Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Greetings fellow ricksters. I own a 1968 model 4000 that has seen many modifcations, the wood is probably the only original part left. Anyway, I have a re-issue horseshoe on it and have been gigging quite a bit with it. After a gig I always go over them real well with the rick-o-cloth. Last week 12/14 I had it at a gig and all went well. As I was going over it with the cloth, I noticed the pickup was loose to the point of collapsing onto the strings. When I took it apart to investigate, I found that the plastic base of the pickup had broken right where the adjustment screw goes through. I have tried regular super glue, but it wont hold. Anybody know where I can get just the base or of a good glue that might hold up ? I might have to make one myself out of plexiglas if I have to, but would rather acquire the real thing. I will try a call to the factory and I guess places like Rhoads, PickoftheRicks etc... But if anyone out there has a dead treble pup, I would be interested in taking it off your hands. I would sure hate to have to discard or replace a great sounding pickup just because the plastic base is broken. Hope someone can help.
Randy.

I believe you might have to buy the whole pickup from the factory, not just the base. But, maybe they do, I don't know. As for glue, I use JB Weld. Once that stuff dries, it will not come apart again. Guaranteed.

Randy-

This has happened to my 4001V63 that FedEx murdered. That plastic base is not available separately. Just trying to find the horseshoe itself is going to be difficult.

I made my own base on my Bridgeport out of aluminum. Try and take those pieces to a machine shop to replicate.

I've tried JB weld and I probably did it wrong as the joint did not hold. Something about the surface of the composite.

Perhaps our "resident pickup guru" Sergio Silva would like to offer up a bit of advice?

Here's a link to a guy that specializes in horseshoe repairs and rewinds, hope it helps:
http://lollarguitars.com/custom_pickups.htm

Greetings.
Well, all I can say is that nothing is easier than to fashion out of plastic or even wood (!) a replacement 4000/4001/4003 treble pickup baseplate. However, since we are talking about a horseshoe pickup, which I'm not very familiar with, you must let me know the approximate dimensions and placement of the two (?) holes through which the screws that hold the pickup bobbin pass.

I mean the two screws in the middle portion of the baseplate. Are they placed similarly on the horseshoe pickup?

Sergio, the resident Ricenbacker pickup guru saves the day (as usual)!

Making a bassplate of anything like metal can cause to act like a capacitor maybe. There is welding stuff for ABS-like plastics available for repairing fairings of motorbikes. The trouble with ABS is that it is sort of greasy of itself, and normal powerglues won't hold for long.

If you are able, you can use of fibre/resin like sheet material, with inserts for the screwholes to adjust the pick-up's height.

On the other side, do I lack the knowledge, in how far resonance of the backplate influences the sound of the Pick-Up assembly.

Good luck in your search, and to all of you Ric-crazy-guyzz and girlzzzz: Happy X-mas!!!

They are plastic? Why is RIC using plastic, when they used to be aluminum?

Thanks for the replies folks. Although I have not taken the pup from my 4003 for comparison, the piece on the horseshoe does look like the very same base as the one in the picture above. In fact, by looking at the pictures on RIC's websight under treble pickup assembly, the base plate on the modern pup is exactly like the one on my H/S, not the one on their H/S. I've got a feeling they use the same baseplate for both pups.I'm thinking aluminum would be stronger as long as it doesn't mess with the resonance. It really does look like it would be pretty easy to make one though. I even have a couple of pieces of plexiglas that are pretty thick (about 1/4")to make one from. Once Christmas gets here and our daughter opens her new digital camera, I'll "borrow" it and take some shots of the unit. Thanks again for the help friends.
Randy.

Randy,
Good luck getting an original baseplate.
I hope RIC sells you one at a reasonable price.

Oh, and Merry 'Xmas!