Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Peter, I would like to take a picture, and I will try, I think i made it sound a lot more complicated than it really is, I just try to imagine any mistakes people can make and probably include a lot of unnecessary information.
Paul to answer your questions, I am not sure if the rotational direction can be reversed or not, I have thought of just reversing the wires in the treble tone (cap) pot and I'll try that tomorrow and let you know if that works, I don't think it will. (I tried the left hand lug and the middle and it did not work correctly, it was almost like a switch)I would rather have it turn the opposite way too and will see if I can figure something out.
And yes I meant the lug that you are referring to as being the left hand lug, every direction I said was with the pickguard upside down the way you would work on it.
Basically what you do is combine the two tones into the bass tone control and use the treble tone as the control for the cap.
And I think the ric-o-sound will still work, I'll try that tomorrow also. I know that the two tones will change simultaneously though.
Actually I think if I can draw a diagram it would be a lot more clear than a picture, for example even in a photo as clear as Pauls with wiring so nice as Pauls, I still can't follow all the wiring in it, the wiring on the underside of the pickguard is very close and hard to follow.
I'll see what I can do to make it easier. I will also try to take a picture.

cap control
circuit 4.bmp (23.3 k)

woops.

Bob: I am evaluating your wiring circuit for the Model 4001/4003. In my case, with a Model 4003. I find that the treble tone pot very nicely pulls in the deeper tones for the treble pickup. However, at the same time I find the bass tone pot less effective, that is, the wiring changes do not add significant treble tonality to both pickups as you have found. Did I goof? I am using a .0047 mfd cap in place of the straight wire.

For Model 4003

1. REMOVE GUARD - Take off the pickguard, you can do this without detuning if you are careful.

2. POSITION CIRCUIT - Turn the pickguard upside down such that the tone control pots are at the top with bass tone on the left and the treble tone pot on the right.

3.TREBLE TONE CONTROL POT - Start with the upper right treble tone control pot and unsolder the ground wire that is on the middle lug of this pot and also on the back of the bass tone control pot. Resoldier it to the back of the BASS VOLUME CONTROL pot so the bass tone is still grounded.

4. MOVE .047 UF CAPACITOR - Unsolder the the .047 uf cap for to the treble control pot and resolder it to the same lug as the .047 uf cap on the bass control pot. The bass tone control pot will be the treble tone for both pickups. They should sound exactly the same as before, and equal to one another due to this wiring.

5. TREBLE VOLUME POT - Replace the solid wire that goes from the middle lug of the treble volume to the bottom lug of three way switch with a .0047 uf cap. Examining your treble tone control you should, at this point, only have a ground wire attached to the back of the pot coming from the treble volume control. There should be nothing attached to the three lugs.

6. TREBLE VOLUME POT - Solder a wire to the middle lug on the treble volume control to which that the .0047 cap is attached. Solder the other end of that same wire to the middle lug of the treble tone control.

7. THREE WAY SWITCH - Now solder another wire to the other end of the cap (where it is soldered to the three way switch is best) and solder the other end of that wire to the lug that is to the right of the middle lug of the treble tone control. The left hand lug should have nothing attached to it.

Bob, this is what I did with my 4003?

That sounds correct to me Peter. Are you getting less treble than before? If so I suspect something is wrong. You should have the same amount (with the treble tone open all the way, fully clockwise). I do find if I leave the switch in the middle and turn one of the volumes way down to almost nothing it effects the treble but for me it is insignificant because I would never play that way. I leave the treble volume on full and vary the bass volume from maybe one quarter to full and don't get a change in treble output. I don't really get extra treble either, but with the cap control fully clockwise (only the cap engaged) I get that old 4001 scooped sound which to me sounds more trebly, this mod won't actually give you more treble just the abilty to get the old 4001 sound and the new 4003 sound and anywhere in between.
I am trying to get a schematic on here, I should have it today, my sister in law is redrawing it in power point for me.

Bob: Thanks for your additional comments. I have essentially the same experience as you so things are working the same. I agree, there is a new sound (4001) that I did not get before which is worth the effort. I will explore some more and see what variations I can get. I certainly get no less treble than before.

If anyone is waiting for a schematic I finally got one I think I can upload from these internet cafés, but I forgot it, I should have it tomorrow.

this was the best I could do, at least you can see the wiring, all new connections are in heavy black. on the three way switch the outer lines are the upper lugs. This is viewed as you would see it from upside down. The upper right hand control is the treble control (which is now the cap control) etc. There will be one lug open on each tone control.

Bob: Can you send me a large file from the cafe?

Very cool, Bob.
I'd like to have a large one too, please.
Thank you.

I'll see what I can do, I can't run this scanner here and the owner doesn't seem to know anything about it either, she may still have it on a disc I'll see when she comes back.
Actually it may still be on a disc on another computer here now, when it is open I will grab it and check, if so I'll send them to anyone who wants them.

Sign me up for one too Bob. Thanks.

OK will do.

Check your mailboxes, if anyone else wants one let me know.