Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

We all know that with Rick basses there have been a number of different pickup positions used. Most notable are the 1/2 inch and 1 inch spacings used on the 4001.

Has anyone ever compiled a list of the different pickup positions used on different basses over the years? I'm particularly interested in the 4002 positions as well as the 4004LK. I suppose the most accurate way to specify these would be the distance from a fret (say, the 20th?) to the pickup center since the bridge saddles can be moved a bit.

So, if anyone has this info, let me know. Otherwise, any of you who have a few of these instruments, can you take a few measurements and post them to this thread? I can get 'em for a '76 4001, an '84 4003, and an '08 4004Cii...

On the 4004LK I have seen 3 variations: 2 PU (prototype), 3 PU narrow spacing (neck and bridge PU moved towards the middle PU) and 3 PU wide spacing. The latter version seems to be the most common, however mine has the narrow spacing (it is No. 6 from early 2002).

4002 pickup locations are the same as a Fender Jazz.

if this includes prototypes, there's the black '67 4001s in smiths book with two toasters a la 4005 spacing !!! i know that my '64 rear pickup is in a different spot than my '68 from the twelfth fret and i have this written down somewhere.

BAD RONBO, KiLLeR DWaRfS wrote:if this includes prototypes, there's the black '67 4001s in smiths book with two toasters a la 4005 spacing !!! i know that my '64 rear pickup is in a different spot than my '68 from the twelfth fret and i have this written down somewhere.

I dig the Jetglo 4001S prototype in the Smith book with the pickups in the 4005 positions.

I think on the very early 4005s, the pickups were different from the more commonly known setting (bridge PU right at the bridge, neck PU right at the neck). I believe I've seen at least one example where there was a significant gap between the bridge PU and the bridge.

Is it possible to post pics of these prototypes? or is there copyright issues?

Eden.

OK, great info on various differences, now, if only we could get some measurements...

1964 4001s 6 -3/16"

1968 4001 6 - 1/4"

1970 4001 6 -3/4 " (21 fretter) pushes the pickguard assy back more so everything moves back to the tailpiece, some.

(note...these measurements taken from the #20 fret to center of poles, or adjust screw if your pickup was glued off center on the mounting plate. have seen some of these.)

weemac wrote:Is it possible to post pics of these prototypes? or is there copyright issues?

Eden.

Probably so, but I'll check with Peter on that.

BAD RONBO, KiLLeR DWaRfS wrote:1964 4001s 6 -3/16"

1968 4001 6 - 1/4"

1970 4001 6 -3/4 " (21 fretter) pushes the pickguard assy back more so everything moves back to the tailpiece, some.

(note...these measurements taken from the #20 fret to center of poles, or adjust screw if your pickup was glued off center on the mounting plate. have seen some of these.)

Thanks for taking the measurements! Did you happen to get measurements for the neck pickup too?

Here's the data on mine, 20th fret to center of pickup poles:

Neck Bridge
1976 4001 2.0" 6.375"
1984 4003 2.0" 6.375"
2008 4004Cii 1.5" 6.5"

rickenbrother wrote:

weemac wrote:Is it possible to post pics of these prototypes? or is there copyright issues?

Eden.

Probably so, but I'll check with Peter on that.

Permission from the publisher would be needed to post pictures here. from the Smith book as well as any other book.

OK, so far not many replies with measurements, and none for the 4002 or 4004LK...

So, how about it? Any of you folks out there with a 4002 or a 4004LK or even a 4005 willing to measure the distance from the 20th fret to the centers of the pickups? English or Metric are both fine, I can convert...

cjj wrote:OK, so far not many replies with measurements, and none for the 4002 or 4004LK...

So, how about it? Any of you folks out there with a 4002 or a 4004LK or even a 4005 willing to measure the distance from the 20th fret to the centers of the pickups? English or Metric are both fine, I can convert...

I'll do it, but it'll be a few days before I can get to it probably. The 4002 has 21 frets, but I'll measure from the 20th.

Great! Thanks!

I picked the 20th because I'm pretty sure all Rick basses have at least 20 frets, making it easier for me to figure things out...