Treble Pickup Cover Question

rob · Post by **rob** » Tue May 22, 2001 9:08 am

I've recently purchased a chrome pickup cover for my 4001. After inspecting it, it appears to be a cheap piece of metal. This really suprised me because being that new Rics aren't really cheap in price. The question is are the pickup covers made today are any different than the ones of years ago? If so, when was the change and why?

lucien_s · Post by **lucien_s** » Tue May 22, 2001 10:07 am

The one on my '99 4003 wasn't even metal, it was made out of plastic.

Not to worry, though, the bass itself is the same superb build quality...

LS

cat_sausage · Post by **cat_sausage** » Tue May 22, 2001 3:35 pm

I believe that the covers have always been made out of plastic, because they redesigned the horseshoe pickup to work without the horseshoe magnets and because most players would rather have better playability by removing the cover . That is why it is made out of plastic, it is just a fake horseshoe magnet that can be removed for better playing ease.

rob · Post by **rob** » Tue May 22, 2001 6:38 pm

My answer to Lucien is that I believe that reverting to a plastic cover rarther than a metal one is the begining of the devalue of the quality. The rest of the guitar itself may in fact be of supurb quality, but once we let these companies resort to cheaper quality parts,(although this might save them money) whose to say that they won't go cheap on something else? I don't know how you feel, but I work very hard for my little over minimum wage job. So when I fork over almost $1000 for a guitar, I want the best a grand can afford. I guess I'll accept this plastic cover for now, but if I ever find a metal one (and I know they made them) I'm getting one. If anyone knows of one in good condition, please let me know.

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Wed May 23, 2001 1:44 am

I replaced one of these in 1980 for my '79 4001...I ordered it straight from Rickenbacker and even then they were lightweight in construction; not the same gauge of metal used in the rest of the pickup--it may even be a metal-coated plastic, but I don't think so..if you want the "feel" of thick metal components you may want to think about finding a nice second-hand 4001V63, which is made like they were 'back in the day', with the horseshoe pickup in the treble position. Good Luck!!!

racket · Post by **racket** » Wed May 23, 2001 6:36 am

Being an Engineer, I run across this "perception of quality" problem often. Robert Fronckowiak said "...once we let these companies resort to cheaper quality parts..." Why is a chromed plastic pickup cover cheaper quality? Do they break? Does the chrome chip off? I've never heard of problems with these parts (which doesn't mean they don't exist). Just because something is metal, doesn't mean its better.

rob · Post by **rob** » Wed May 23, 2001 6:44 am

In response to racket, that is the attitude that companies want you to have so they can make more money on cheaper quality parts. And also, when making occasional pickup height adjustments, which do you think will wear out first? Metal or cheap plastic?

majbak · Post by **majbak** » Wed May 23, 2001 8:08 am

I have basses from the 60's 70's 80's and 90's,and apart from the horseshoe none of these covers are metal,just chromed plastic.

SixtyFour · Post by **SixtyFour** » Wed May 23, 2001 9:09 am

Regarding the treble pu cover, yes it is chrome covered plastic. 98 % of the time this cover is removed from the instrument as evident by so many piictures of the 4001 or 4003 sans cover. Most Rick basses auctioned on Ebay rarely have this cover, in fact i've seen mentioned by the seller, "includes pu cover" ! When Rickenbacker ceased production of the now famous "horseshoe" pu, cir 1968, i think the reason for the plastic cover was to retain resemblence of the "old style" hs pu, while using the more modern designed hi-gain treble pu. My $ .05 worth, tnx

racket · Post by **racket** » Thu May 24, 2001 6:32 am

Just to stoke the fire... "...which do you think will wear out first? Metal or cheap plastic?" Often the answer to this question doesn't make any real world difference. These parts don't wear out. Sure the metal would last longer, but if the difference is the plastic lasts for 400yrs and the metal lasts 1000yrs, who cares?

rob · Post by **rob** » Thu May 24, 2001 7:35 am

I do.

rob · Post by **rob** » Thu May 24, 2001 7:45 am

I also want to add that I do understand Phil's idea, but I just wanted to make a point that I would prefer a metal cover rather than plastic. I guess I'm making a big deal out of nothing, but it was only a thought. Other than that, my 4001 is a really good instrument.

admin · Post by **admin** » Thu May 24, 2001 7:48 am

Robert: There can be no doubt that plastics have been substituted for metal parts in many industries and I guess that the guitar industry is no exception. I hear what you are saying. I too like chrome parts on guitars and am glad that Rickenbacker continues to offer the bridge cover for guitars in chrome. I have learned to accept my black plastic pickup cover on my 4003 but confess that I would opt for a metal one if it was available. So here we are once again at the crossroads of the functional versus the aesthetic. In a rather humorous moment at the garage last fall I asked the technician if I should use a plastic or a metal receptacle on my trailer hitch. His replay was "Well that would depend, do you want it to rust off or break off." While I realize that this is less than a perfect analogy I have been reminded of this man's question to me on several occasions over the past six months. Your point is well taken. Living in a plastic house and driving a plastic car and going to work on a plastic computer may work but there does seem to be something "temporary" about it.

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Thu May 24, 2001 7:52 am

What's the term.....'Planned Obsolecense'???

rob · Post by **rob** » Thu May 24, 2001 8:16 am

Yes, Planned Obsolescence is the right term for it. Believe it or not, I work at a Plastic Injection Molding factory. I'm not trying to be a hypocrit, since the plastic business is earning me a paycheck, but I often find myself thinking back when almost everything was made more "Durable." Why do we need Airbags? Because our plastic bumpers smash to pieces at 5mph.