1973 4001 Pickup Cover options/variations?

[RickenTom]

Hey guys,

I'm still new to the forum but have done a little homework here. Back in the mid 70s, I had a 4001 Rick and now have another one coming tomorrow. It is missing the chrome pickup cover. I would like to get a correct replacement for it.
My new Rick is a 73 4001. The Rick I had so many years ago had a cover but thought it was metal (maybe not), not plastic. Since I joined this forum, I did some reading and I think there are about 3 different covers? Maybe 2?
A chrome metal cover.
A chrome plastic cover.
And a chrome cover with a split in the middle (like two pieces).
Can some shed some history on these different covers and what was actually installed on the 73 4001?
I'm looking for one by the way

I appreciate your help thanks in advance,
Tom

[johnallg]

Tom, the covers are plastic but plated chrome. There were two different height covers. Back in the early 70s the covers were not as tall as today's covers are. Not sure of the date but '73 is in the ballpark. Someone will chime in with the correct info I am sure.

[cjj]

The "two piece" covers with the split are "horseshoes". On the originals, these were the magnets for the pickup. On the reissues ones they are just for looks...

[Dave Scantland]

My 1973 had chromed plastic (since lost, along with approximately 342 odd socks). But from what I can tell, '73 was an odd year for some details.

[rickenbrother]

You can out a new treble pickup cover on a 4001, it will just be a bit taller than the ones from the early '70's. Only knowledgeable people would be able to tell the difference, other than the cover looking new compared to the rest of the 4001.
There was a short time, I think 70 -72 or maybe earlier(?)...when the higain pickup cover was metal. There was a forum member who used to post here regularly, who was going loan a metal treble pickup cover to RIC so they could perfectly recreate it to the same spec. I could be wrong, but I don't think he ever sent it.

[RickenTom]

Thank you very much for your input.
Now I've seen the mount look different on the covers. One is more of a quare shape on each end and the other is a angled shape, again at the mounting area. What is the difference there? Sorry, that was one of the original questions I had but forgot.
Thanks again for everyones inputs.

Tom

[antipodean]

The old low-profile cover was designed to sit on top of the springs in the treble pickup assembly, and as a result stays in a fixed position irrespective of the height of the pickup. The newer cover sits underneath the springs on two spacers about 1/2 cm high and moves as the pickup is raised or lowered. To get a factory look for the new cover using an old style base plate you will need to source the spacers to fit the 10/32 pickup mounting screws.

I believe the change to the high-rise cover came around no earlier than '75. My Sep '74 had the low-rise cover.

Edit: here is a diagram for the 4003 treble pickup assembly showing the new base plate with the spacers/grommets.

[FretlessOnly]

I too am looking for a '73 pickup cover (see viewtopic.php?f=12&t=395310). You can use either the older shorter version or a newer taller version; the difference being where you put the cover in the assembly relative to the baseplate, bushing and springs (and the short ones don't move when adjusting pickup height). Explained further here: viewtopic.php?f=13&t=395262.

There is a forum member with one from later in '73 (a short one). I think I want one that's in a bit better shape:

viewtopic.php?f=17&t=395970&p=631816#p631816

A nicer one sold for $40 on ebay a few days ago and I missed out on it.

[bails]

I think there are about 3 different covers? Maybe 2?
A chrome metal cover.
A chrome plastic cover.
And a chrome cover with a split in the middle (like two pieces).

There was a short time, I think 70 -72 or maybe earlier(?)...when the higain pickup cover was metal. There was a forum member who used to post here regularly, who was going loan a metal treble pickup cover to RIC so they could perfectly recreate it to the same spec. I could be wrong, but I don't think he ever sent it.

I remember JH's post asking for this, but I don't think there was clear consensus as to whether the metal covers ever really existed...

A quick search of the forum brings up a number of mentions, but no apparent photos or confirmations of anyone with a metal 4001 pick-up cover.

... have read elsewhere that Rickenbacker (at around the time Horseshoes were withdrawn on the 4001) between 1969 and v. early 70's did issue some high gain Bridge pickups with replica metal horseshoes (non functional) in order to look like the old horseshoe...

.... soon after moving to a one piece cover and then the plastic chromed cover...

My Dec 68 has to be one of the first with the cover, and I'm sure that's still chrome over plastic.

Oddly enough, I have a vague memory of actually seeing one sometime way back. Probably sometime in the 70's back when I used to play lots of gigs, I seem to remember comparing my '74 4001 with someone else and noting the plastic vs. metal cover.

Can anyone confirm?

[cjj]

Can't confirm, still just a vague memory... 'Course, lots of my memories from the '70s are pretty vague...

[johnallg]

I remember JH's post asking for this, but I don't think there was clear consensus as to whether the metal covers ever really existed...

Can anyone confirm?

Mark. that's how I remember it going too.

[bails]

Is it fair to say that in the absense of any tangible evidence, there is no possibility of a conviction?

I'm not ruling out the possibility of a prototype or one off, but if none of us own one, nor has a photo of one, nor even a strong memory of one, I would assume that metal 4001 pickup covers certainly never existed in mainstream production.

In addition to the lack of evidence in favour of, Wints' '68 with a plastic cover is pretty strong (and most certainly tangible) evidence against there ever being metal 4001 pickup covers.

If the best evidence in favour of metal covers are vague memories, then I suggest one of the following explanations:

1. Plastic covers were assumed to be metal because they looked like metal, and the memory stuck.
2. The instruments in question were fakers (some of which certainly have come out with metal covers).
3. The instruments in question were real Ricks with fake metal covers.
4. The whole metal 4001 pickup cover idea was a contagious figment of someone's imagination (or possibly a CIA cover-up linked to JFK), which spread throughout the world like a virus, praying on the minds of innocent musicians and Rickenbacker history buffs alike.

Thoughts?
JH?

[cjj]

I'll go with number 2. My memory is that the cover was sheet metal, with bent over edges on the sides giving a look of thickness. As for whether the bass was a faker, I'm sure I didn't know enough about Ricks at the time to be able to determine that, even if it had a maple fretboard (no, I have absolutely no memory of the fretboard). In any case, it certainly could have been a fake, back then, I had no idea anyone would even try to fake a guitar...

[RickenTom]

it certainly could have been a fake, back then, I had no idea anyone would even try to fake a guitar...

But what is the chance of fakers being made back in the late 70s & early 80s? Technology today makes it much easier (machines,computers,internet), but then again that's just my opinion.

It's still interesting to hear peoples thoughts/experience.

[cjj]

it certainly could have been a fake, back then, I had no idea anyone would even try to fake a guitar...

But what is the chance of fakers being made back in the late 70s & early 80s? Technology today makes it much easier (machines,computers,internet), but then again that's just my opinion.

It's still interesting to hear peoples thoughts/experience.

Well, that's exactly the time period when Hoshino/Ibanez was really getting into the copying mode. For instance, Norlin/Gibson sued Elger/Ibanez in 1977 over the shape of the headstock. So, the possibility of Rick copies during this time is very real. I'm not sure when the Rickenbacker lawsuits happened...