Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I'm thinking of moving the neck pickup of my '78 4001 from 1" to 1/2". Is this an easy modification to do?

Wood must be removed from the body to do that. This is a typical neck route found on a '75 4001. Your neck pickup route will have to look something like this when you are done. The '75 is unique because it can handle both pickup spacings.

Here is what I did on my '04 4003FL to accomodate the 1/2" spacing.

Is it difficult to do?
I presume the neck pickup will even sound more bassy?

Mine was quite ease as the wood was fair soft and easy to work with. A drill with suitable bit for the corner, and a chisel and hammer are all that is required.

Interesting, Jeff. I was wondering how to use a router to do it, but my router is huge and heavy, and I didn't want to scratch thinks up.

You could also use a Dremel with a router bit (carefully).

I would make a pattern and put it on the guitar with double sided carpet tape, then use a router with a pattern bit.

With a steady hand, the Dremel would indeed do the job. The drill is a good solution if you use the the right bit. A good sharp forstner driven by a drill press would complete that curve very nicely. I full-size router would be very difficult to work into that space but it could be done with a well mounted template.

It looks so easy, I think I'll do my 4001 when I get around to getting an old style pickguard.

With the Dremel, steady & slow gets it done.

I hadn't thought of a dremel - I can borrow one of those. Actually, on my 4003, I don't have to remove very much, and not very deep also.