Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I'm shopping for a Cheyenne as a graduation gift for my son. Seeing several Internet items where this bass (or other Ricks?) were rewired like a Jazz Bass. What's this all about?

some of us 4004 owners feel the 4004 bass sounds better with a volume, volume, tone arrangement rather than a toggle volume tone arrangement ... the whole idea is that you can now blend the pickups ...

I installed concentric pots on my 4004 for more tone control . I used the wiring diagram from an early 60s stacknob ( concentric ) Fender Jazz bass because that illustration was simpler for me to understand . Both versions work great .

Hey !!! I'm now a Senior member !

Nice graduation gift! Mine is concentric (V/T, V/T, and switch) like Barry's. Benefit there over the VVT is tone control on both pups. Congrats to the grad, too.

VVT or concentric VT/VT just gives you alot more flexability and control. The stock, "neck pickup", "bridge pickup" or "both" pickups is OK,,,but it kept me thinking hmmmm,,,,,"I wonder what this bass would sound like with just a little neck pickup rolled off"?

I drove me crazy until I went with the concentric setup. I think the "jazz type" VVT would be just as good though.

In practice I haven't found individual tone controls of much use unless the bass is running in stereo mode, hence the VVT setup is just fine.

Personally I find the stock 4004 wiring fine. I agree that more flexibility is nice, but for my style rolling off the tone and switching pu's is enough.

I'm sort of intrigued by the concentrics however. But it really isn't a pressing issue for me.

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Question for you guys with concentrics: do you have it wired so the pu selector switch still works?

I dont. I removed the original pots and switch as to not disturb the solder joints, and installed the concentric' pots with a dummy selector switch.

If I were to ever get a Laredo, I would probably go for concentric pots and keep the switch, so that the setup would be pretty much the same as a 4003 . . . I love those controls.

Bobcat, that's what I'd try to do if I were to make the change. I figure that using the wiring diagram from a 4001 up to the switch, and then following the 62 RI J Bass (which shows how to handle the 6 pins of the concentric pots) *should* do the job.

But I'd rather hear from someone who has actually tried that first...

Frankly I see the switch as semi-useless in that situation - if I were to design the 650 Dakota that I have I'd have skipped the switch, and the switch in my 4001 has given me more hassle than usefulness, but the switches are there and I'd rather if it were there that it be of use.

Just in case I wanted to use it...

I agree with Jeff about the individual tone control, I haven't seen the need to change the tone on each pup separately and it keeps things simple. As seen in this picture, I pretty much play with these controls dimed out, love the VVT setup.

the VVT setup has classic simplicity and great functionality ...

I find the toggle volume tone setup works better for guitar that bass ... but I am sure many guitarists will disagree with me ...

My Frickenbird project bass is wired VVT also, it works the best for me. Considered stack knobs but went VVT.

With concentrics I just do'nt need the 3 way switch .