Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

They have sharp edges with staggered height, just like the re-ish pickups do.

In that case they are not adjustable. All you can do is try different strings and or pickup/bridge height adjustments to balance the strings. If that fails you might, in fact, have a defective pickup, but I have yet to personally play any RIC bass with unbalanced pickups.

Dave ,you have to take the pickup off the bass once out you will see how to remove them four screws on the bottom.

I'll lower the string at the bridge a little bit and see if that helps any. It really is an annoying problem.

I heard rumor that you can't even take the shoes off the pickup or it'll fall apart. Is this true?

See my description on taking the PU apart above, addressed to David.

Thanks Jeff for the instructions on the removal of the shoes. One other question, will this removal of the shoes hinder the PU performance in any way. Thanks one mo time!

No, as far as I know. Many forum members have done so with no ill effect. I just don't see the point however. Better you should trade the HS for a hi-gain than dismantle the HSPU.

Damn, if I had some money to offer you for that pickup to replace my damaged one. I'd gladly take it off your hands. I side with Jeff on this one. Don't rip apart a perfectly working pickup. When I first got my Rick some 13 years ago, i had a problem with the cover too, then I learned to play just behind it, and just in front of it, and it works great especially when going from a harder sound to a softer one.

Jeff, if I wanted to trade as you suggest, do I have to trade directly with Rickenbacker, or is it something I could trade or purchase separately from a supplier?

David, I'll swap , or buy it from you. If you want another Rickenbacker pickup, I'd gladly buy it for you in return for the HSPU.

David,
You will find a lot of forum members that will buy you a brand new hi-gain to exchange with you. You do not have to go through RIC. Seriously consider a trade before taking that HSPU apart.

David-

I like all these guys, but disagree with them. I have a V63 and a C64S in my Rickenstable. By all means...REMOVE the silly, hand-impeding horseshoes. Yes they look cool, but to those of us who play directly over the bridge pickup 95% of the time its better off removed and stored safely in a box.

Removing the shoes as Jeff Scott described is easy, reversible and does not affect the tone of the pickup as far as I can tell.(I'm also pretty sure that John Hall's post on the subject stated that it would NOT noticeably affect the tone).

Replacing the pickup would be much more involved, harder to reverse, would change the tone, and would reduce the value of the instrument.

With V63 horseshoe pickups no longer available from Rickenbacker and selling for up to $500.00 on ebay, and hi-gain pickups readily available from your local Rick dealer for around $125.00 you will find many here interested in a trade.

(Sorry guys!)

Thanks everyone for your insights, they are very much appreciated. Now I will have to decide what to do. Cheers all and Happy 4th!

Jeffrey, would you be able to provide me with the patent number that you got that drawing from? I wanted to look at how it works a little more closely. Thanks!