Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Does removing the pick up cover from a 4001C64 alter the performance or sound of that pick up in any way?
Thanks, Rich

I removed mine from both my 40001V63 and my 4001C64S and noticed no difference.

Maybe it allows you to play directly over the PU, which will alter the tone some...

The reason I took it off (and subsequently lost it) was my teacher said "you get the best sound playing directly over the PU"...

My test is not very scientific but... The VRI shoes don't seem to extend the field from the alnico poles. If there is a field around them, it is too weak to pick up paperclips and is probably inadvertant and does not affect the sound. Given that, removing the shoes should not change anything except maybe your playing comfort.

Jeff, do you still have the shoes ??

I believe JH said the shoes on the v63 did effect the sound ...

I don't really see the point of paying all the money for a v63 or c64 then ripping out the shoes ... !

Jeff said:
(I believe JH said the shoes on the v63 did effect the sound ...)

Then maybe the shoes passively alter the magnetic field. If that is the case, the affect of the shoes is probably very subtle.

IMO the removal of the shoes on my v63 resulted in a somewhat weaker/thinner sound that was audiable when I played my bass through HiFi headphones but not so much through the amp.
I dont own this bass anymore but have an other one coming next week
I´ll try it again then.

hey I'll buy them shoes!

Well, I removed the shoes on my 4001CS when I first got it a few years ago. I just got my 4001C64S and thought I'd try to play with the shoes left on. I tried both basses last night for sound check, and the C64S didn't sound as good (that's WITH the magnets). I'm sure a lot of variables are at work, but the most obvious one is that with the CS4001 I noticed I play right over the treble pickup almost all the time. Playing behind the pickup on the C64S resulted in a thinner almost 'boxy' sound. I thought the sounds would be closer as both have a toaster/horseshoe combination but not so. In addition, the rotosound strings I use on the 4001CS are a heavier gauge. The sound of the 4001CS was obviously fuller to musicians and drummers alike . I know John Hall once posted something to the effect of 'it changes the magnetic field' (I'll obviously acquiese to his superior understanding on this point), but I'll be pulling the shoes and putting on rotosounds awfully quick so I can use the C64S for the next gig.

yeah you better throw them thangs away-better yet, I'll take off your hand for free!

Hey there ... get in line, I've a brand new Sergio pickup coming that needs shoes !!!!

Forgive me if I'm raising a question y'all have discussed many times before, but I have spent some time searching the Forum here and this is the closest I've come to the subject... Is there a good discussion thread somewhere of the plusses/minuses and hows/wherefores of keeping or removing that rear bass pickup cover?

Personally, I learned to play on my first real bass - a '94 JG 4003; I play fingerstyle and learned to anchor my thumb on the pickguard and pluck right in front of the pickup cover. Nowadays, it's second nature, and I wouldn't consider removing the pickup covers - it's just the way I play, and the pickup cover is actually a reference point for my right pinky. I left the pickup covers on because of the way I learned and because frankly they look pretty badass (the stagelights off the extra chrome is nice!). However, I realize that there are probably 1000 different ways to play bass, and a lot of it is personal preference. And... there is the sound issue....

Many of the bassists I've seen playing (those playing RICs) have removed the pickup covers.

I guess I have 2 questions: 1)What percentage of bassists leave the pickup cover on, like me, and 2)Is there a good thread somewhere in the archives of the hows/whys of pickup removal, or should we start one? (or is this it?)

Welcome to the forum Dean. I have always taken my cover off, because my thumb sits on the pick up. I play finger style & I have always liked the sound you get by playing directly over the p/up....not too hard & not too soft.