Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I have a 73' 4001 and it plays so good I can't hardly put it down. However all the years of age have pretty much killed the pickups, and whoever had it last did a brutal job rewiring it to try to compensate for the lack of pickup output. I recently cleaned it all up and rewired it back the way it should be, but the sound is still not up to par. The jacks are also at the end of the road.

I was just tossing around the idea of putting all new Pickups and ordering a harness and jacks new from the factory. am I going to ruin is vintage(ness)by doing that if I save the originals. Or should I try to replace all the parts with used 73 parts in better condition which I rarely see. i am just asking everyones opinion on what they would do. I am also looking for a pickguard for it if anyone has a lead, 1/2" spacing. The one on it is a replacement and kinda sucks

When I got my '68 4000, the pickup was weak and half dead. I sent it to Lindy Fralin. He did a fantastic job of remagnetizing it and rewinding it. Now it screams.

I'm not a vintage 'must-be-in-absolute-original-condition' fanatic. I had no qualms about fixing a pickup that didn't do its job.

i know where there is a beat to death 73 with all the parts you need . i checked it out last night . the neck is split about halfway down right on the skunk stripe and the peghead was drilled at the top and screwed together .anyway , it has all the original parts your looking for in working order . toaster , flat screw pole bridge pickup nice unmolested guard .plus a lucite logo and nice grovers . he would sell the whole bass for 599.00 . probably less if you work him right lol .it is a repairable bass if your feeling froggy .go to rockindaddys.com