Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Newbie question #1...

I've seen some videos pertaining to how to remove the bridge pickup cover on the 4003 model and can understand the reason for doing so from a playing standpoint, but how does this affect the overall sound of the bass, if at all?

Thanks,
Rob

I assume you're asking about the bridge pickup cover? It is essential on the horseshoe pickups, but on the regular higains in 4001 and 4003 guitars, it has no effect on the sound at all. It was there only as an evolution from the original horseshoe pickups, and is now there purely as a hand rest (and for aesthetic reasons).

They're like marmite - love 'em or hate 'em! There appears to be no middle ground! I actually bought an after-market cover for my 4001, which never had one, couldn't stand it, and flogged it on Ebay for more than i paid for it. Haha!

Lemmy actually has a dummy 4003 pickup-ring/cover fitted to his 4004LK purely as a hand rest!

Sorry. I just edited my original post to more clearly define the question. But yes, you assumed correctly as to what I was refering to. I could have sworn I heard something about the cover providing some sort of additional resonance to the sound the bass produced, but I definitely could be wrong.

Thanks for the reply.

According to RIC CEO John Hall, the plated plastic cover provides some shielding to the otherwise wide-open pickup.

The thread title has been corrected.

Not a video, but some info:

Bridge Pickup Cover Removal

I remember when I was 19 or so and bought my first Rickenbacker bass it didn't have the cover. They brought the case out from the warehouse and I opened the compartment and there was the cover! I was SO happy. Took the bass straight home and mounted the cover back.

vulcan_creedler wrote:They're like marmite - love 'em or hate 'em!

In some fashion, I suppose I agree. But I've never looked at my PU cover and exclaimed: "That tastes like the festering hind end of a wildebeest."
Fingers or pick (but especially w/ a pick), I prefer the PU cover intact.

FretlessOnly wrote:

vulcan_creedler wrote:They're like marmite - love 'em or hate 'em!

In some fashion, I suppose I agree. But I've never looked at my PU cover and exclaimed: "That tastes like the festering hind end of a wildebeest."

AH - now we're straying into Bovril vs Marmite (don't even mention vommot Veggimite!) Marmite is brilliant, as it's made from yeast extract, and yeast extract is a by-product of beer. Beer (aside of being good for you, as it is 3 of your 5 a day) is essential for bass playing. Therefor I conclude that Marmite is essential fro Ric players!

VC

bassduke49 wrote:According to RIC CEO John Hall, the plated plastic cover provides some shielding to the otherwise wide-open pickup.

how can a piece of plastic shield a pickup? just curious....

bobbolux wrote:how can a piece of plastic shield a pickup? just curious....

It's chromed. The conductive coating can shield the pickup. Unless it's a BT bass, where the handrest is just black plastic.

bobbolux wrote:

bassduke49 wrote:According to RIC CEO John Hall, the plated plastic cover provides some shielding to the otherwise wide-open pickup.

how can a piece of plastic shield a pickup? just curious....

You never know...

ilan wrote:

bobbolux wrote:how can a piece of plastic shield a pickup? just curious....

It's chromed. The conductive coating can shield the pickup. Unless it's a BT bass, where the handrest is just black plastic.

IIRC, JH said the chrome covers are copper flashed first before being chrome plated, which helps with noise shielding.

rickenbrother wrote:

ilan wrote:

bobbolux wrote:how can a piece of plastic shield a pickup? just curious....

It's chromed. The conductive coating can shield the pickup. Unless it's a BT bass, where the handrest is just black plastic.

IIRC, JH said the chrome covers are copper flashed first before being chrome plated, which helps with noise shielding.

What Joey said.

Well - I never had any noise from my 4003 bridge pickup. Music (In my case - some argue that!) - yes - noise - no! There's a blinking huge hunk of earthed metal, called the pickup ring, which will give some shielding, if any is really required!

If shielding was the issue, surely there should be a second cover over the neck pickup, or is the chrome pickup case sufficient? That little bit of chrome is substantially smaller than the hunk of heavy metal that mounts the bridge pickup!

Marmite.

GT

In those days, amps were very good at going live and electrocuting people. hence pickups were often isolated or covered where your fingers sat at least .
Trust me with 240 v as it is in the uk that was the last place you wanted your fingers, in the hole round the pickup.
Hence why they were often covered by chrome surrounds, earthing them came later .