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Topic: Fixing up a Rickenbacher Bakelite |
Loren Tilley
From:
Maui, Hawaii
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Posted 20 May 2016 1:40 pm |
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I just got a bakelite rick that I'm hoping maybe somebody can help me out with. The signal from the pickup on 5 of the 6 strings is good and strong, but the 4th string (counting up from high-pitch to low) makes a loud crackling noise whenever it is played. Anybody have any hints? or is this something that a pickup guru needs to take a look at? Also, the pickup itself is a little rusty--any suggestions for at least inhibiting that from getting worse, or, even better, getting rid of the rust without getting overly nuts?
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David Ball
From:
North Carolina High Country
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Posted 20 May 2016 3:34 pm
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I'm no pickup expert so I won't comment on the 4th string issue, but on the plating, something I've used successfully on motorcycle chrome is to take a wadded up piece of aluminum foil and get it wet--clean the surface of the plating with the wet aluminum foil and most of the corroded/rusty stuff will disappear. I don't have a clue why it works, but at least on bikes it can be pretty impressive.
I just got a new wartime Bakelite myself. I've had several bakelites in the past, but this one has "it." Big fun!
Dave |
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Russ Blake
From:
Oregon, USA
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Posted 20 May 2016 5:48 pm
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| Look closely at the pickup and see if there is anything between the pole piece and that string. I've seen tiny pieces of steel wool or the end of a string get in there and cause a problem similar to what you are describing. Hope that helps. |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 21 May 2016 7:45 am
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| For shining up the pickup, I recommend Mother's Mag & Aluminum Polish. |
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Rick Aiello
From:
Berryville, VA USA
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Posted 21 May 2016 8:49 am
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Check your PM ...  |
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Loren Tilley
From:
Maui, Hawaii
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Posted 21 May 2016 12:21 pm
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| Thanks guys, I polished up the pickup with mothers mag, it looks a little better. I may try the aluminum foil idea too. As for the pickup, Rick (thanks) suggested if it's a single string it probably isn't the pickup, so I put some new strings on, sprayed some deoxit on the jack and generally cleaned it up a bit and the sound stopped. Not sure what it was exactly, but as long as it stopped I'm happy. Sticky pots I may just replace, perhaps along with the input jack. But for now it is playable and now it sounds real nice. |
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