Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Unfortunately, I don't have a '73 PU cover, just a 2008, but I figured it would do for now. The thing is, unlike the 4003 set-up, my treble pickup is just mounted to a metal plate with drilled holes at either end for the adjustment screws (no "bushing" or washers), so when I assemble the treble PU unit per the RIC schematic (bolt, then surround, then spring, then PU cover ends) and screw it into the baseplate, the PU ends up buried right up against the PU cover.

So, I thought perhaps the springs should go below the PU cover ends, but that resulted in the PU cover being way up high and it doesn't travel w/ the PU when adjusting it.

So, is there something I'm missing here? Perhaps there were some bushings in the assembly that are long gone in my case? Or perhaps using a newer PU cover is not going to work?

The schematics on the RIC site only show the "new" 4003 and the old horseshoe set-ups. What I believe I have is an early hi-gain.
Thanks for any help.

Go to a hardware store and get some bushing of the appropriate length, maybe around 1/4"-3/8", to place between the baseplate and the cover.

i have the rick plastic bushings if you want them. send me a pm with your addy and i'll send them to you.

jeff...would they not go between the cover and the surround so as not to interfere with the pickup adjustment ?

Much thanks Ron. PM sent.

The bushings will go between the aluminum and the plastic chromed cover. Think of the newer plastic ones that have the "bushings" molded into the plastic.

BAD RONBO, KiLLeR DWaRfS wrote:jeff...would they not go between the cover and the surround so as not to interfere with the pickup adjustment ?

On the newer ones with the thicker cover the cover moves with the pickup. It is the older, early '70s type that stays in place.

Well keep in mind that this is a '73 bass, but with a 2008 cover. So...

FretlessOnly wrote:Well keep in mind that this is a '73 bass, but with a 2008 cover. So...

Mount it like a modern bass as the cover is a modern cover and is taller than the non-moving early ones.

Thanks for all the help. If I can find a period cover that won't break the bank, I'll know how to install that now too.

I tried the bushings from BAD RONBO but they were too short. I had to use some threaded aluminum "tubes" that I found in my workbench. They are nearly twice as long as the bushings RONBO sent and they ended up being just the right size. I needed the longer bushing because there just wasn't enough clearance between the poles and the PU cover.

Glad to hear you found something that worked for you.

Looks good too:

Ooh baby, ooh baby!

Nowhere near the photography of Paul Yan, but can you tell the difference in the basses? His is late '72, mine is April '73.

Mine's not fretless but.....