Rickenbacker 3001 Wiring

[blaine63]

I'm interested in how a 3001 is wired. Ive seen the schematic on the Rickenbacker site...but it's easier for me to decipher a wiring diagram rather than a schematic.

Does anyone have a wiring diagram for a 3001...or pictures of a loom?

[jps]

In the case of the RIC wiring diagrams they really are pretty simple to decipher. Just think of them as a road map of how things connect together. Lok at your harness on your bass and just follow where the wires are going to each component. The pots each have three lugs, don't worry about the rest of the pots, just the three lugs (connection points) and follow the wires on the harness in relation to the lines on the schematic drawings.

Hope this helps.

[blaine63]

I understand that. That's easy. I just don't know which lugs to connect to nor do I know the values of the pots.

Those are the main hang ups I have with their schematics.

I have two 320s. When I first looked at the diagrams I was puzzled. I opened one up and I saw how it was wired. I looked at the diagram and scratched my head. I started thinking that Rickenbacker's notorious paranoia with regards to proprietary info led them to goofing with the online schematics in order to thwart someone stealing their ideas (sixty year old ideas in some cases!).

[jps]

I see. There are no values on that particular schematic. The pots. themselves. usually have the Ω value stamped right on the casing, although it could be obscured by clouds covered with solder, possibly. Hopefully, someone will come along who knows the values to help you out.

[aceonbass]

The original pots in RIC guitars and basses did NOT have the values stamped on them in the 70's, although volume controls were always 250K, and tone controls were usually 500K. RIC's schematics are no more or less complicated than anyone else's, so there's no deliberate complication of them on their website. Without knowing what the symbols and which lugs on the pots "C1", "C2', and "C3" are referring to, you can't just follow the lines from one component to another. I've had a couple 3001's and a few 3000's, and no two were ever wired exactly the same for some reason, while the other Rick models I've dealt with have been pretty consistent. The "bass boost" and "treble boost" controls were never really that great to begin with on the 3001.

[blaine63]

Thanks, Jeffrey...Hey, Dane!

Yeah...

Dane, like you messaged on the other forum, I'm assuming that the Vol is 250k and tone 500k each. Caps .47 with a 100k resistor.

Any idea if the wiring is similar to the G&L Legacy? I have a diagram for that and it sort of matches up to the Rick Schematic. I've seen several different takes on that same concept and for some weird reason it intrigues me.

I love different wiring ideas to find the same effect. I think it's kind of cool and funny at the same time.

Thanks, guys.

[daveman]

I would refer to the tone controls on the 3001 as "bass cut" and "treble cut".
The treble cut is just a normal passive "tone control."
The bass cut is kind of odd but can be useful in special situations.
I normally just run it wide open.
If you want, I can open mine up and take some photos.

[blaine63]

Seriously? I would like that. If it's not too much trouble.

Thank you.

[blaine63]

David, if you care...I can post pix of my Rick 3000 wiring.

Let me know.

[daveman]

Blaine63: will do in the next few days No trouble at all.

(I used to have a 3000 & probably already have plenty of pics of that -- simply V & T (standard treble bleed).)

[daveman]

Here ya go. Let me know if you need more or different.

[daveman]

One more:

[blaine63]

Dave...haven't gotten to diagramming the the wiring but I will.