Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

What exactly does that small 5th knob do? I have a new Ric 360 and I tend to just leave it set at the half way point. It affects the tone of the guitar in a different way than the tone knobs do, but I can't seem to get it to work quickly and easily during a gig without getting a little confused sometimes. Should I just leave it alone? LOL!

There's a fairly good description of the fifth knob in the Rickenbacker manual that came with your guitar, or else you can access the manual online at the Rickenbacker website.

Thanks, I'll have a look on-line.

Long story short, I think of it simply as a mix between the two pickups. It gives you the whole range between neck and bridge without having to mess with the "normal" volume knobs.

Howdy,

It's simply an extra neck p/u volume knob. After years of ignoring it and just leaving all my knobs wide open and EQing my amp knobs accordingly, recently I've tried to actually USE it; what the heck, it's THERE! LOL

Eggman

The knob is wired to the neck PU only. It is wired like a volume except that it does not short the circuit to ground.
Some of the signal still passes through as 250K can't totally
cut it. Since there is no grounding, you don't loose (in theory) as much high end as you turn the knob down. This
helps blend the pickups better than using the volumes.
In theory that is....

I have sort of concluded that it's a great tool for tweaking a great sound in the recording studio but I am unable to use it effectively in a live gigging situation.

Turn it all the way, clockwise = major jangle
Other way = full, rich tone

"What exactly does that small 5th knob do?"

It does magic Bob....

LOL! Yeah, it does have a nice effect on the tone but it's a little complex for me in the middle of a gig so I just turn it up half way, adjust the amp top suit, and I'm on my way!

It is useful for tweaking your tone (as are the tone knobs!), but I'd still prefer a master volume.

Normally, I have the tone knobs full on. Don't think I've ever changed them because of the 5th knob.

I play both pups on my Rick, and going to a solo, no stomp box, means one volume up (I'm usually not fast enough to turn em both up!) and as a result, a change in tone.

I'm a relative newby regarding playing a Rick live, so perhaps I'm just doing something bass ackwards.

I too prefer a single master volume. Maybe I need a master volume and a blender pot. I'm not fast enough to change both knobs either.

I have found that it seems to do more than its preported to do on my Ric 360. It seems to add more than a little bit of bass on my Fender amps. But on my new Kustom all tube 36 Coupe the bass it adds is really nice.
With my other amps too I have always used the treble pickup on about eight with both pickups on (selector in the middle)and turn it up to ten for solos.
Problem is I'm used to Strats being easy to get on the volume control. I have thought long and hard about changing the treble pickup volume on my Ric to on top instead of on the bottom where I can get to it faster in a solo live.
But this Kustom has a 10 Db boost built into its effects pedal. It works on the clean and drive channel. Its pretty cool for Beatle songs like I Feel Fine for solos when you need to stay clean but need more volume.
I will probably still change the controls around at some date. I want to put some different guards on it and change out the pots for 500's. So that would be a good time to do it whenever that takes place LOL..

To amend my previous...
The fifth knob does give a wonderful range of useful tones, I use it often. But from the pre historic days til now, the only two guitars I've played live were a Tennesean and a Strat. The Gretsch had the master volume, and the Strat's volume knob it brilliant. Up to about 7, it's a gradual gain, from 7 to 10 it goes turbo.

I'm used to playing without boxes, so both guitars were easy to crank for leads. I have been working with my 1997 RI however, and with a little practice and acclimation, I'm getting the hang of the volume twist/lead bit. And it sounds so sweet cranked!

I am seriously considering making up a new pickguard for my 360 with a single volume and a single tone knob. Oh, and a toggle switch of course. I'll keep the original in tact so I can restore the guitar should I ever decide to part with it. For the way I play, it just has too many knobs and stuff for live performance. I really dig simplicity.