Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Ok, I checked past posts and I think i'm safe to post this topic without looking like an idiot. What do you guys think about removing the bridge pickup cover on my C64S. I know a lot of guys swear by it. I've never tried it. Right now I rest my picking hand on the bridge. But it seems i'd get a bit more room if I took it off. I wanted to do it with my 4003 but the guy at mandolin brothers said it would be too much work, and not worth the effort. It seems to me the split cover would be less stressful to remove. What do y'all think????

I think it is less work on a 4003. The one on the 4003 is truly just a cover. The 4001C64S cover isn't just a cover. It's part of the whole sound IMO. I left mine on.

Richard, Brian is correct. It's a piece of cake to remove the cover from the 4003's.
I would remove the cover on the 4003 first, and see how you like it before removing anything from the C64S.
Besides, the horseshoe looks cool.

Richard...I'll trade you a high gain for it that is on my '05 4003 if you don't like it!

I removed the horseshoes from both my V63 and my C64S, Richard. And my 4003s and 4001s also. It is an easier operation to perform on a 4001/3, but its not very difficult on a C64S. Here's my C64S sans shoes:



I didn't notice any difference in tone and neither did any of the Rick enthusiasts that played it at the Chicago Micro-Confluence or the Midwest Confluence. I did however notice a substantial improvement in playability!

I've got another "Shoeless" C64S over here!

My technique puts my picking/plucking hand right where the shoes'd be, so off they came! I contemplated trading someone for a high gain (and still may someday...), but I really like the look of those massive pole pieces in the horsey's pickup bobbin!

Cool Alvaro. I'm not alone then!

I prefer the look and feel of a 70's high-gain to the alnico slugs, but the tone out of that shoeless horseshoe is just too good for me to want to make a change.

Shame on both of you.

Actually I should take it off and compare the sound. It may be a fun project.

Yeah, but how do I i remove mine?

You have to remove the pickup from the mounting plate by removing all four screws under it then slip the shoes off and send them to this address...

You should place some platic shims under the bobbin where the shoes you just sent to this address used to reside to keep the position of the bobbin in the correct location otherwise the screws would then screw in too far and possibly damage the pickup.

Ok, nearly 3 months later I have decided to take the cover off my 4003. OMG playability!!! I can't wait for my C64S to get back from the luthier so I can rip out those horseshoes. I'll miss the look but it's about the feel. Now what to use for shims...... chopsticks perhaps?

I'll trade you chopsticks for those shoes.

No, really! Or something, e-mail me.

I'm gonna keep 'em Jeff. Just in case I need to make it stock-looking. I just thought that instead of plastic shims I could use some pre-sahped wood pieces.


P.S. I guess you can never have too many toys, huh Jeff?

Wood or plastic shims the same thickness as the shoes are what you want.