Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I have never liked the controls on my LK.....especially the middle and neck p/u being paired at the toggle. So I've had a set of dual-concentric pots ready to go in since before MARF II. Due to not knowing how I should wire in the toggle I've blown off the project since....and, certainly, because I'm lazy as well.

I was leaning towards wiring the pots vol/vol/vol/tone and just leaving the toggle as a dummy of signal "kill". This way the mods would be completely reversible.

Now I'm debating about just going with three dual-concentrics for individual vol/tone controls. I'm not sure this would create any benefit tone-wise over the vol/vol/vol/tone setup. I just don't like the fact of having a toggle in place that does nothing or is just a "kill switch" so I might as well just remove it and add the third control. The only issue, and it's a big one, is it requires the toggle hole to be enlarged so it is no longer completely reversible.

I'm not sure how much I care about the value down the road being impacted. I can't see it would be a BIG hit to the value but what do you think? For what i paid it's not like I could possibly lose money except for potential profit. The modification really has no downside (IMO) except that it is not original.

What say you?

I would do VVVT, I have never seen the need for separate tone controls except on stereo instruments. The dummy switch would give you something to play with during drum solos!

I agree with Jeffery...don't drill. Not that bass.

And incidentally, I think I'm going to do the concentrics on my Laredo, after much hemming an hawing over the years. Probably won't move the controls any more than I do now, but hey, I need to get something for Christmas.

edski wrote:And incidentally, I think I'm going to do the concentrics on my Laredo, after much hemming an hawing over the years. Probably won't move the controls any more than I do now, but hey, I need to get something for Christmas.

Hey Ed....I happen to know where you can get just what you need for your project......

http://www.rickresource.com/phpBB3/view ... 5&t=378482

What, a German Shepherd?

jps wrote:What, a German Shepherd?

Why are you "hounding" me with your shenanigans?

Brian, that's a doggone crazy idea! Is that Wal giving you these idea's?

Go ahead, it will make the other 59 more rare.

My hat's off to you if you do it. Shoot, the real Lemmy made it a habit to "customize" his bass any way he saw fit.

I think I would add all the electronics but not cut her until I heard the results. If the sound kills, then it might be worth the sacrifice. Good luck!

by doing a vvvt mod that is reversable you will not harm the value of the bass at all ...

it will be more playable and it will look essentially the same ...

jwr2 wrote:by doing a vvvt mod that is reversable you will not harm the value of the bass at all ...

it will be more playable and it will look essentially the same ...

But it's not reversible, is it? Doesn't the switch hole have to be made larger?

nyrkickazz1 wrote:

jwr2 wrote:by doing a vvvt mod that is reversable you will not harm the value of the bass at all ...

it will be more playable and it will look essentially the same ...

But it's not reversible, is it? Doesn't the switch hole have to be made larger?

The VVVT is just two dual-concentrics and the switch would stay in place. Three dual-concentrics would require the toggle hole to be enlarged.

Actually I did some measuring and laid out the knobs in the LK last night and the spacing for the third pot wouldn't look right. It's not even with the other two space wise and also ends up closer to the carved area than the other two. Cosmetically it would drive me nuts so the issue is now a dead one.

Any good ideas for wiring the toggle? i guess I could just leave it as is but what fun would that be?

sorry, i don't have a dog in this fight.

The only options I see for the switch are to either wire it up with a capacitor to act as as an instant tone cutoff, or you can have it operate a TASER that is mounted to the headstock.

bypass the toggle

phlemmy wrote:sorry, i don't have a dog in this fight.

G R O A N !!!

I like Jeff's TASER idea - set for stun if anyone else gets too close to it when unattended.

jps wrote:The only options I see for the switch are to either wire it up with a capacitor to act as as an instant tone cutoff, or you can have it operate a TASER that is mounted to the headstock.

The taser idea would have come in handy with the previous singer in my band!