Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I scour Craiglist for Ric's on a daily basis ...

Came across this little gem .. Apparently at one time salvaged from a busted late 40's early 50's 6-string Lap steel.

Magnets are still super strong, now all I need is a nice Fireglo 4000 to drop it into

Nice find, man!

Sweet!

Nice! But, not much room there for bass strings, better send it over here for some evaluation.

Nice score

jps wrote:Nice! But, not much room there for bass strings, better send it over here for some evaluation.

It's tight in there I know ... we'll see how it works out, I may end up opening the space up a bit, but I'll try it native first, too precious to bugger around with

I've found me nice 73 4000 I may pull the trigger on, problem is it's blackglo, so it would need to be FIreglow'd eventually

thx1955 wrote:...I may end up opening the space up a bit...

Be careful how you do that. Do not try bending these shoes, they will just crack. And if that is a spacer below the bobbin be careful that the mounting screws are not too long after removing the spacer.

Appreciate the guidance Jeff, many thanks

That is not a spacer, but the bottom plate of the bobbin. And Jeff is right, the shoe will snap if you try and bend the metal more open. You will probably need a different shorter bobbin wound. What does that bobbin measure for DC resistance, Jim?

johnallg wrote:That is not a spacer, but the bottom plate of the bobbin.

On closer inspection I see you are right. I did not magnify it and thought there was another piece above that one.

I'll get the DC resistance measured soon, i.e. when I get back to Seattle ...

Nice find there Jim...but there is absolutely no way that this pickup will work in a bass.

The bobbin will require major surgery. It will need to be shortened & converted to a four pole bobbin. 

opticnerve wrote:Nice find there Jim...but there is absolutely no way that this pickup will work in a bass.

The bobbin will require major surgery. It will need to be shortened & converted to a four pole bobbin. 

Dr. Mark Walker did just that, recently.

jps wrote:

opticnerve wrote:Nice find there Jim...but there is absolutely no way that this pickup will work in a bass.

The bobbin will require major surgery. It will need to be shortened & converted to a four pole bobbin. 

Dr. Mark Walker did just that, recently.

Here is one that Mark did for my '67.



Nice find, Jim! Hopefully you can get it worked out. They really have a sound of their own.

I'd be grateful for any assistance and guidance in turning this into a bass suitable pickup, if Sergio is still around I'd ask his guidance.

If anyone has a 72-4001 (Fireglo) or a nice v63 (again Fireglo) oh, or a 4001/3 Fretless (Fireglo too ) I'd be very interested,