Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

For some reason the leads don't look right, I thought they used a grey coating on the wires?

4.8k omns ... it should be 6k or higher ... ric pickups have sheilded wiring ... like an instrument cable ... also the buttons look a little too big ....

What model does it come from ... a Rickenfaker?

Like I said, let's assume the pickup is totally stock and the seller measured it correctly. Forget the magnet, it doesn't affect ohmage; forget the output leads; forget the polepieces, which I'm sure are original; forget even the black electrician's tape, which appears to be non-original, which could mean either the pickup was rewound or the original tape gave up the ghost. Assume the thing has never been tampered with. What's the only Rick bass model it could have come from? Don't disappoint me, guys.

4000 DOH!

BINGO!

Assuming that is true, why would Ric put a very trebley sounding pickup on a single pickup bass? I would think it would be the same as their 4001 pickups or even have more windings for more bottom.

The coil assembly for a 4000 was the exact same part as a 4001. Same part number, same stock number, same production runs.

This pickup has been twiddled with and looks to have some serious corrosion issues. It's probably shorted or unwound somewhat.

On a couple of occasions, I read somewhere (maybe it was in this Froum) that typically the ohm rating of the single pickup on the 4000 Model was approx. 4.0 K. Maybe what I read was erroneous information. However, since it is a fact that the 4000 bass never came with the treble-pass capacitor, I believe it stands to reason to think that a clearer-sounding high-gain pickup such as one wound to only 4.0 K would be a natural choice for the 4000 Model. I hope I've made my point.

Just my humble opinion, (and I'm really not trying to P anyone off here) but I think we can trust The owner of Rickenbacker to give out correct information on his own products.

Ive tried a 4000, it sounded thick, like my 73's treble pickup ( that im getting rid of) with its cap removed. Perhaps even thicker than that.

Why would any maker would put a pickup as thin as 4k in a single pickup bass? It would be horrible, i certainly wouldnt want it. The old toasters are 6/7k right? they are low output. a 4k high gain would be awful

Okay, I stand corrected. I believe I've read erroneous information.
As for a 4.0 K treble high-gain not being that hot, may I remind you that it is powered by a very strong magnet, not to mention the fact that on the 4000 Model there is no treble-pass capacitor to somewhat 'tame' the output of the pickup. Output of the old toaster pickups is not specially high because the (six) magnets on them are not too strong. Plus, the coil is not very close to the magnets, which makes for a medium output pickup.

I had the 4.0K 4000, Perhaps it had been rewound, Never the less it sounded great!

Hey, Eden. Thanks.