Scratchy Toggle on new 4003

drathbun · Post by **drathbun** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 9:19 am

I've had my 4003fg for about a week and I'm noticing a very scratchy toggle switch. It crackles significantly when switching but also, in the middle position, if you gently move it in circles, it scratches a lot! Once it cut out the sound completely before I touched it gently to get the sound back on again. Is this a dirty (how??) switch, a loose connection, cold solder or a bad switch? I'm hesitant to take it apart because of warranty (but then again, I'm not going to send it back to California for a switch).

reaction · Post by **reaction** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 12:28 pm

Hi Douglas - I had the same problems with my 330 - playing a note hard while in the middle position was enough to rattle the switch and cause some crackling. I had emailed rickenbacker support, and they told me to spray some switch cleaner into the switch, toggle it back and forth a few times, and that cured it. I can't remember the brand of cleaner they suggested, or the brand I used, but I got mine at Fry's electronics...

icabod · Post by **icabod** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 12:56 pm

DeoxIT D5 is fabulous, I use it in my P.A.stuff, and works great, scratchy pots etc., cleans and lubricates.

drathbun · Post by **drathbun** » Tue Feb 07, 2006 9:07 pm

Thanks guys. I'm doing some 'surgery' on the 4003 this weekend when my Pickguardian arrives. I'll take some time to fiddle with the switch as well.

drathbun · Post by **drathbun** » Wed Feb 08, 2006 2:31 pm

If fixed the switch. At JH's suggestion, I pinched the contact blades together and then, from another suggestion, I ran a piece of paper between the contacts while the switch was closed on each side. Worked like a charm.

I also installed a "mirrored plexi" Pickguardian. Looks magnificent!

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Wed Feb 08, 2006 4:22 pm

this bass here had that problem ... http://www.3dentourage.com/425/1990%204003s5%20mg.htm so I opened it up and the inside part of the toggle was bent so I bent it back and now it works fine ... if you can't fix it easily then fix it with the warranty ...

david_schwab · Post by **david_schwab** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 10:32 am

Yeah, bending the switch leaf usually works.

For contact cleaning... I ran out of "real" contact cleaner one day, and I had a few very dirty sliders on my mixer, from spilling Pepsi in it some years ago. In a pinch I used WD-40! Worked like a charm... even better than the contact cleaner I was using.

admin · Post by **admin** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 10:35 am

Drathbun: A gorgeous looking finish. Thanks for sharing these nice photos.

ajish4 · Post by **ajish4** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 11:15 am

I had the same problem on my brand new 4003MB back in December of 2005.

I called AND e-mailed customer service at RIC for about 2 weeks (in mid January) and never received a return call or e-mail. I ended up sending the bass back and the dealer swapped out the bass!

jps · Post by **jps** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 1:54 pm

Sounds like you were trying to contact RIC right during NAMM time, a pretty busy time for them.

cheyenne · Post by **cheyenne** » Sat Feb 11, 2006 2:36 am

.. if you can't fix it easily then fix it with the warranty----Jeff Rath.

Words to live by.