Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

i am thinking of having some work done to my 4000,in an attempt to better shield the pickup/wiring,as it tends to be pretty noisy in certain environments. i welcome suggestions,experiences with,etc. either pro or con.....the guitar tech plans to use aluminum tape to line the pickguard and body cavity.

Copper tape would be a better choice as keeping a good connection between the various pieces of aluminum can be difficult. Even with copper, it works better if the seams are soldered...

my tech guy mentioned he has a lot of experience using both copper and aluminum tape,he seems to be able to get similar results....thanks!

The capacitance will cut the high end some no matter how you do it. I don't mind that one bit but some folks do.

Personally I think shielding the pots can be worthwhile but I've never gotten any good out of shielding pickups.

this bass has so much high end,it wouldn't really hurt if i lost a little bit......

I've had 3 RICS shielded Woody, all with copper foil. ALL worked out PERFECTLY.

My luthier did all the work, shielded the pickup cavities, electronics cavity and back of the pickguard.

A very marked improvment.

Hi Woody,

Contrary opionion here: Would investing in a noise gate pedal make more sense? They come in from around $80 up, which seems to be around what you'd pay to have just one bass shielded...

As for me - I tend to live with the noise. It hides my sloppy mistakes...

thanks all- i tend to like to plug directly into an amp - i don't really often use any efx. my other basses seem to be pretty quiet by comparison,even my single coil dano and jazz bass,so i think its would just be best to try to make this 1 bass better shielded.

All I would add would to be thorough. The only "openings" are the pickup faces themselves. I would use copper, though I have my '04 shielded with aluminum tape and you have to be diligent that the seams are good. Copper is easier because it can and should be soldered. A well done shielding will quite things down nicely. I did not notice any loss of high end due to capacitance effects.

thanks for the info,everyone. the old girl's getting an overhaul this week,shielding,new frets and a new nut made out of deer antler,along with a set-up for a set of nos 60's maxima flatwounds.....will keep ya posted!

Deer antler, huh? Probably a good material, is this what "bone" nuts are actually made of? Maybe I should try some of this for one of my basses, I've got piles of 'em (gotta pick 'em up out of the fields every spring so I don't wreck the tractor tires )...

Deer antler! Wow good idea. I like it.

cassius987 wrote:Deer antler! Wow good idea. I like it.

A deer wouldn't think so!

rickenbrother wrote:

cassius987 wrote:Deer antler! Wow good idea. I like it.

A deer wouldn't think so!

Oh, I'm sure the deer wouldn't care at all. They shed them every year and grow new ones...

my luthier's been using bone for nut material for a long time,last year someone gave him several deer antlers,and being the creative kind of guy he is,he tried making a few nuts out of it and really liked the results. when cut,the material kinda resembles a cream/tan marbled look-which should look nice with the creamy off white of the bass. the material is great-i have one on my jazz bass already.....i don't really think it makes a huge difference sound wise,but i could be wrong....

ps i am not sure from where bone nut material comes......c.j.--maybe i should have you ship my friend all of your antler "yard trash".....