Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I've read somewhere here that it adds a little bit to the sound, something like the horseshoes non-magnetic pieces that focus the vibrations of the string so the pickup gets the sound from more than one axis. But it was also said that it was negligible. It is also supposed to make it a little quieter because there is some conductive material in the cover and it is also grounded like the later horseshoes. I can't tell because I usually pluck right over or near that pickup, so with a cover on my sound changes anyway. To me it is right in the sweet spot for picking and plucking.

well my 4003 has the black hardware, and the cover is literally a piece of black plastic. So no way can that affect sound But yeah the chrome ones are copper then chrome plated.

another cover issue. on my 4001, the cover is installed above the springs. Its permanantly in the right height and theres the right clearance above the strings. I can also adjust the pickup to any height and the cover stays still.

On my 4003, the cover sits below the springs and goes up and down with the pickup adjustment. If i set the pickup at the best height , the strings (mostly A) hit the cover, I need to raise it to stop the hitting, and then the pickup is too high and too loud.

So....even if i liked the cover, theres no way id leave it on my 4003

They come so they will adjust with the pickup. You must like your treble pickup low. Your 4001 has the cover installed wrong.

well the sides of my 4001's cover (down to the screw holes) aint as long as on the 4003 cover
It cant reach that far into the cavity.

No joke - they are different sizes

No, i like it high but on my 4003 it just gets too loud. On my 4001 its real high

counterfeit!! no is a joke , no I've never seen one that old. you think it's original? Anyone else know anything about this?? I have a bunch of them at home and I've never noticed any size difference, but as I said I don't think any of them are that old.

The cover of my '98 was installed above the springs by the factory. My '86 Shadow (plain black plastic cover) came like that too, even though she was pre-owned. The cover didn't move when pickup height was being adjusted. And I've been thinking that's the proper way. Though I removed the cover from both soon after I got them anyway.

The cover of my '72 came that way too. I wanted to keep it on as I'd with play her with fingers mostly, but it was too tall for my liking, visually. So I cut two 1/2" long pieces off a black gas hose that had the right diameter and inserted them above the cover. Now the cover is very low without touching the strings when played. It stays put when pickup height is being adjusted.

Bob ! ill even be really sad and photo them side by side!

on my 73 (tho i dont use it) the cover is installed with the flared out bits FLUSH against the chrome surround. It is always at the proper height and looks just like pauls photo

except that the plastic is slightly thinner.

yes.....i have a lot of time on my hands

But i wanted to prove im not going crazy here

Holy Mama!
Man, that's gotta be the shortest cover I've ever seen!

lol yeah but it works fine, it cant be just me that has one like that?

You've got yourself a super rare cover, Owen.

ooooo lucky me!! Gosh, im so happy! haha does this mean i get inducted into the Rickenbacker hall of fame under " world's shortest pickup cover award - Owen Elkan 2003"?

Yeah, that's strange Owen, I've never seen one like that, and I've never seen a Ric from the factory with a cover mounted so it didn't move with the pickup, but then again Pauls photo looks correct to me. I've seen them before with the cover with the cover very high, ahh maybe I'm crazy like mi esposa!

By the cover being high I meant really high so it didn't look correct.

Maybe i have discovered yet another early 70's 4001 quirk, after all, John Hall once stated the very early hi gain covers were metal.....maybe they had short ones too?

Bob - remember also that my treble pickup has no ground wire/ loop washer. And the base bit is a metal one