Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

HELP ! I need a good 70's 4001 neck pickup . The one on my 74 is very weak .

Go get a 4003-hot-as-hell high-gain and keep your original in storage, you shan't regret it.

Or a Toaster... but I say high-gain!

Hey Jeffery,

I can spare a mid/late '70s 4001 neck pickup. You can have it for free. Chrome cover & securing plate not included though.

You can't beat that deal, I have a couple that he rewound for me and they are great pickups.

No you cant lol . Mine is really weak do you know what causes that ? Bad wiring or a weak magnet ?

Check it with an ohm meter should be somewhere around 7.5 to 8K, if it's very much lower than that it's probably shorted out although I've heard of them as low as 4K but that is unusual. Could even be too far from your strings, if your neck is bowed or your action is really high. Also you can take the little nuts and washers off the cases and they get closer to the strings with a corresponding increase in volume and better tone.

I had a '75 that had a neck pickup that was 1 Ohm. Thankfully, JR had a toaster that made that baby rock again.

Now that is a REAL short circuit.

Steve - If you're talking about the AG you sold me about a year ago I have to agree. I always get compliments on the sound. I was so impressed I replaced the neck pickup with a new toaster on my '78 FL (removed cap). Sounds almost as good.

Dr. Silva to the rescue!