Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I've always removed the pickup cover from 4001 bridge pickup surrounds so that I have a place to anchor my right hand thumb. A couple of years ago I purchased my first 4003 and promptly removed the bridge pickup cover. I immediately noticed that the bridge surround had the "scoop" in it, unlike my '78 4001 that is "unscooped". No big deal I thought... until I started playing. Wow were the edges of that surround sharp! I removed it and sure enough, the edges were fairly rough and unfinished. My solution was to find an old "unscooped" surround and put it on my 4003. Thankfully the one I found fit like a dream. This whole experience got me thinking if anyone else has had this experience. Why or when did RIC make the bridge pickup surround change from "unscooped" to "scooped"? Would there be a market for RIC to offer the unscooped surround as an after-market part?

Steve,
Im not sure what you mean by "Scoop".
Just got in and finally had dinner so Im a little
confused.Do you mean a rounded edge or are you talking about the cavity?I don't understand.
Bill

It seems to have been a late 70s-early 80s thing but no-one appears to know why. There seems to be a split on the forum with proponents of both. I've had the same problem and have swapped out scooped for non-scooped surrounds wherever possible. However, I've got a Pickguardian bridge pup surround on order for my 4001S, which hopefully will deal with the comfort and aesthetic issues.

Here's the scooped surround from my 4003:

Here's the old style surround (without the scoop) that I've installed on my 4003BB:

A page from the latest Ric Health & Safety supplement.



Puts finger-style players in a bit of a predicament.

Steve if you still have that scooped surround, I'd be interested in buying it. I like the SRb-1 pickups in the bridge position, and had to grind down the pup surround so it looked just like the one you took off for the pickup to fit. I would rather get one like the one you took off than ruin another one.

Chris - I'm going to hang onto it just in case I ever need to return the bass to stock.

that's the scoops for today

No problem.

My theory was it was done to facilitate lower action. I've worked on customer's Rics that when the action was lowered to their (and my) tastes, the strings would be VERY close to the chrome. To the point where it the string bottoms would hit it when played a bit harder. It depended on the neck height and angle from the factory I guess. Some had the scoop some didn't. I'm guessing that when the factory was doing final tune, setup and testing, if the tech felt it was getting too close, the scooped surround would be installed. Unless it was an across the board change. ????

I think your theory is absolutely correct, Fran. Anyone?

take a dremmel tool and grind down the little points and it will be more finger friendly ...

Or you can always get the Pickguardian replacement surround. I had one on a 4003 and liked it.

I replaced my 4003FG bridge cover with a mirrored Pickguardian and with the optional clear pickup guard. It works beautifully.

sharp!