up the process.
Even scarier now that I own a set.
I have had a couple of offers from some respected people that are willing to do a recharge for me, I also believe they have a few under their belts as well.
More punch, better dynamics and harmonics is what I am told the recharge would do for them.

bear · Post by **bear** » Sun Mar 14, 2004 3:23 pm

Andrew,
Does the polishing of your shoes end abruptly, before going under the bottom bend?
Looking very bumpy like the inside of the shoes?

headbanger · Post by **headbanger** » Mon Mar 15, 2004 4:52 am

Steve, it'll work a treat for sure, no need to recharge that one yet! That pitted look tells these from the reissues, plus the shape. Haven't you got anything, a 4001/3 you can drop it into for a test run?
You are so lucky...

bear · Post by **bear** » Mon Mar 15, 2004 1:45 pm

Thanks Gerry,

Memory was a little fuzzy on that pitted look.
Last time I saw a real one was in the day.
Yes I dropped them into a project bass and they sound so good there are no words to describe them. AbsofRICKENBACKERfantastic comes to mind though. No cap on the test run but I can now understand the allure of the 4000 series.
Both PUPS are very much alive and well.
Off to the shop to get them measured tomorrow. I'll post the findings when I get back.

ken_james · Post by **ken_james** » Tue Mar 16, 2004 6:27 am

Let us know about the folks that offered a recharge, some of us have old horseshoes that need a boost.

wints · Post by **wints** » Tue Mar 16, 2004 7:58 am

Steve, I,ll look at my shoes later tonight. The chrome is pitted and worn off in places. Someone who wore a lot of jewelery/rings played on them a lot a long time ago...I,ll send a couple of pics hopefully.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Tue Mar 16, 2004 8:31 am

my 1968 horseshoe pickup ....

bear · Post by **bear** » Tue Mar 16, 2004 12:28 pm

Interesting shot Jeff.
No lip on yours above the bobbin.

bear · Post by **bear** » Tue Mar 16, 2004 12:31 pm

For those that asked a picture is still worth a 1000 words.

bear · Post by **bear** » Tue Mar 16, 2004 2:12 pm

dedgoat,

You can try the following links for Horseshoe re-charges:
Lollar Guitars
Lindy Fralin

This is what Jason Lollar had to say in a recent note from him regarding the horseshoe:

"HMM... that readings higher than I expected perhaps that is 44 gauge wire. The later model 1-1/4" 8 string steel guitars are only a little higher than that with 42 gauge and the coil is much longer.

Recharging, sure I can do that no problem,you would be amazed when they have been recharged, they are normally about 30% down from what they would be like new and it really makes the tone more detailed.
Price would depend on if I just get the shoes or if I have to take the pickup apart which is really the best way- have me take it apart and put it back together- $40 if I do that plus shipping. You can discharge them really easily if you dont know what to do and that bobbin- sometimes they are just about ready to fall apart."

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Tue Mar 16, 2004 4:26 pm

Those are almost the exact readings of my 79 4001 which sounds like an old Ric, very brilliant tone, even with TI's on it non-capped. I think my treble pickup is 7.03K and my bass pickup is right about 7.5K

wints · Post by **wints** » Tue Mar 16, 2004 4:28 pm

Steve, I think a few of us thought the horseshoes ran a little higher..about 7.4, which is very close to the toasters with stock 44 wire. I read somewhere that Squire,s was rewound at 6.8, hence the "bark", but for most that was thought to be underwound. It just goes to prove that the pick ups from this era are all a little different. Probably no two the same. I had one of my bobbins rebuilt and rewound a couple of years ago. Mark Arnquist did a brilliant job of rebuilding the bobbin to make it look original, and then wound it to 7.4 with 44 wire. It had been "rewound/rebuilt" by a guy in the U.K. in the late 80,s who ruined it. I was convinced it would never be the same again until I found this forum. I have the pics I think on my old computer, I,ll try and get them up here. What I must do is measure the other RM1999 I have in the U.K. which is all original and see what the rating is on those P/U,s.

wints · Post by **wints** » Tue Mar 16, 2004 4:36 pm

A bit more on the bobbins...Jeff,s 68 is the same as my 68 transitional hi-gain. The black lipped bobbins had gone by then. I don,t know when they changed over. If someone had a 65/66/67 here with the original horseshoe we might know, but finding a bass from those years with the stock P/U is very difficult. Mike Parks is getting a 66 in I think. It would be good to know which bobbin this bass has...Trouble is he wants $7.5K for it I think...

wints · Post by **wints** » Wed Mar 17, 2004 12:30 am

O.K...Here,s my horseshoe

wints · Post by **wints** » Wed Mar 17, 2004 12:33 am

One more...