Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

hey all,

I have a slight problem. I have a Sergio pup in the bridge position of my 4001 and the G string keeps hitting the pole piece. I've lowered the G side of the pup as far down as it can go but it's still way too high. If I fret the 19th fret clearance from string to pole piece is just 1 or 2 millimeters and that's with pretty high action...It's still playable but I would like lower action. The pole pieces are slotted screws and look like they should be adjustible...they are all different heights. I tried lowering the G pole but it won't budge...I tried pretty hard but didn't want to force it too much and break something. It isn't flush with the pup (like the E side pole is) so it should still have some room to adjust. It's not a big problem...more anoying than anything but I don't know what to do.

I think the problem is that the wires from the pickup are preventing it from being lowered enough...I can get the E side to adjust lower.

Any suggestions? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Take the PU off and try rerouting the wires, pretty simple. Since you live in Peter country, maybe the two of you can get together for some Rick-O-Surgery.

Matt, I would contact Sergio and ask. You may have the G screw all the way touching the mounting bracket or magnet already. You may need to remove the screw and grind some off. Sergio would be able to tell you about the coil wires and if you chance damaging them.

Funny I have no recollection of the pickup you mention. It doesn't matter. Matthew, can you post - or e-mail me - a picture of the pickup at issue? Maybe I can tell what the problem is.

Are you sure it is installed correctly? When adjusted all the way down the treble pickup should be well out of the way.

sorry sergio...I don't have a digital camera so I can't take any picks. I don't know if this tells you anything but my 4001 is the union jack that Jaymi used to have.

Ted...I wouldn't have the slightest clue if the pup is installed correctly or not. I'm still a newb at this whole ric thing.

Right! Now I remember that one. It has small slotted roundhead screws for polepieces (similar to the ones on the earlier treble high gain pickups), and it's sprayed matte black IIRC. What I can't remember is whether it sits on a legit Rick magnet or two small ceramic bar magnets instead, in which case you should be able to adjust all four polepieces. Please check and let me know.

yeah that sounds like it...is the magnet that silver looking thing the pickup sits on or is that something else? (sorry I don't know much about pickup construction). If that's it then it seems like it's one piece and it's pretty thick...not what I would call small. I haven't taken the pickup out though...do I have to to see and tell what type of magnet?

"Silver-looking thing"?? The plot thickens... Seriously, maybe you should take the pickup to tell for sure what kind of magnet(s) it's sitting on. If it's a Rick magnet, the pickup polepieces can not be adjusted. If it's a pair of small bar magnets, polepieces can be adjusted. Please check.

yeah I'm taking it out now...and actually it's not a silver thing it's more redish brown looking.

ok the pickup is out and what I think is the magnet is all one piece so I guess that means it's a ric magnet

Indeed. Which means the polepieces on the pickup can not be adjusted. However my assembly shouldn't be taller than a genuine early '70s Rick one. Can you tell whether the pickup base plate is a Rick part or not?

how would I tell? would it say ric on it?

No. Check whether it's a 3/16"-thick black molded plastic plate having three small holes and one large hole in the middle portion. I can't remember whether I used a Rick plate or fashioned one of my own.

yeah it's black...it has 3 small holes (two for screws and one for the little wires coming out of the pickup) and it has one big hole in the middle nothing is coming out of it though.

It is a Rick part. Now, can you measure how tall the whole thing is? A late '70s one is 1 2/16" tall from the top of the polepieces to the fixing screws on the baseplate bottom. My assembly should be a bit taller than that.