Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

When did Rickenbacker first start implementing these "Hi-gain pickups."

Which version? The 70s/80s, and present are different windings. Some are around 8.4k measured resistance and now they are using around 11.4k.

the very end of 1968 for the bridge pickup and mid to late 1973 for the neck pickup

there are 5 versions of the high gain pickup ... the first few years of the high gain had adjustable pole pieces ... the 70s 4001 high gain was wound to about 8k ohms ... the 80s 4003 high gain was wound to about 11k ohms ... from 1990 to 2006 the bobbin was changed and the pole pieces have slightly fatter shafts ... and somewhere in 2006 the high gain got adjustable pole pieces ...

you know when I read what I just wrote I say to my self ... maybe I know too much about Rickenbackers ... but then again I probably left out a couple of details ... like the aluminum base plate ...

When Paul McCartney got his 4001S refurbished in the early 70's, records state they replaced the bridge pickup. Was it replaced with a hi-gain. Perhaps that is were the "Wings Over America" sound comes from.

actually that was a sort of one of a kind high gain ... the closest equivalent would be a 4003 high gain ...

also the high gains on a 4003s5 are wound to 15k ohms and have 5 poles ... and there were 2 different versions of that particular pickup ...

Jeff, you do know too much about Rickenbackers!

ya a misspent aldult-hood ...

also the high gains on a 4003s5 are wound to 15k ohms and have 5 poles ... and there were 2 different versions of that particular pickup ...

I noticed that on my two 5ers. My 1990 has a squared off bridge PUP and my 1996 has a very rounded PUP.

here's some 4003s5 pickup pictures ...

Yup, those clearly show the two styles.