Which Way Do Your Knobs Face?

gt40graham · Post by **gt40graham** » Sun May 11, 2003 2:10 am

Which way do the knobs face or are they put on at random? On my 4001, which was bought new, when the volume/tone knobs are full on, the "pointer" is towards me ie pointing in the direction of the bridge pickup. On my 330/12, when the knobs are full on, all I see is the grub screw holding the knobs on. Is there a set position or does it depend on who puts them on and what sort of day he/she is having?

admin · Post by **admin** » Sun May 11, 2003 2:42 am

Graham: I can't imagine these knobs being put on at random at the factory. I have probably put the knobs on and off my instruments more than John Lennon. LOL There is the wear and tear factory that has us needing to tighten the knobs as they come loose and so each person will make the adjustment to suit.

I think an even more interesting question might be, how often do you use these knobs anyway. I have all of mine full on as that is the tonality I prefer. I tend to use my switch moreso than the knobs and make volume adjustments through the amplifier in concert with a volume pedal.

rickcrazy · Post by **rickcrazy** » Sun May 11, 2003 4:57 am

Quite an interesting thread, Graham.
On every Rickenbacker instrument I have seen or bought, turning the knobs full off would leave the pointer dots thereon at 10 o'clock as viewed from above with the neck of the guitar to your left. I always alter that setting so that the pointer dots are at 6 o'clock instead. When full on the dots are at 4 o'clock.
I use all four knobs on the Ricks very often. I rarely change my original amplifier settings.

gt40graham · Post by **gt40graham** » Sun May 11, 2003 8:53 am

Thanks for that Rickcrazy. It would seem then, that my 4001 has the knobs in roughly the original positions and those on my 330/12 have been altered, not for the better though.

On my 4001, I use the knobs a great deal as the range of sounds available from this bass are very varied. On the 330/12, the tone controls (as on all my guitars) are on full and never move. The "blend" knob does get quite a bit of use.

Thanks guys.

mrtidy · Post by **mrtidy** » Sun May 11, 2003 5:56 pm

The ONLY knob I use is the blend knob, which is weird since when I got my first Rick in 1984, I had no use for the strange little knob. Now the pickup switch remains in the middle and i vary the treble/bass tone with that little knob.

rick12dr · Post by **rick12dr** » Sun May 11, 2003 9:33 pm

My personal "knob orientation" on Ricks is typically this;
Silver topped'Lettered" knobs, with the white dot
pointing straight up[as I look Down on the controls]
Black/w-white line knobs, straight up[as I look down, again]
The position I orient them Also assumes that on a 5 knob model, the small knob is turned Full counter-clockwise[which, btw, is the way That pot is wired, anyway, for those that never figured that one out.]

gary_birkholz · Post by **gary_birkholz** » Mon May 12, 2003 5:03 am

I am new here .... I have a 660-12 string that is really nice and I was wondering why the little knob sounds the best when you have it turned "OFF".
Is this supposed to be the way it works , or is it just me .
By the way ... I like my knobs pointed up like Don does . Anyone else like their knobs up ?

mortivan · Post by **mortivan** » Mon May 12, 2003 5:33 am

"OFF" (anti-clockwise) for this control is actually full-"ON", isn't it?

ojobob2 · Post by **ojobob2** » Tue May 13, 2003 8:42 am

my 4003' knobs are at 5 0 clock when full on. this is with the bass in playing position looking down at the knobs. Interestingly, if you remove the knobs, you can see little marks when the screw contacts with the pot shaft. The only marks there corresepond with how my knobs face, so i guess it was always like that. My bandmates 330 however has the knobs at 12 0 clock when full on. Both these ricks are from the same year, so maybe its random