Is the vintage tone push/pull pot a difficult mod?

[Bsimons]

Hi Guys,
I have a 2003 4003 and was thinking about installing the vintage tone selector pot. Have any of you done this? I know almost nothing about wiring or electronics. I thought I read somewhere that the 4003's prior to 2006 would have to have some wood removed to allow the pot to move up and down, can any of you confirm? Thank you in advance.
Brent

[beatlefreak]

It's not a difficult mod, but if you're unfamiliar with electronics and soldering, it might not be that easy to accomplish yourself.

[rickenbrother]

Brett, I don't think you'll have to route any wood from a '03 4003 to make the push/pull pot fit.

[cjj]

The removal of wood is required on some instruments because the pot with the push-pull knob has a switch mounted on the bottom. This makes the assembly extend deeper into the control cavity than a standard pot. I'm not sure when RIC started routing the wood deeper, but making it deeper yourself isn't too hard if you have some wood working skills. You can do it with a router or a drill press (or even by hand with a drill if you are REALLY CAREFUL), or even with a chisel. Just be careful and don't go too deep.

As for the electronics mod, it's pretty much removing one pot and replacing it with the new one with the switch. Then you have to add a couple of wires so the switch will short out the cap. This is a simple thing to do for anyone with electronics soldering experience, but if you've never done any soldering, it could prove difficult to accomplish successfully.

Another way to do this mod is to add a separate switch that just shorts out the cap. This doesn't maintain the original look since you are adding a switch, but it accomplishes the same effect and requires a bit less work.

[jps]

Wasn't some one planning to do a VTP mod seminar at MARF? If so, come on down to Joisey and learn how to do it, or have it done to yours.

[johnallg]

1. Remove the pickguard screws and lift it out of the cavity. Use a soft cloth to cover the bass and lay the guard parts up where the wires allow.
2. Remove the wires from the Treble Tone pot noting with a drawing where they go back on.
3. Remove the knob and then the tone pot from the guard. Mount the new pot/switch (http://www.rickenbacker.com/cart.asp?vi ... lectronics) to the guard.
4. Reattach and solder the wires to the correct lugs on the new pot. Use your drawing.
5. Locate the red wire from the pickup switch that goes to the Treble Volume pot. Wire a .0047uF capacitor between the same two places, trimming the wire to length and covering the capacitor leads with wire insulation. As you solder the capacitor to the pickup switch, remove the red wire from the switch.
6. Solder the removed red wire end to the 2 switch lugs that are the furthest from the body of the new pot.
7. Using another length of red wire (or any color you have!) solder one end back to the pickup switch lug the .0047uF capacitor goes to, and the other end to the middle 2 lugs of the switch on the new pot.
8. Look over your work to make sure all steps were done correctly - it is easier now to find any mistake than when it is all back together!
9. Carefully work the pickguard back into the cavity, making sure the wire to the neck pup is in the routed channel and no wires get pinched between the guard and body, or no wire is pinched between the new switch/pot and the bottom of the routed cavity. Replace all guard screws, only tightening after all screws have been started.
10. Plug and play!

Reference drawing:

Drawing also here: http://www.geocities.com/johnallg/temp/ ... ap-Mod.jpg

[simer4001]

Sorry! That is way to complicated for me. So I just went out and bought a couple with the push/pull knob.

[winston]

Thanks John,

What a great "how to" description.

[rickenbrother]

Thanks John,

What a great "how to" description.

+1

[gareth]

I have this mod on a couple of my basses, the '75 4001 and the '84 4001S.

Have done it, I always them play with the tone circuit out, as I find that the classic capped sound is better.

Go figure eh ?

[cjj]

I have this mod on a couple of my basses, the '75 4001 and the '84 4001S.

Have done it, I always them play with the tone circuit out, as I find that the classic capped sound is better.

Go figure eh ?

Interesting. I've never owned a Rick bass new enough to not have the cap so I've been considering doing the mod to one of 'em. I think now, maybe I'll wait 'til the 4003 I've got on order shows up and see what I think of the "new" sound before I go to the trouble of modifying one of my more "vintage" Ricks.

[ken_j]

Interesting. I've never owned a Rick bass new enough to not have the cap so I've been considering doing the mod to one of 'em. I think now, maybe I'll wait 'til the 4003 I've got on order shows up and see what I think of the "new" sound before I go to the trouble of modifying one of my more "vintage" Ricks.

You can always short the cap to see if you like the sound proir to purchasing any parts. It wil only take a short piece of wire.

[cjj]

Interesting. I've never owned a Rick bass new enough to not have the cap so I've been considering doing the mod to one of 'em. I think now, maybe I'll wait 'til the 4003 I've got on order shows up and see what I think of the "new" sound before I go to the trouble of modifying one of my more "vintage" Ricks.

You can always short the cap to see if you like the sound proir to purchasing any parts. It wil only take a short piece of wire.

Yeah, I know that. I guess I'm just lazy enough that to even bother taking off the pickguard and messing about seems like too much unless I'm going to do the whole shebang. I suppose I should try it sometime, I just keep expecting my new one to show up soon (been on order since Mar. 2007).

[johnallg]

Also if you vintage Ricks have the older higains, there will be a difference in tone from what a new 4003 with the current higain will sound like. New higains are around 11.4k, older higains around 8.4k. That 3k of winding difference is audible. I actually prefer the older higains and no cap.

[johnallg]

I have this mod on a couple of my basses, the '75 4001 and the '84 4001S.

Have done it, I always them play with the tone circuit out, as I find that the classic capped sound is better.

Go figure eh ?

Gareth, just move the red wire going to the end of the switch furthest from the body of the pot to the other end tabs closest to the body of the pot. That way, when the switch is down in the best looking position you will have the cap in-circuit, and when pulled, the cap will be out of circuit.