Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

The other day I picked up my old 76 4001 (the one I'm still babysitting), plugged it in, and ....nothing. Not even a buzz. I had a look inside and the only things I could see were the ground wire from the bridge had become disconnected, and the thick grey wire going from the Ric-O-Sound jack to one of the pots had also come off (was playing it mono). My soldering iron was dead so couldn't do anything.

Got a new soldering iron today, opened it up, reconnected what had come loose, and ...still nothing. I've checked all the solder joints and they appear ok (although I'm no electrical wizard). Nothing seems to be touching anything it shouldn't. Played it the other week and it was fine, although the selector was cutting out a bit and you had to jiggle it to get the treble pickup to come on. I must admit I'm baffled. I intend to take it apart again at weekend, but I don't expect I'll find anything I haven't already seen.

Anybody any idea what's wrong? It seems to be completely, utterly dead.

"Utterly dead"? Not even hum can be heard?

Hi Sergio. No, nothing at all.

I'm thinking you will need an ohmeter to check continuity at various spots.

From your description I guess the problem - a plain old-fashioned short - lies in the selector switch and/or the output socket(s).

or shorts! (ref to my ohmeter comment)

http://www.rickenbacker.com/pdfs/4003.pdf

Also covers the 4001

When I put my toaster pickup in, one of my ground wires was shorting the lead wire to ground, I think. Anyway, moved the wire around a bit to separate them and it worked. Silly ground getting in the way.

Thanks guys. I figure it'll be something like that (hopefully). I wouldn't mind so much if it was one of my basses, but it isn't, and as I'm "babysitting" it I feel somewhat responsible. Having said that it's been absolutely hammered since I sold it! I suspect it's one of the things Sergio has mentioned, but we'll see.

I'll have to invest in an ohmeter. And then I'll have to work out what to do with it ...

did you remember to turn the amp on?

LOL! I hope so Jim, otherwise my 72 is the loudest bass on earth played acoustically.

Same here Ryan. Those wires are awfully close together on the new toasters. A little shrink tubing cured that for me.