Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

When did the change to adjustable polepieces take place? I have 2 Ricks, an '06 that I just bought used, and an '08, both with high gains. The '08 has got adjustable polepieces, while those on the '06 are fixed.

The polepieces on the '06 stick out in a curve that follows about the same radius as the fretboard; is this standard, or should there be a variation for the G-string? Or follow the Dynasonic example in the link below? Should the pole pieces be flat? Would it be the result of a modification by a previous owner? I remember reading that the unadjustable pole pieces are just that, and that pusing (pulling?) them out might have dire consequences. I have not opened up the '06 (yet) to check whether these are the original pickups.

Thanks all for your help!

Welcome to the forum Serge. This is standard and they can be adjusted. The polepieces are push pins that have a steep twist to them. Sometime prior to about 1990 the windings were wound on the poles and cannot be adjusted.

Thanks, Ken, for your welcome and advice!

So if I read you correctly, this also applies to them previous style pole pieces that don't have the hex heads. I guess I should not bother fooling with the individual pole piece heights, especially since "it ain't broke".

I would not push any of them shorter as it may push the magnet off of the spool. I would only raise them a small amount as needed. That said I have never felt the need to adjust them as the factory setting has always seemed good to me. I have modified a number of high gains to sport toaster covers. In that case I have removed all of the poles and replaced them with slugs or screws.

yes...i've noticed the pushed in pins are sanded flush on the bottom of the bobbin after insertion. to push them in any further you could drill into the rubber a bit where they would interfere. ( or not do it at all !)

BAD RONBO, KiLLeR DWaRfS wrote:yes...i've noticed the pushed in pins are sanded flush on the bottom of the bobbin after insertion. to push them in any further you could drill into the rubber a bit where they would interfere. ( or not do it at all !)

Or they would push the magnet off the bobbin, depending on the old glue quality.