Keith Richards Micawber

R

rawpowerocks

New member
I was wondering if any one can help me.
I have been doing some research on Keith Richards Micawber Tele.
On this guitar he takes off the low E string.
At some point since getting this guitar along the way he has removed the low E pole piece from his bridge pickup as well.
Why would he do this?
Fair enough he doesn't use it as he has no low E string but I don't understand why he would get hes tech to go through all the hassle of removing it.
If anybody can shed some light on this I would be very interested to find out.
 
Re: Keith Richards Micawber

Are you sure that the polepiece has been removed? Is it simply rusted black, perhaps?

Another possibility is that the pickup you describe was built specially with only five polepieces to begin with. In this instance, it would still be necessary to have something physically occupying the space where the low E string magnet ought to be in order to support the copper coil.
 
Re: Keith Richards Micawber

I have seen a picture of him in the 70's (which I believe is when he brought the guitar) and the guitar has the low E string pole piece still in it.
A some point he has had it altered.
Looking more closely at a picture I have and yes you are correct it is not an empty hole but does have something black inside it.
I don't think it will be just that the pole piece has gone rusty as surely the other pole pieces would be rusting as well?
If he has taken it out and put some thing into the hole why would he bother.
I don't get why go to all the trouble and for no benefits that I can think of?
 
Re: Keith Richards Micawber

rawpowerocks said:
I have seen a picture of him in the 70's (which I believe is when he brought the guitar) and the guitar has the low E string pole piece still in it.
A some point he has had it altered.
Looking more closely at a picture I have and yes you are correct it is not an empty hole but does have something black inside it.
I don't think it will be just that the pole piece has gone rusty as surely the other pole pieces would be rusting as well?
If he has taken it out and put some thing into the hole why would he bother.
I don't get why go to all the trouble and for no benefits that I can think of?
Click to expand...

Maybe someone just made him a custom pickup for the guitar?
 
Re: Keith Richards Micawber

rawpowerocks said:
I have seen a picture of him in the 70's (which I believe is when he brought the guitar) and the guitar has the low E string pole piece still in it.
A some point he has had it altered.
Looking more closely at a picture I have and yes you are correct it is not an empty hole but does have something black inside it.
I don't think it will be just that the pole piece has gone rusty as surely the other pole pieces would be rusting as well?
If he has taken it out and put some thing into the hole why would he bother.
I don't get why go to all the trouble and for no benefits that I can think of?
Click to expand...

Maybe someone just made him a custom pickup for the guitar?
 
Re: Keith Richards Micawber

You know how you can get a bit of noise by touching the poles w/your hand? Maybe his hand was coming in contact w/the exposed pole, and creating an unwanted static like noise? Just a wild guess...
 
Re: Keith Richards Micawber

jmh151 said:
Maybe someone just made him a custom pickup for the guitar?
Click to expand...

Nope it's a stock Fender six string lap steel pickup (which is why it only has two adjustment screws) which Keith bought from Arbiters in London. He got the Lap Steel pick up because that was closer to a Broadcaster pick up. The neck pick up was the middle pick up in a SG Custom he converted to two pick ups.
 
Re: Keith Richards Micawber

John L - I have sent you a private message about this.
I look forward to hearing what your thoughts are!
 
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