Bridge Pick-Up cover.

paul_yan · Post by **paul_yan** » Wed Sep 17, 2003 12:54 pm

Wait a minute...is your cover a metal one?
Maybe the rare metal ones were all short and you've got yourself one?

rickcrazy · Post by **rickcrazy** » Wed Sep 17, 2003 12:55 pm

Short handrest = from ca. 1969 to ca. 1975.
Tall handrest = from late 1975 onwards.
The handrest on Paul Yan's 1972 4001 is not original to it.

ojobob2 · Post by **ojobob2** » Wed Sep 17, 2003 1:00 pm

aha! thanks sergio! are any of your covers like that?

Paul, nah its just plastic

paul_yan · Post by **paul_yan** » Wed Sep 17, 2003 1:34 pm

Sérgio is correct that my '72 cover is not original. It's the tall type. Thanks for chining in, Sérgio.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Thu Sep 18, 2003 10:27 am

Owen, Paul, and Sérgio
I was looking at my 78 and 79 4001's today, and there is a black plastic spacer with two nylon washers on top and below the spacer. The spacer goes below the spring, and the covers go on top of the spacer and below the spring I believe, which gives them enough height to lower and raise the pickup without the cover hitting the strings while allowing the cover to raise and lower with the pickup. The spacers are about 3/8 of an inch tall. I suppose it could be the other way around, where the spacers are on top of the spring and the cover is mounted in between them, the cover wouldn't move that way, and would probably be lower, but I think it was the first way, because I can remember seeing them in the store with covers lower on one side than the other.
Maybe the older ones as Sergio pointed out were mounted on top of the spring if they are so short, maybe also the new ones do not include the spacers, as Pauls came mounted on top of the springs? I bought a 4003 in 2002, but sold it very quickly (needed the money, it was a real nice bass), and I did take the cover off and remount it again when I sold it, but I don't remember what it was like when I bought it, I do know that when I remounted it, it did go up and down with the pickup, but maybe it was wrong? I don't know. I know I set it for sound not for looks and it looked good when I sent it off. (broke my heart, someone in England has a brand new Midnight Blue 4003 with a killer sound, with the cover mounted)
And Owen is yours metal? I've never seen one before, I'd like to get a short one for my 72. Anyone know if they are available?

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Thu Sep 18, 2003 10:45 am

Owen my 72 treble pickup's base is metal too, maybe there isn't a ground wire on mine either because you are right, there doesn't need to be a wire as there is a direct path to ground through the metal base, is there one on yours Paul, a short black ground wire going from the ground side of the treble pickup to a metal grommet that goes around the bolt right under the metal pickup surround?
Oh and you were right Owen, the grounds on my treble pickups on my two later 4001's come right off the ground side of the pickup. I was thinking of the tail piece ground with the black wire coming through a little hole from the base of a pot.
And I have found a place where I would actually like my tailpiece to be not grounded, in Lima it is all 220 VAC, with NO grounds, the electrical boxes are not even grounded, my brother-in-law who is an engineer explained to me that it is because it nevers rains here. All the outlets are only two prong. I still don't like it, and think that it is dangerous. In the US everything is grounded also because if if your hot wire inside somehow touches the metal case of whatever appliance you happen to be using and it is not grounded, the case becomes live, if it is grounded, you short circut and immediately blow the fuse or breaker, here no way!
So what I am leading up to is that if you are getting a shock from a mic, tough luck if reversing the plug doesn't work. It reminds me of thirty years ago, when everything in the US was two prong with no ground, and all amps had polarity switches, if it was the wrong way, you bass was live with 120VAC. The way with the least hum was correct, and I can remember getting some wicked shocks from mics on hot sweaty days, ouch!

squirebass · Post by **squirebass** » Thu Sep 18, 2003 3:16 pm

Bob,
I remember those too Bob, Unfortunately! Nasty shocks! Both of my Fender amps have polarity switches on them, and I quickly learned how important that switch was...
By the way, I've got a metal pickup cover on my Dec '73 4001. Its original to the bass... I've seen them on occasion at Guitar Shows, but not really regularly. Mostly its the plastic ones...

ojobob2 · Post by **ojobob2** » Fri Sep 19, 2003 3:19 am

Dec 1973?

my 73 is an august - the cover is plastic

i think this proves theres no real system to what parts went on what basses

paul_yan · Post by **paul_yan** » Fri Sep 19, 2003 4:26 am

Let me dig up some pictures.

paul_yan · Post by **paul_yan** » Fri Sep 19, 2003 4:31 am

OK Bob,
My '72 treble pickup has a metal baseplate and no ground wire to be inserted by the treble side pickup big mounting screw. I suppose yours is the same.

Here's her non-original "tall" pickup cover.

ojobob2 · Post by **ojobob2** » Fri Sep 19, 2003 4:40 am

yeah just like mine.

- hey that metal plate is far better than the plastic ones - the one on my 4003 is falling apart (the screw threads have gone)

lucky for toothpicks and duct tape eh?

ojobob2 · Post by **ojobob2** » Fri Sep 19, 2003 4:46 am

Bob i have no washers or spacers etc either, but i guess they may have been lost over time

my assembly is just the pickup on metal base, two bolts with springs, then the cover and surround

dave4004 · Post by **dave4004** » Fri Sep 19, 2003 5:00 am

None of the newer ones I've seen (including mine) have the washers and spacers.

paul_yan · Post by **paul_yan** » Fri Sep 19, 2003 5:13 am

I agree that the metal baseplate is better than the plastic one. It provides grounding thus eliminating the need of the "bulb" head groundwire.

Maybe they got replaced by the plastic ones for the reason of cost?

ojobob2 · Post by **ojobob2** » Fri Sep 19, 2003 5:58 am

hmmmm...who knows , they cant have been very expensive