Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Sergio was kind enough to swap me neck p-ups on the walnut '80 4001 i recently acquired. i thought it was just a matter of the up needing to be re-wound - but it is still quiet. audible, but producing maybe 1/2 of the volume that my other 4001 neck pup puts out.

couldn't locate any loose wires, connections seem good. only issue is in the mono jack, unless the instrument cable is 'just so' - all i get is buzz.

thanks for the help. and thanks again to Sergio.

You're welcome, Bryce. Maybe the problem lies in the volume/tone controls? I'm taking a wild guess here.

I would look at the wiring from that neck pup to the switch, through to the Bass Volume and Bass Tone controls, then on to the output jacks. I would also suspect the Bass tone capacitor (.047uF).

Pay special attention to the soldered connections for the ground (you say there is a buzz). Also look at the wiring at the output jacks carefully - the Ric-O-Sound jack also switches (mono-izes) the signal to the mono jack.

thanks john - i'll dig into it. the 'buzz' is the buzz similar to when a instrument cable it only half inserted - not so much a ground buzz.

i think i'm going to try to grab a couple .047 caps off of Mark.

Mark's caps are the .0047uF bridge in-line cap.

From the additional description, I would check/resolder all grounding.

i see. guess i should take a look at a schematic.

A cold solder joint could be the problem ...

John, thank you for the schematic link. i resoldered tonight, with the same issue. i would now assume a) i did a poor job of soldering b)it could the cap you mentioned. do you know where i could find an identical replacement (NOS or the like)? thanks again.

This problem often ends up being an issue at the jacks. Either the the wiring or one of the jacks is dirty, bent, or otherwise damaged.

thanks Ted, i'll look into that, hopefully tonight.

RIC Boutique has the caps, or any place that sells poly film caps should have them. Any poly .0047uF 50V (or higher - size will get bigger at higher voltages) will work.

got it -

re-soldered all the at the outputs as well as the connections back to the pots.

no more buzz, p-up is sounding as it should.

thanks to everyone who offered their advice and to Sergio for offering-up his services.

Woo Hoo - another problem solved and a Rick back in service! Way to go, Bryce!

Groovy.