Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hi, guys. I have a question. I have a 1968 4001 and a 1979 4001. The '68 has a split pickup cover on the bridge position. My '79 was missing the cover when I bought it. I looked on the Ric website and all I saw was a solid pickup cover that was out of stock. Does anyone know whether the pickup cover on a '79 would be solid or split and where I would be able to get one of the correct ones? I would like to get the bass looking complete. Thanks for your help.

The '68 SHOULD be a horseshoe pickup, no? This is the only RIC pickup cover that is split (save Jared's)
The '79 would be a solid one.

Thanks. That's what I figured, but I wasn't sure. I still need to get the neck on that '68 fixed...

I have a solid pickup cover in perfect and brand new shape that came with a 4003 bridge pickup when I bought it new in 2001 that I am not using. I'd be happy to make you a deal on it if you're interested Javier? Email me and we can discuss it.

Javier,

Good to see you here again. Dale Fortune who posts here would get the 68 neck back in shape. IIRC you were worried about sending the bass out of state. He's in Ca, but will get that baby fixed for sure...

My 68 had a whacked out neck ... a simple truss rod adjustment fixed the problem ...

The split cover on the 68 is actually a pair of magnetized steel shoes ... they are actually part of the pickup ... remove the shoes and the pickup would have no magnet.

The cover on the 79 was merely a piece of plastic with a chrome finish that resembled the shoes of the horseshoe pickup. Most players remove the plastic cover for better access to the strings.

Dale's in Oregon, I'm in CA. Reach him at [email protected].

Thanks for the information. Greg, I am interested in the pickup cover. I will drop you a line soon. I really want to get the '68 running again. It was in this condition when I first started playing almost 23 years ago. This is actually the instrument I learned on. I am really grateful for the information I have gotten here, but for obvious reasons, I am reluctant to send the instrument to someone I have not seen face to face. What are some of the other members' thoughts and experiences with sending their instruments out to be worked on? This bass was given to me by my dad. I'd love to pass it on to my kid one day.

Javeir,
For what it's worth I'd entrust any of my Rickenbackers to Dale, Ted Staberow, or if I wanted a 4-5 conversion to Jeff Rath.

Dale used to work for RIC and is a master luthier specializing but not limited to Ricks. His work via pics can be seen in the Vibrola and Curmudgeon forums here and at the RIC official forums on the Restoration forum. You cannot do better than Dale (or Paul who posted above). Besides, Dale is one helluva human being. If you have the forum calendar, he is in the November picture.

Javier,
I wouldn't hesitate to trust anyone on this forum, in fact I just bought a bass from fellow forumite Jim Glenn and had no problems whatsoever...this place is truly like no other...everyone is always eager to help in any way they can.

Thanks for the input. Like I said, I am just a bit leery of sending such a valuable instrument to someone sight unseen. This being said, I still want to get this instrument working again, so Dale, how much would it cost for you to take a look at it and get me an estimate?

Shoot him an email Javier, his prices are quite reasonable.

[email protected]

Thanks!