Ric-O-Sound problems?

stubby · Post by **stubby** » Sat Jan 27, 2007 7:17 am

Just recently (i.e. in the last week), I've started playing a bit with the stereo output on my 360. I don't have the Ric-O-Sound kit so I'm using a Y splitter, one stereo plug split to two mono signals. I'm running one cable to my Vox AD30VT and the other through a stompbox (Boss ME-10) and then into a PA.

I'm getting a good, clean signal to both amps but when I have the stereo output going, the only control knobs on the guitar that work are the treble pickup controls (both volume and tone control work) - the bass volume and tone control are completely inactive as is the 5th knob, no matter what position the selector switch is in. Also, I only get signal to the amps when the selector switch is either down in the treble pickup position or in the middle position. If I flip to the bass position for the selector, there is no signal at all. Is this how the stereo output is supposed to work?

beatlefreak · Post by **beatlefreak** » Sat Jan 27, 2007 8:20 am

No, it's not. It sounds like either you don't really have a stereo 'Y' cable, or the cable is shorted so that both mono plugs go to the same conductor on the stereo plug, or the wiring in your 360 is faulty (either wired to the wrong point, or your switched mono jack is bad). No matter how you look at it, you're not getting the neck pickup.

Suspect your cable first. Ohm it out, and make sure each conductor goes where it's supposed to. If you eliminate that as the problem, then suspect the jack(s) on the guitar. One is a stereo jack that has the two pickups going to two separate conductors on the jack (after going through the selector switch and their respective volume control). The other jack is a switched mono jack, which is designed to short the 'hot' leads of the pickups together when a plug is inserted. I would think that this one would be the most suspect.

Keep us informed as to what you find.

stubby · Post by **stubby** » Sat Jan 27, 2007 5:07 pm

Your advice is appreciated Kris-I'll start with the cable. What do you mean though by "ohm it out?" I know next to nothing - no, let me correct that - I know absolutely nothing about circuitry and electronics. I have a couple of close friends/family members that know this stuff so I'll ask them. They'll know how to "ohm it out?"

I too suspect the problem is in the splitter-it looks to be an older cable and as the ends are sealed, there's no way to pull it apart to look inside (even if I really knew what to look for!). My brother-in-law, who is an electrician and a musician, gave it to me and told me it was a stereo cable and it has the two rings that I've always taken to mean stereo cord. So I trust the cable is indeed a stereo signal splitter. But as I say, it looks old and well used so maybe there's a problem with it. I'll let you know what I find.

beatlefreak · Post by **beatlefreak** » Sat Jan 27, 2007 6:31 pm

You'll need an ohmmeter (or multimeter) to measure the resistance to 'ohm it out'. A risistance reading of 1.5 ohms or less is good. An alternative to this would be a cheap continuity tester consisting of a battery and either a buzzer or a light. Make sure the tip of one of the mono plugs goes to either the tip or intermediate conductor of the stereo (not both of them). The tip of the other mono plug should go to whichever (tip or intermediate) of the stereo that the other mono tip does not. The ring (shaft part) of all three plugs should be common.