Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Now I am working to re-plate this Magnets of 1964 4001s. I've got pair of magnets for spare, so decided to go.
Anyway, if it is finished and do magnetize, I will post the results.

I absolutely love that pic. COOL.

Wow, you have nerves of steel Atsushi, if I had a 64 I would not be able to watch during any surgery.

HAHAHAHAHA!!
Don't worry about...it is easy only to remove the magnet. The surgery would be done by professionals.

Meaning me, of course.
Seriously though, that is one old 4001. Is that a curved top on the pickup bobbin? What's the ohm rating of the coil? Can you measure it, Atsushi?

This is a great thread for Sergio's pickup forum, so look for it to appear there in the near future.

The "Curved" bobbin is made from a kind of soft materials...it is odd but true. Not plastic but Nylon or something like that...
The Ohm meter seems around 8to9k. I think it is HOT but not too much to my ears.

Thanks for the info, Atsushi. "Soft materials"... Yes, that's what it looked like to me. As for the pickup not being very hot in spite of reading approx 9.0 K, I guess it has to do with the horseshoe magnets not being that strong.

Those old bobbins are kind of soft and pliable - almost rubbery. That one is identical to the one in my '63. The top is not really curved. That is either photographic distortion or the bobbin is not seated fully on the base plate. As it ages the bobbin material tends to shrink away from the screws allowing a little twist to develop. I have not measured my coil but I suspect it is 7K or less - probably less. Of course the "low" output is probably a function of the relatively weak field of the shoes.

You can see the bobbin's shape. It has the "Edge" on the surface. Yes,not flat but not shrink.
And there is strange cutting in the middle of the poles.
My Bass is from Nov,1964.

Are you going to get the surround and perhaps the bridge re-chromed, too?

No,the Rusty Magnets only.
I hate it become too shiny by re-chromed.
But the magnets are too dirty and lost magnetize.
So this is a chance to try it.
Fortunately, i found '60s Magnet to use on. So I can keep on using My bass during to repair them!

Hey Ted, thanks for the info. Hmm... Now that pickup looks really crude, plus it looks like it could use a good rewind job.
Yes, the top bobbin plate has a definite "lip" to it. As for the "slot" on the top... Man, those old Rick pickups ARE idiosyncratic, but they do sound great!

I agree with you, Sergio!!

You found an old 60's magnet??? Those are hard to find.