Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I'm itching to get my 4001 back in shape - really the only thing "wrong" is the mono output jack craps out. I've tried messing with it, it doesn't do any good.

Time for a new one I suppose?

Also, being the owner of 3 Ricks (the 4001, a Laredo and 650), it seems I should have the truss rod nut driver. Isn't that just a stock Excelite 1/4" nutdriver? Anyone know the model?

Or am I stuck paying RIC $20 for a $6 tool? (No offense intended JH)

Ed, see my post here:
http://www.rickresource.com/cgi-bin/discus/board-auth.cgi?lm=1187210497&file=/43/172508.html
for a suggestion about the truss rod tool.

I use a RIC Trussrod tool--a long-handled electronics (VACO?) nut driver and nothing but. You don't want to overtorque and snap the rod or pop a fretboard, and using anything with more leverage gives you reduced feedback and increased chance of doing just that.

I took my nutdriver and turned down the outside diameter of the socket portion nearly flush with the shaft, tapering the front edge a bit in the process, too. Helps me to get underneath bent bass rods to remove the nuts and get 'em out.

Regarding the jack, first thing to check is your cord--if it's a Chinese cord, the plug may be made out of spec. Use gennie American made cords or at least a cord with a Switchcraft plug on the end.

Next, you'll want to check that the contacts inside the jack (pull it out of the body) haven't drifted away from their proper position. They can be easily bent back by hand if they have. Check their operation with a plug inserted and the jack out in the open so you can see this.

Last, when you push the jack back into the guitar or bass, make certain that it's not being cramped or crushed by the walls of the hole in the guitar and enlarge the hole slightly or relieve it in the area of interference if necessary. I user a small round (rat tail) file to do this.

Sometimes you can fix this interference problem by simply rotating the jack to a different orientation.

The Ric-o-sound wiring sometimes causes the mono and / or stereo jack to flake out ... you can purchase new jack or jacks and have them replaced ...

you can put in a new ric-o-sound wiring setup or wire it with 2 mono jacks ...

Thanks for the replies guys...

Not sure where my cables are made, but they work fine with my J bass and my Laredo. I've been having issues with this 4001 for YEARS, and I have taken it out and bent them back. Suppose it won't hurt to try one more time. But I think that a new one is in order after 30+ years.

I see from the thread that Kris posted the link to that the L8 from Excelite should do...

to replace the jack only costs a few dollars and a few minutes with a soldering iron ...

The RIC Boutique has the jacks with wires on them.

ROS Harness

There is a little 'switch' on the mono jack. Perhaps this has gotten out of alignment.

Yeah the contacts on the mono jack get tarnished with time, try some DeoxIT. Also make sure the contacts are making solid contact when the plug is in, they open when the jack is unplugged, you may need to bend one of the arms a bit as long as they don't touch, the closer the better. 99% of the time it is the contacts that make the noise because of tarnish with the mono jack.

What Bob Said. Also watch any cleaner with regards to the finish... they can do nasty things. I have seen the contacts get distorted (bent) when the jack got a little loose. Good luck with it. Let us know hat happens.