Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

having trouble with the springs and black washers,, can anyone advise me what order they go , is there a way to do this without taking off strings , i thought it would be a simple thing but it turned into an ordeal with the springs popping out before i could see how it was put together,am i doing something wrong?? my first ric

Edward, you can take the cover off without removing the strings, but putting it back on without removing the strings would be quite challenging.

Remove the strings and use this diagram to help you reinstall the cover:
http://www.rickenbacker.com/pdfs/bpickups.pdf

thanks that really helped, but how can you take it off w/o removing strings?

This was suggested by John Hall to remove the cover without removing the strings:

You can remove the cover by completely loosening the pickup height adjustment screws and just letting the pickup assembly drop into the cavity, but make sure you don't ever pull the height adjustment screws up or out or the springs, washers and ground wire will fall out of place. Then you compress the cover by hand so it can come out, It won't break. Next you hold up the pickup assembly to get the height adjustment screws in the holes. Then you raise the pickup to the desired height.

I can't see that working without removing the screws.

It works, Steve. I've done it myself. It does take a bit a of hand strength, but it's do-able.

It looks like I'm going to have to apply this method to my new Rick.

One you have the assembly fully loosened, tun the cover so it is diagonal with the surround, so the ends are at the corners of the surround for more room and to get it out of the way of the height adjustment screws. Grab one side of the cover and compress it into the other corner of the cavity until it has enough clearance to come out.

I'm going to give that a try myself. Thanks!