Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I've had my 4003fg for about a week and I'm noticing a very scratchy toggle switch. It crackles significantly when switching but also, in the middle position, if you gently move it in circles, it scratches a lot! Once it cut out the sound completely before I touched it gently to get the sound back on again. Is this a dirty (how??) switch, a loose connection, cold solder or a bad switch? I'm hesitant to take it apart because of warranty (but then again, I'm not going to send it back to California for a switch).

Hi Douglas - I had the same problems with my 330 - playing a note hard while in the middle position was enough to rattle the switch and cause some crackling. I had emailed rickenbacker support, and they told me to spray some switch cleaner into the switch, toggle it back and forth a few times, and that cured it. I can't remember the brand of cleaner they suggested, or the brand I used, but I got mine at Fry's electronics...

DeoxIT D5 is fabulous, I use it in my P.A.stuff, and works great, scratchy pots etc., cleans and lubricates.

Thanks guys. I'm doing some 'surgery' on the 4003 this weekend when my Pickguardian arrives. I'll take some time to fiddle with the switch as well.

If fixed the switch. At JH's suggestion, I pinched the contact blades together and then, from another suggestion, I ran a piece of paper between the contacts while the switch was closed on each side. Worked like a charm.

I also installed a "mirrored plexi" Pickguardian. Looks magnificent!

this bass here had that problem ... http://www.3dentourage.com/425/1990%204003s5%20mg.htm so I opened it up and the inside part of the toggle was bent so I bent it back and now it works fine ... if you can't fix it easily then fix it with the warranty ...

Yeah, bending the switch leaf usually works.

For contact cleaning... I ran out of "real" contact cleaner one day, and I had a few very dirty sliders on my mixer, from spilling Pepsi in it some years ago. In a pinch I used WD-40! Worked like a charm... even better than the contact cleaner I was using.

Drathbun: A gorgeous looking finish. Thanks for sharing these nice photos.

I had the same problem on my brand new 4003MB back in December of 2005.

I called AND e-mailed customer service at RIC for about 2 weeks (in mid January) and never received a return call or e-mail. I ended up sending the bass back and the dealer swapped out the bass!

Sounds like you were trying to contact RIC right during NAMM time, a pretty busy time for them.

.. if you can't fix it easily then fix it with the warranty----Jeff Rath.

Words to live by.