Just got from Ebay ..... Fireglo 4001-v63
Moderators: rickenbrother, ajish4
Chris, Kevin
I've just checked the wiring layout for the 4001-V63 at the Rick website.
http://www.rickenbacker.com/us/19501.htm
According to the drawing there are indeed two 0.47 caps attached in circuit, one to each tone pot, so do we remove only the one at the treble pot, both, or none !!!
Now this drawing was done in 1993, so it may have been updated. My v63 is a 92, so I'm not sure if the same layout was used.
I've just checked the wiring layout for the 4001-V63 at the Rick website.
http://www.rickenbacker.com/us/19501.htm
According to the drawing there are indeed two 0.47 caps attached in circuit, one to each tone pot, so do we remove only the one at the treble pot, both, or none !!!
Now this drawing was done in 1993, so it may have been updated. My v63 is a 92, so I'm not sure if the same layout was used.
"It's Red Jim, but not as we know it...."
Jim, Everyone,
The two large orange/yellow caps marked .047uf stay put, they are for normal tone operation. On most(not all) Rick basses there is a third cap that is smaller, marked .0047uf, that runs from the selector switch to the treble volume pot. This cap dates back to the horseshoe pickup days and is used to block low frequency (bass) sounds from the treble pickup. All it really does is make the bass weak and clanky. The easiest remedy is to solder a piece of insulated wire across the cap to each end. This will short out the cap as if it wern't there. This way the mod is totally reversible. You will be amazed at the difference. Chris I did this to your old white '77 and added a toaster, she rocks.
The two large orange/yellow caps marked .047uf stay put, they are for normal tone operation. On most(not all) Rick basses there is a third cap that is smaller, marked .0047uf, that runs from the selector switch to the treble volume pot. This cap dates back to the horseshoe pickup days and is used to block low frequency (bass) sounds from the treble pickup. All it really does is make the bass weak and clanky. The easiest remedy is to solder a piece of insulated wire across the cap to each end. This will short out the cap as if it wern't there. This way the mod is totally reversible. You will be amazed at the difference. Chris I did this to your old white '77 and added a toaster, she rocks.
No matter where you go - there you are.
We understand Jim....lol
Ok, so....do you take BOTH caps off, or just the treble cap?....
Both v's I have sound "muddy" on the bass side when using flats, the other one sounds bright and crisp with rounds....
I'd leave rounds on all of 'em but I don't like all the noise associated with finger picking...
Will taking the caps off make my v's sound boomier and crisper?
Ok, so....do you take BOTH caps off, or just the treble cap?....
Both v's I have sound "muddy" on the bass side when using flats, the other one sounds bright and crisp with rounds....
I'd leave rounds on all of 'em but I don't like all the noise associated with finger picking...
Will taking the caps off make my v's sound boomier and crisper?
1973 4001 MG cb fwi
1986 4003 Shadow
2012 4004Cii FG w/gold trim
1986 4003 Shadow
2012 4004Cii FG w/gold trim
- iamthebassman
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It never fails. I always seem to order a bass and have to wait thru the weekend, never seem to order on a Monday. And to make matters worse, I always have a couple of gigs on the weekend, at which I could be using my new bass, but NOOOOOO!!!
"Top 10 Best Bass Players" Austin Music Poll 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010
- iamthebassman
- Veteran RRF member
- Posts: 2415
- Joined: Tue May 28, 2002 5:00 am
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My experience with flats on Rics(I have them on 2 of my 3 Ric basses):
GHS Precision Flatwounds(not Brite Flats, they suck)-Good tone, smooth, good price.
TIs-Not very smooth, too mellow.
Rotos-Great tone, very smooth, kinda pricey.
Pyramids-Good tone,not very smooth, very pricey.
D'Addarrio Chromes-Great tone, very smooth, tension is pretty high.
I have also used Roto Solo Bass(?)the green package. They're compression wound. They sound good but have the sustain of roundwounds.
For reference, I play in a Beatles tribute band and have to get "Rain" tone and "...Help from My Friends" tone as well by just changing pickups. The strings have to be able to produce both sounds, IOW have a wide tonal spectrum.
GHS Precision Flatwounds(not Brite Flats, they suck)-Good tone, smooth, good price.
TIs-Not very smooth, too mellow.
Rotos-Great tone, very smooth, kinda pricey.
Pyramids-Good tone,not very smooth, very pricey.
D'Addarrio Chromes-Great tone, very smooth, tension is pretty high.
I have also used Roto Solo Bass(?)the green package. They're compression wound. They sound good but have the sustain of roundwounds.
For reference, I play in a Beatles tribute band and have to get "Rain" tone and "...Help from My Friends" tone as well by just changing pickups. The strings have to be able to produce both sounds, IOW have a wide tonal spectrum.
"Top 10 Best Bass Players" Austin Music Poll 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010
Congratulations, Jim, you're going to love your v63. My '99 has become my favorite; the lack of binding makes both neck and body feel a bit more comfortable to me. It also seems that the neck profile is more slim than that of my '02 4003. I find the vintage pickups to be more sensitive than the high gains (I've heard someone describe them as being more "hi-fi"), a little distortion goes much farther than with my other RICs. I really love the simplicity of the design, too.


