Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I have got an old Ric Horseshoe Pickup assembly for 8 String Lap Steel in recent and I have planned to replacing it for my RM 1999 reissue Bass.

The 8 pole pieces are O.K., but Lap Steel bobbin was too tall for the Bass...so, I decided to remaking the Horseshoe Bass bobbin by myself.

I have trying to remaking an early '60s style Bass bobbin look alike.
I have choose Bakelite for bobbin material.


1. Cut and fabricate the three parts from Bakelite blank sheets.
The bobbin construction is two of flatworks(top & bottom) and one of center piece.


2. Joining together the three parts bonded by Epoxy.
I have pre-set the coil winding spacing gap is 1/4" wide(height).


3. Drilling the holes for four of pole-pieces and two of bobbin mounting screws, two of small holes for coil wiring route.


4. Tapping the threads.


5. Screw-in the pole-piece screws to the bobbin(attaching the glue).
Pre-set the pole-piece head top height to 10" radius.
I use Fillister head screws for the pole-pieces.
Yes, these are just same as famous Humbucker's.

6. And, cut the end of the pole-piece screws flush to bottom surface of the bobbin.


7. Finish - Ready to winding!


This is my first trial job.
Don't you feel good result I have done this?

It looks great from here!

Looks great from here too, subscribed....

Really nice work, Koji!

How much room do you have now between the underside of the shoes and the top of the pole pieces?

Very nice work! Looks like a fun project! It will be interesting to see how it progresses and how the pickup ends up working...

Very nice. Looking forward to seeing the completed project.

Thank you everyone.


Jeffrey, between the underside of the shoes and the top of the pole pieces is 9/16" at my bobbin.
(Flatwork thicknes: 2mm x 2 + coil winding space height: 1/4" + polepiece head height: 3/16" = 9/16")

great work ! you may even have room to counter sink those screw heads into the coil form for more room between the magnets and strings.

That looks great Koji I can't wait to hear how it sounds!

Now I am in preparation for winding the coil to my bobbin.
Yes, I am going to do all by myself to complete this project.

GREAT work!! My compliments

Nice job Koji!
With the proper wire and turns it will sound super!
I had Sergio make one for me, complete with the proper lip, for my old CS bass. It's wound to ~7K, and sounds wonderful... with the cap, of course

Nice job!

Moonie Man wrote:Thank you everyone.


Jeffrey, between the underside of the shoes and the top of the pole pieces is 9/16" at my bobbin.
(Flatwork thicknes: 2mm x 2 + coil winding space height: 1/4" + polepiece head height: 3/16" = 9/16")

This photo shows exactly what I wanted to see. You do have room for some height adjustment range.

What a wonderful project, Koji.

That looks great and very well done !

Are there US / or other winders making those picks as Ric replacements ?