Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

It's useless??

Just for looks?

WT*?

it's purdy (like a terry thomas smile)...well....did u expect a serious answer?

Well, I thought that I read on this site somewhere...that the horeshoes on the CS were not the same as the "real thing".

Sorry, my computer broke down, and was down, for many months and I have just returned to this site today as I have a new computer.

None of the reissue horseshoes are magnetic.
Except for a few early ones.

just yankin yer chain there thomas! the newer version of the horsey is probably a lot stronger and more full range sounding than the 60's originals,but the old ones really do add a nice sparkle to the sound--even in concert,you could tell a big difference in the sound of chris squire's old rm1999 versus his new custom painted v63. i had a v63 for awhile and the horseshoe on it was really great sounding solo'd or combined with the toaster. i think the POSITION of the horsey has a lot to do with it,it just brings out the toppy sound inherent in the design of the bass.

Well then, I guess my next question would be why didn't Rickenbacker make the new horseshoes like the old ones?

Tom, the chrome covers are all look. The pickup is not. It's hot as a firecracker.

Not sure why they made them different than the originals as the originals used the magnets for warmth over output

Oh, I know it's hot as a firecracker, that's mine in my avatar.
I'm just miffed that they didn't go all the way with the "re-issue" by making the pickup the same as the old ones.

The 4001CS is not a reissue. It's a tribute bass. This has been stated multiple times.

Besides, the new pickups allow you to remove the shoes if you have to. That's a good thing for a lot of us.

marc61 wrote:Not sure why they made them different than the originals as the originals used the magnets for warmth over output

The originals used metal shoes which were magnetized. Over the years they lose their magnetic properties.

beatlefreak wrote:

marc61 wrote:Not sure why they made them different than the originals as the originals used the magnets for warmth over output

The originals used metal shoes which were magnetized. Over the years they lose their magnetic properties.

So, am I safe in assuming the horseshoe on Chris Squire's RM1999 is dead now?

If Rickenbacker made the new horseshoe pickups magnetized I'm sure that all of our CS models would still be working just fine.


I just dont get this.

cassius987 wrote:The 4001CS is not a reissue. It's a tribute bass. This has been stated multiple times.

Besides, the new pickups allow you to remove the shoes if you have to. That's a good thing for a lot of us.

OK, you're right. It's NOT a reissue. I stand corrected. Force of habit there. It IS a tribute bass, BUT, I wish that one little detail was carried out.

Reissue horseshoe pups have 5/16" dia. alnico5 rod magnets for poles for the pickup magnetism. The steel the shoes are made of will not hold a charge. There is only a very minimum amount of magnetic flux induced into those shoes. Whereas with a old style horsey pup the shoes are a high carbon steel that holds the magnetic charge and the poles are screws. My experience with the old shoes is they can be recharged and it holds for quite a while (year or more).

So, is Chris's horseshoe working properly nowdays?

I have no idea why this is such a big deal. Sorry, I just don't.