Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hi all

I picked up a '75 4001 which originally had an unusual (huge) pickguard fitted. A previous owner had replaced this with a more conventional guard as per photo:



However with this pickguard I can't get the pickup poles to align centrally under the strings:



Is there anything I can do to adjust this, for example at the saddles? Or should I be looking at getting a '75 replica pickguard (such as http://www.rickysounds.co.uk/Pickguard% ... 974-75.jpg )

Many thanks!
Kev

Are you having issues with the tone and/or string balance on the neck pickup? If not, you could just leave it alone. Or, contact Tony at Pickguardian, he can fix you right up with a properly cut pickguard. As for the extra holes, get them plugged and touched up.

I would not do anything with the bridge saddles as they are cut fine, with the strings correctly spaced on the fingerboard.

Yep, as Jeff says, let your ear be your judge, not your eyes. Many Rick basses have alignments that look wonky but sound right.

Many thanks! Certainly seems to sound OK so I'll tidy up as advised and get on with playing. Cheers

I like my basses to be clean and shiney but from a stage few can see string to pickup alignments. The close up look I worry about is what it looks like when I look down on it while playing it... agree with previous statements about the sound.... that is the true measure!!