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Topic: Rickenbacher Model NS 1946 - 1952 grayburst questions |
Jack Hanson
From:
San Luis Valley, USA
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Posted 18 Apr 2022 4:24 am |
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I have observed through photos online that Ric installed both the 1-1/2" and the 1-1/4" magnet horseshoe pickups in their postwar NS. I recently received one with the 1-1/2" pickup. There is something hincky with the electronics, since its signal is very weak (although audible). Even at its minimal output, the volume and tone pots appear to operate correctly. I'm assuming there's either a wiring connectivity issue or a pickup rewind is in order. It appears that in order to access the electronics, the pickup will need to be removed. Two questions:
1) I assume the pickup will pop right out of its cavity once the four screws on each corner have been removed. Is this correct, or is there something else to be aware of?
2) What should the 1-1/2" horseshoe pickup's resistance measure on a meter? If I recall correctly, with my Bakelite's 1-1/4" horseshoe pickup, the resistance is quite low -- between 1 and 2 K ohms. And the Bakelite sounds like a million bucks.
Any and all advice on how best to proceed will be welcome. |
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Noah Miller
From:
Rocky Hill, CT
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Posted 18 Apr 2022 5:20 am
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Yup, it will lift right off. It can be a little clumsy because the pickup weighs about as much as the rest of the steel, but there's no trick beyond removing those mounting screws.
And yes, somewhere in the neighborhood of 1.5K. This is my favorite example of how impedance by itself is not a measure of output.
Your description sounds like an open coil which is still passing a little signal through inductance. I had the same thing happen with a couple of old Rick pickups - you'd think an open coil would be silent, but sometimes it does create a tiny amount of signal. |
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Chris Clem
From:
California, USA
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Posted 18 Apr 2022 6:26 am
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| Yes to what Noah said. Pickups often still put out a weak signal even though they have a broken wire in the winding.It will probably need to be rewound.But if you don't mind working with small wire you can barely see,they will sometimes have a brake right on the outside layer of the winding. It is always worth unwinding the outer layer of wire and re-soldering it before you send it out for a rewind. |
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Jack Hanson
From:
San Luis Valley, USA
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Posted 18 Apr 2022 8:20 am
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Thanks Noah and Chris. I agree the scenario is consistent with an open winding on the pickup, which is likely the reason I was able to score the NS rather cheaply. Since the instrument itself is in fairly remarkable original condition down to its plastic tuner buttons, I figured it would be worthy of a gamble, even if the pickup needs rewinding.
I just returned home from a winter in south Arizona visiting my dad and sister, and am still in the process of getting my van unloaded and the tools and stuff I brought along returned to where they belong. I should get around to checking the pickup within the next day or two once my tools and meter have been unpacked and restowed to a semblance of organization. |
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Michael Brebes
From:
Northridge CA
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Posted 18 Apr 2022 9:24 am
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A lot of those pickups use a larger gauge wire than the standard wire used in Fender and Gibson pickups, which plays a big part in the lower measured DC resistance.
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Michael Brebes
Instrument/amp/ pickup repair
MSA D10 Classic/Rickenbacher B6/
Dickerson MOTS/Dobro D32 Hawaiian/
Goldtone Paul Beard Reso
Mesa Boogie Studio Pre/Hafler 3000
RP1/MPX100 |
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Jack Hanson
From:
San Luis Valley, USA
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Posted 21 Apr 2022 6:20 pm
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| Got the pickup out and it measured open; time for a rewind. |
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