Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I thought I'd introduce myself to the rest of the guys before I begin - I've just recently become a Rickaholick after 20 years of playing and I am amazed at how quick it happened. I've tried all manner of basses before coming across my 74 4001 which makes me grin every time I open the case, let alone play it.

Anyway, my problem is that I have decided to replace the missing treble pickup cover but have noticed that the pickup is too close to the cover to let the strings pass through comfortably. I found a diagram on the rick website. http://www.rickenbacker.com/pdfs/bpickups.pdf

The part I am missing looks like it part of the pickup base but is missing from my pickup.

My question to the guys in the forum is - is this part available and if not, what are the dimensions so that I can find something else to increase the distance between the pickup and the cover?

On older treble high gains there are two plastic spacers that hold the cover above the bobbin top. The newer design has the spacers built into the base plate. I will look around in my parts box to see if I have some. I will get you a measurement of the thickness. You can probably find a suitable replacement at your local hardware store. BTW welcome to the forum!

Also the older pickup covers were shorter.The one in the diagram may be for the taller one.

This is definitely a tall one - I originally got the order of the pickup/spring/cover wrong and the cover was sitting really high over the strings, I then changed it so that the screw went throgh the surround/spring/cover/pickup and that was the mirror opposite with their being no gap betwen the pickup and the cover so I need to find out the distance between the pickup and the cover

I can't find a loose one so I attempted to measure one in place. It looks like 3/16th tall will do it for you. Most hardware stores sell nylon/plastic spacers and washers. You could even cut it from a section of thick walled plastic tubing. Take the adjuster screw to the store with you to test the inner diameter fit.

I tried to replace the p/u cover in my '74 with a new one & it didn't work at all. I had to send it back.

ACE has aluminium (UK spelling) spacers, polish them to look cool.

I had the same problem (spacers missing). I just cut 1 cm lengths of a ballpoint pen housing, and put between the base plate of the PU and the cover/springs. Works fine! When I adjust the PU height, the cover follows up and down. You may also put the spacers between the PU surround and springs for a fixed cover height.

dont know if this helps - but my old 73 that i sold had an aluminium baseplate under the pickup, and a very short cover that was installed ABOVE the springs - and sit flush with the metal surround. It was in a fixed position (the right position i might add) and didnt move up and down when pickup height was adjusted

Thanks guys - I'll have play around with it today to see how I get on.

I found a couple of stubby strap buttons that seemed to do the trick.

I was wondering how close the bridge cover normally sits to the strings?

I've never played a Rick with the cover intact so I have no previous experience. I bought this one to put my Ric back to original specs.