LeftyBassist.com

I don't understand why a passive pickup would go bad. Aren't they just magnets and wires? I can see a bad connection, but just a little suspicious of the "from my research this is pretty common." I am not very technical so maybe this is common, just doesn't sound right.

I'll pass, I hate that finish/trim combo.

Different strokes. I personally love the look of the black pickguard/trim on mapleglo. It's the only look I like on Mapleglo, in fact. I like how the finish has yellowed on this one too. Another friend of mine (also a lefty bassist) plays one just like it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xi4ujuKSQYU



There are any number of reasons for PUPs going bad, so it's not unusual. It could just be a loose connection/soldering job, as you implied, or the PUP might need to be rewound. Lindy Fralin rewound my old P bass pUP a couple if years ago.

I prefer the typical white trim Rickenbackers but I also really like the black trim Mapleglo Ricks.

The seller might have this confused with the old horsehoe pickups that Rickenbacker used on their basses back in the 60's. They lose their magnetism and have to be "re-gaussed".

I'm going to follow this guy to see how much I might be able to get for my '79.

FYI, according to Rick's timeline/serial dating, this is a '77 not a '75.