Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hey folks,

My annual conundrum post.

I have a 1991 Rickenbacker 4003S model in Jetglo. I bought it from a work colleague in early 2007 - I've had it almost 3 years now. He let me sample it for a week before I made a decision. Right away I knew there was an issue with the bridge pickup, but heck, it was a Rickenbacker bass (the 1st bass I ever tried was a Rickenbacker 4001 at a jam), they are rare over here, so I had to have it.

The bass has a couple of chips on the body and some buckle rash on the back, it has bridge lift (courtesy of my ignorance) and the bridge pickup is shot and barely works. Last year I bought a NEW replacement Rickenbacker bridge pickup (genuine item) from a well known/respected bass player from another forum, which was pronounced "open circuit" when my local store tried installing it. The seller generously then sent me a new 4004 bridge pickup to try, but I haven't tried having it fitted yet.

My question is, should I continue to try to make this instrument work, or am i better off selling it with full disclosure at an appropriate price, and then putting the money towards buying a newer Rickenbacker?

I'm quite torn between the 4001C64 (yes I know it is discontinued) and the new version 4003 with full width inlays. My local music shop has just secured a new/NOS 4001C64 in Jetglo (I have no idea where from), but are asking AUD$5,000.00 for it as their best price - the sticker price is AUD$6,500.00, which to me is insane.

Your input yet again would be appreciated.

ANdy-the-conflicted
Canberra, Oz

Andy, I've just PMed you...

Eden.

Andy: You can overcome these difficulties without a lot of time and expense. I say keep it. There are a lot of Australians here and I am sure there are some who will be able to walk you through the process. I see you have at least one contact already.

I can be a potential buyer of your 4003s

Keep it & fix it especially if you like the way it plays. There has to be someone in OZ that can rewind a pickup for you.

If not, Sergio can.

Fix it. A little research and practice with a soldering iron and you'll have a bass that you'll cherish for years. That and a new bridge and you're good to go.

FWIW, the pickup may not be the issue. Could be wiring, pots or the jack. Look up some schematics, get a soldering iron and some clips and wire and go at it!

I too, vote for fixing it. If you like the bass, you might not like a new one. Definitely try the new ones out to compare before you buy because the necks should feel different. Also, how much do you like the smooth contour of the S body? You might not like the sharp edge on a new 4003.

The issues with your bass are minor. The tailpiece can be straightened with a $5 C clamp and a 2x4, and if your original pickup can't be re-wound, then a new one can be had fairly inexpensively.

Definitely agree with the bulk of the posters here. Keep it. You said you had to have it, and now you do. Give her a little TLC and she'll be the best girlfriend you ever had. My 4001 was a little rough around the edges when I bought it some 14 years ago, and now I can't even play any other bass without feeling guilty or like I'm cheating.

Yes, keep it. The 4003S is not being produced any longer.

I have a very hard time believing both (or even either) bridge pickups are bad. I think there might be another wiring issue and you have two good pickups. Having a '93 S bass, I vote to keep and sort the problem. '91 basses have wonderful necks.

johnallg wrote:I have a very hard time believing both (or even either) bridge pickups are bad. I think there might be another wiring issue and you have two good pickups. Having a '93 S bass, I vote to keep and sort the problem. '91 basses have wonderful necks.

Hi John,

I couldn't quite believe my run of luck either. All I want is for this instrument to function as it should. I really do love it and hate the fact that it's living as a case queen.

I took the bass with the new replacement pickup to a store I've bought lots of gear from in the past. They've also done setups on several of my instruments in the past, so I had every confidence in their ability.

I was told that the pickup swap-out wouldn't take any time at all, but received a phone call from them several days later explaining that they had downloaded a wiring diagram and set about installing the new pickup but could not get any output from the new unit at all.

As part of the diagnostics they tested the pots and wiring and ended up replacing one volume and one tone pot with new pots.

They still could get no output from the new/replacement pickup, so hooked it up to a meter. The meter showed no reading whatsoever, resulting in the verdict of it being an open circuit.

The guys reinstalled the original pickup and tested output and found a reading of 11 or 12 (ohms?? can't remember what p/up resistance is measured in). Despite the healthy reading from the original pickup, it sounds incredibly weak and thin and has approximately a third of the output that the neck pickup has. It just doesn't sound right. And yes, I've experimented with raising the pickup until I hear the unpleasant "clack" of the polepieces being struck by the strings and then re-adjusted it.

Re the tail lift - it's the only damage I have inflicted on the bass. The dings and mild buckle rash were already there when I bought the instrument. Shortly after I bought the bass I picked it up strapped it on and then noticed the foam mutes were touching the strings. I used a guitar pick to gently nudge them down a little and was alarmed when the mute assembly fell into the cavity. I can only assume that the screws had been retracted to the max, but the pads hadn't retracted with the assembly and the whole thing was literally hanging onto a tiny bit of screw thread.

I removed the bridge easily enough, and reinstalled the mutes, but unfortunately when I reattached the bridge I tightened the 3 forward screws first and then did the rear pair. A couple of months later I noticed the tail had developed a pronounced lift, so did a web search and discovered that it was a known issue when idiots like myself tamper with a perfectly good bridge.

Can anyone advise who to send my pickup to, to have it checked or rewound? One of the reasons I bought the new pickup was because I wanted to play with the bridge p/up cover on. So far I haven't found anyone in Oz who has experience rewinding Ric pickups.

Cheers

Andy

Andy, have you checked the pickup selector switch and output jack? I wouldn't get rid of that bass!

rickenbrother wrote:Andy, have you checked the pickup selector switch and output jack? I wouldn't get rid of that bass!

Hi Joey!

No, I haven't personally checked the p/up selector switch with a meter, but it seems to be noiseless and works without any obvious issues with the neck pickup. Same with the output jack...

Unfortunately, i don't have a meter at home or even know how to go about testing these components. When I first bought the bass, I removed the pickguard to check no wiring was kinked or had come loose, that's about the extent of my technical skills.

Cheers

Andy

Interesting, I just noticed a 1977 AutumnGlo 4001 for sale on TB. The seller in his disclosure lists the same affliction with the treble pickup:

The only bad news is that the bridge pickup most likely has a broken coil. It still works, but it sounds very thin, and puts out about 10%.

It doesn't sound bad when blended with the neck pickup, and you can clearly hear the difference when the neck pickup is solo, but the bridge pickup solo sounds very weak and thin.

Cheers

Andy