Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Do you still think the B string is better served by an HB1 ? I might switch back from toasters . Or maybe a toaster at the neck and HB1 at the bridge ?

I still like the hb1 for a B string equipped 4004, just seems like it serves those lower frequencies a little better. I also tried a toaster in the neck with an hb1 in the bridge but didn't like it, seemed like they were fighting each other. If you find that you're not liking the hb1's it could be something else. I didn't like them at first when I was using an Ampeg combo, now that I have a Markbass + Sansamp setup they sound great. They seem to work better with amps that have better clarity, the growl is more detailed with MB vs. Ampeg and those hb1's are very powerful and have lots of lows.

I like toasters but mainly for use in old 4001's for that classic rick sound. 4004's are geared toward a more modern sound.

Good info . Thanks for getting back to me

mark-have you modified your controls on any of your 4004's? i am thinking i would like to convert mine to vvt,dropping the mini-toggle out....

All three of my 4004's are Vol Vol Tone, Jeff Scott had already modded the Cii when I bought it and I liked it. I did the Laredo's using 500K vol pots/1000K tone pots following Jeff Raths advice. I had the harnesses presoldered by Bayou Audio who will build drop in electronics for about $30. I specified 1 5/8" shaft spacing, end pot terminals facing in (tight control cavity), wire length to jack 4-5", and pot values. The 500K/1000K pots really make the hb1's sound great, very clear and not too bright but with all the other good thing coming through, like the nice low end.

I should mention that the Cii has 330K pots previously installed and I have decided to keep those as it goes with the mellower tone that comes out of those walnut influenced basses. The Laredos are all maple and are brighter, which I prefer.

thanks,i think i would probably like to keep with what rickenbacker uses,so i would then just add a 330k vol pot to replace the toggle. i don't want to change the overall sound i am gettting,but would prefer to be able to mix the volumes instead of just switching between 2 different pickup sounds.

Actually RIC uses 500K pots on the 4004's, Mr. Scott put the 330K's in there when he did the VVT originally, he also had toasters in there too. I put the hb1's in when I added the B string and left the 330K's because it sounded a little different, maybe a little warmer.

markbass99 wrote:Actually RIC uses 500K pots on the 4004's, Mr. Scott put the 330K's in there when he did the VVT originally, he also had toasters in there too. I put the hb1's in when I added the B string and left the 330K's because it sounded a little different, maybe a little warmer.

Are you sure about that, Mark? I finally dropped a pair of concentrics into my Laredo, pretty sure they were 500/500's (Brian Crisman can possibly confirm.) Everything is soooo much brighter, I have to wonder if the old pots are 330K's...I give a hearty to the idea of using more resistant pots.

I kept the toggle working, using the schematic on Joey Vasco's site. I really love it, and my son jammed the other night for the first time with the Laredo since I dropped in the pots - he loved it! Now he's going to want one...

I think you should give him yours Ed . Family first

If you go to the RIC website, the schematic for the 4004 plainly shows 500K for the pot values. General rule of thumb anyways is to use 500K with humbuckers, 250K with single coils. Not sure why Jeffrey used 330K in his, maybe it was an experiment?

It is what I could find! I wanted to get those nice mil-spec conductive plastic pots and those were the closest I could get anywhere near the 250-500K range from the place I got them.

all of ya'll 's comments are making me think i will leave the wiring alone-i do NOT want to change the sound of my cii in any substantial way. i would be paying someone to do this work,and don't particuarly want to have to pay again to revert it. i am completely untalented mechanically-i would probably torch the bass if i tried to do it.....

Mark - I believe you about the schematic, I guess that's all we can go on, unless John Hall wants to chime in. I swear the bass sounds brighter than it did.

Rick - no, the son doesn't get the Laredo. Or the 4001. He was welcome to the J Bass, but the lack of frets didn't appeal to him when he was just starting out.

I just finished installing 4 split single coil pickups wired V,V,V,V,V,V,V,V.T,T,T,T . I had to route a 12" hole in the front to fit the pots .

edski wrote: I finally dropped a pair of concentrics into my Laredo, pretty sure they were 500/500's (Brian Crisman can possibly confirm.)

If my memory serves me correctly, you are correct.

VRICKY63 wrote:I just finished installing 4 split single coil pickups wired V,V,V,V,V,V,V,V.T,T,T,T . I had to route a 12" hole in the front to fit the pots .

My Blackened Laredo/ACG preamp project needed some routing to fit the electronics, battery and 5 pots (2 are stacked).....not quite a 12" hole in the rear but a tad bigger than stock. There was a bizarre "minor" mishap during the pot-hole-drilling-process so the "Blackened" theme is undergoing slight modification at the moment.

Tony at Pickguardian made a perfect new control cover BTW. I can't wait until the shell is returned so I can take it for a spin.