Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hey Paul. Where's the best place to get a low profile bridge pup cover for a 4001 re-chromed? Is it a pain in the butt or is it something simple?

There are two ways to plate ABS, which is what these are made of. The original way is by using electroplating-grade ABS, which accepts a standard electroplated finish of copper, then nickel, then chromium. This is very durable; as durable as you can get, in fact.

The "other" way--which I don't recommend--is vacuum deposition, or so-called "vacuum plating". It is quite fragile and appearance is not really top-shelf with this method.

Unfortunately, companies that do the second type are easy to find and to deal with, whereas the companies who do the first type are generally entities which deal in large, production quantities.

A good primer on the electroplating process and its history can be found here:

http://www.azom.com/details.asp?ArticleID=525

I have no sources for proper electroplating on ABS, who will do a one-off part. The best way would be as a favor, as setup charges for this process can be stiff.

Thanks for the info Paul. Might you know what process was used originally to plate these covers?

Just to take this laterally for a post.

What are the old bass bridges made from, and would this be the same process Paul?

I thought I recalled JH saying once, they were die cast Zinc, or at least part of....

By "old", Andrew, I take it you mean, say, 1972 or so?

These would be die-cast nonferrous alloy. I don't know the exact alloy, but, yes, zinc would be a primary component.

Plating of this sort of item, plating of brass, and plating of sand-cast alloys can also be done by electroplating--its the most common way of finishing these types of components. Because metal is already conductive of electrical current (as it must to accept electroplating) it becomes a natural way of imparting glamor and durability to these parts.

Thanks Paul, and yes, I did mean pre '73. The "old heavies" as they are...

Who is this Andrew? Oh, me...
That's the first time I've been called Andrew, from someone other than my mother!

Love the new avatar, Wints, but do you always have to rub it in with those beauties?!

Sorry John!

Just trying to please the FG masses, and hope that Jim Glen turns up here again!

The 71 on the far right has left the building these days. That was a beautifully aged bass, and what AFG is all about.

wints wrote:Sorry John!

Just trying to please the FG masses, and hope that Jim Glen turns up here again!

The 71 on the far right has left the building these days. That was a beautifully aged bass, and what AFG is all about.

Oh, the humanity!

It is your collection of FG beauties that first got me to seriously look at the color for a bass. If I get one, it will have to be a burst like yours with the regal shade that yours are. When I looked for my first Rick back in Feb. 2005, they had an FG but it was the pink kind and it did nothing for me.

Paul...Am I corect assuming that these pup covers were origially vacuum plated?

Definitely not vacuum-plated. They would not have lasted a week. "Vacuum-plating" (a term used in ad puffery) is really vacuum-metallizing, and while glamorous and relatively cheap, it does not last very well--even with a clear coat.

The covers are electro-plated to a very high standard. Electroplating actually sticks better to an ABS alloy of the proper grade, than it does to any metal, as the initial copper layers actually bond molecularly to the plastic substrate. Think "old car bumper" factory quality, but more like "early Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud/Shadow" than "1954 Ford".

Some home faucets are molded of ABS and plated like that pickup cover...and talk about extreme conditions!

Ok...gotcha. Now I know where I stand. I found a small handfull of companies that will do the electroplating for me but I haven't gotten any quotes yet. Thanks again for the info.

Ben, if you do find somebody who will do it for a reasonable price, let us know who it is.

Will do....