Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

As i await my 620 jetglo w/gold, and first rickenbacker from UPS, I want as much info as possible before I get my hands on it.

Just curious what the 5th knob controls?
It is a 2 pick up model with hi gains.
Thanks very much

Scott

Hi and welcome in the forum, Meez!
Click on search in "utilities" on the left, and look for 5th knob. This topic has come over and over and I'm sure you will get all the answers you're looking for and more!!! Cheers!

The 5th knob is used for tone adjustment to your treble and bass or as an equalization control for both.

I use it all the time Scott, as a master tone control. It's a great control that is shrouded in mystery. On the mid select, it has max treble if it is turned fully clockwise, but on the neck p/up, it is totaly opposite, more treb when turned counter clockwise. It has no effect on bridge p/up only. Really great.....

Scott,
A good place to start is the newly updated owner's manual (also posted on Ric's official website)it explains the 5th knob in good detail + much more. I recommend you check it out while waiting arrival.

I always thought it faded between the neck and bridge pickups. Hmmmm.

I'm not only a thread killer, but wrong most of the time too.

thanks a ton guys.

The fifth knob is another volume control for the neck pickup.

It's wired in series with the neck pickup volume control, making it function as a fine adjustment or maximum volume setting for the neck pickup, depending upon how you look at it. What it actually does for you depends upon how you use it in conjuction with the other controls.

By the way, some of the schematics are incorrect. Take this one, for example:

http://www.rickenbacker.com/pdf/19502.pdf

It shows that the lower (most clockwise) terminal of the 5th pot is grounded. In fact, it's not. If it were, it would cut the neck pickup out completely when set fully clockwise.

Here's the only 5-control schematic I found that shows this correctly:

http://www.rickenbacker.com/pdf/19519.pdf

Granted, I'm comparing a contemporary stereo circuit with a vintage dual mono, but I don't think this has any bearing on the wiring of the 5th pot.

The way I use the blend knob on my 460 is: (1) I check how loud the bridge pick-up is, (2) I check how loud the neck pick-up is, (3) I turn the blend knob while switching between pick-ups until I get the desired balance bewtween the two (the "right" sound). This way, I can switch to the neck pick-up for the thinner jingle-jangle sound and then switch to both to add the low end.

From what I understand, anything you can do with the 5th knob you can do with the neck volume pot.

But it does make a nice spot to put in a master volume or other mod without altering the look.

If you have a 3 pickup guitar you could put a blend control between the neck and middle pickup for a better varity of sound.

Or better still, in my view, rewire the instrument so that each pickup has its own separate volume.

If you read the manual, the 5th knob does everything, including making the tea & telling bedtime stories. It is the ultimate 'suck it & see' control. You have to play with it with your set up, as it does different things for different set ups. It is brilliant & I would be lost without it.
I have just realised that it is the ONLY control I use on my gtrs! All the rest are set flat out.

It seems to do a lot more than just balance the volume between the pickups to me.

"I have just realised that it is the ONLY control I use on my gtrs! All the rest are set flat out."

The 4005's have that 5th knob, as well....I use it the same way you use it...it seems to make the sound go from rich/full to thin/trebly and anywhere in between.