Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I did try a search, but no dice, although I'm pretty sure the answer already lurks here somwhere.

My newly-acquired April '73 4001FL has a button-top bridge pickup with notches in the poles. Two questions:

1. Is this a standard early '73 P/U and how would you all describe it (e.g., it's not a toaster; is it an early hi-gain??). OK, that was a two-parter.

2. Are the poles in this adjustable? I've seen mid-70s button-tops that appear to have no notches, so I'm assuming those are not adjustable poles. Can I adjust my notched button-tops w/ a screwdriver?

Thanks.

FretlessOnly wrote:I did try a search, but no dice, although I'm pretty sure the answer already lurks here somwhere.

My newly-acquired April '73 4001FL has a button-top bridge pickup with notches in the poles. Two questions:

1. Is this a standard early '73 P/U and how would you all describe it (e.g., it's not a toaster; is it an early hi-gain??). OK, that was a two-parter.

2. Are the poles in this adjustable? I've seen mid-70s button-tops that appear to have no notches, so I'm assuming those are not adjustable poles. Can I adjust my notched button-tops w/ a screwdriver?

Thanks.

John, if I understand you correctly, and with what I know about early higains, yes it is an early higain, wound to around 8+k ohms. The poles are actually screws and no you cannot adjust them without tearing the copper windings, which are wound over the screws in the inside of the coil. If this doesn't sound right, can you post a picture?

Well, it makes sense, although it seems odd to me to have a screw top that you can't adjust. Just looking at it screams "adjust me with a screwdriver!"

But I seem to remember reading something akin to what you stated, which is why I proceeded with caution. Here's a photo:

Yep, don't turn 'em!

Thanks John. I will say that the sound seems pretty well balanced, and there certainly is something to the 4001 over 4003 thing that my ear is smiling about.

interesting coil form as all the ones that i have seen, including the jan '70 and apr '73 i've personally owned had rectangular coils. have never seen a rounded coil screw top. anyone ?

Ron - transitional??? It is shaped like the later 70s higains but with screws and not the rounded-button nails used until a couple years ago. '73 was a year where RIC features were all over the place.

my jan. '70 and april '73 screw poles have identical rectangular coil forms, and as i have not yet seen a rounded screw pole form until now, i found this interesting considering it is an april bass.

FretlessOnly wrote:there certainly is something to the 4001

An early-70s 4001 is a special thing...

badeggs wrote:

FretlessOnly wrote:there certainly is something to the 4001

An early-70s 4001 is a special thing...

I think I would extend that to any 70s 4001.