John Hall--a question about late '50s--early '60s gu

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Fri Mar 28, 2003 10:24 am

JH: as you will recall most if not all 4-knob Rickenbackers from the late 1950's to about 1962(including the retrofitted '58 325's) had the two tone pots wired in reverse from the volume pots.

What was the reasoning behind this, if any?? It seems as though there must have been some benefit in doing it this way....I have heard from people thinking their old Rickenbacker has wiring problems 'cause the knobs work backward from one another.

Any thoughts?? Thanks.

kennyhowes · Post by **kennyhowes** » Fri Mar 28, 2003 3:08 pm

I too would like to know this.

360dave · Post by **360dave** » Fri Mar 28, 2003 3:35 pm

Duuuhh....please describe tone pots wired in reverse. I don't understand.

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Mon Mar 31, 2003 2:40 am

David, the tone pots on these guitars work in a counter-clockwise rotation, whereas the volume pots work in a clockwise rotation. When the 5th mixer knob was added is when this seemed to become a method of the past....

360dave · Post by **360dave** » Mon Mar 31, 2003 4:21 am

Ahhh...I see, thanks John. I just checked my old 360 and the volume goes up and the treble rolls off as the knobs rotate CW.
I imagine RIC had to address the problem when the mixer knob was added....other wise, the 5th knob concept would not work.
For those of you who have 4 knob instruments that would like to have all knobs going in a CW direction, I imagine all that would have to be done is to reverse the outside wires on the tone pots.

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Mon Mar 31, 2003 5:23 am

Dave, if I am remembering correctly the 1962 425 I have in my collection works off the same principal, but only has two knobs.

http://www.homestead.com/aurs3/leftybass.html