Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Posted: **Thu Jun 13, 2002 7:00 pm**

Hi. When was the horseshoe pickup on the 4000s replaced with the current style pickup?

Thanks
- ilan

Posted: **Fri Jun 14, 2002 1:21 am**

I believe 1970 was the year.

Posted: **Fri Jun 14, 2002 4:09 am**

It's hard to date firmly but possibly even as early as 1968.

Posted: **Sat Jun 15, 2002 2:46 am**

Thanks! So what would be a good price to pay for a 4000s with a horseshoe pickup that sounds very good, but has undergone serious mods: non-pro refinish in LPB, converted to fretless by planing down the frets, and non-original cover plate (white on black logo). Should I bother at all? In another forum I was advised (1) not to bother, and (2) if I do, not pay more than $300. What do you Ric experts think?

I should add that although I owned 2 Rics in the past (both 73 4001), this 4000s is the first Ric that sounds good to me, so I concluded that it must be the horseshoe pickup that I like.