Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Just picked up a '80 4001 to check out, and the bridge pup is dead. Mono input jack was changed, but the bridge pup looks untouched, other than it has been taken out and remounted to the pickup surround. What causes a pickup to stop working? The magnet still has juice. The neck pup meters at 9k.

Probably just a bad connection. Resolder it, it may work fine.

How does the bridge pickup test out? Open circuit? Continuous (zero resistance)?

Possibly damaged in the swap.

Selector switch contacts may not be functioning properly. They can be carefully cleaned (#1000 sandpaper) and/or bent back into shape with needlenose pliers.

Check the jack to plug contact, too. Foreign-made plugs have suspect tips.

If you've got a VOM, just do a point-to-point check until you isolate the component. If it's the pickup, well...

Pickup reads continuous zero resistance. Swapped jack has a square black base(Radio Shack?). Never seen one before. Could wires have been crossed when it was changed that could have damaged the pickup?

Paul, when you say open circuit, you mean the needle on my meter does not move at all. Because thats what is happening. Starts at the left with the needle moving all the way to the right for a zero reading.

if you lived near me I would say bring to my workshop and I could drop in a 4003 pickup ...

I haven't bought it yet, but I'm going to. If you have an extra, I just might have to buy one from you.

Open circuit is infinite resistance, as in a broken wire.

Continuity indicates a short in this case, within the pickup, as long as the pickup wires aren't connected at their other end to something that is shorted.

You definitely need a gennie Switchcraft jack!

I have one bridge hi-gain in brand new condition minus the mounting plate I can sell you pretty cheap!

Would you just glue the magnet back to the mounting plate? I thought about taking one of my extra neck pups & swapping the magnet and mounting plate. Not sure what the difference would be.

The pickup screws to the plate.

Here's my email [email protected]. Let me know what price you had in mind.

e-mail sent.