Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I changed strings on the new BB today and I noticed that the pickup cover was tilted. In and of itself, it's not a problem, but when I inspected it closer, I noticed that middle two pole pieces of the bridge pickup are popped up.

I compared it to my other 4003 and it's definitely not right.

Has anybody else run into this kind of thing?

http://www.tomgallo.net/fdp/DSC_0541.jpg

That's actually a good think, I think. Having he poles popped up would help balance the pickup in relation to the curvature of the fingerboard and bridge....

I just checked my '97 4003, not popped up.

Tom ... most rics are set up that way ... it helps even out the volume of each string ... you can adjust them with vicegrips push/pull and turn at the same time ... but if you do it wrong then you can break the button top off ... so my advice is to leave it alone and just play the Ric ...

oh ya ... nice alias ... John Smith ....

Thanks, Jeff. I'll relax now.

BTW, I apologize to everyone for the alias, but I was a true and total jerk when I got here the first time and I wanted to prove that I could be a good board citizen.

That is perfectly normal pole piece alignment. Good to have you back John.

BTW the pieces are arranged that way to approximate the radius of the fingerboard. It is apparently intended to even out the response from string to string.

And may I just say, what a great pic? Like it.

Thanks Mark.

I only had my other 4003 to compare, so I didn't know what was correct.

I want to give props to Chris Clayton at Pick Of The Ricks.

I sent him an email about this before I posted about the pole pieces. This morning I got an email from him saying that most of the Rics he sells are like this, but if I'd like he would send me another bridge pickup.

I explained what was discussed in this thread and declined his offer (of course), but I think it's a
sign of the quality customer service Chris provides.

Any other pics John? It looks like your 4003 BB is one of the minty green ones.

Yeah, my recent 4003 has raised pole-pieces on both the bridge and neck pickups. Most pickups with pole-pieces should have that, as a rule . . . it helps tremendously with evening out the sound.

Wow, that's rather large fretwire for a Rick.. is that what they're using now? Mine had very small frets.

I don't feel so bad about refretting it with jumbo wire now!