Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Do I need more than a quarter-inch stereo to 2 quarter-inch monos splitter cable to take advantage of my 4001's stereo abilities? I tried it in my bass' ric-o-sound jack but it sends a regular mono blend to two amps. Also, one of the mono signals is really weak. Doesn't the stereo functon dedicate one pickup to each amp?

Kira, a decent splitter cable is all you need. Make sure it's the right type. The tip of the stereo plug should go to the tip of one on the mono plugs. The center of the stereo should go to the tip of the other mono plug. The barrels of all three plugs should be common.

Use the Rick-o-Sound jack on the bass, and make sure your pickup selector switch is in the center. One pickup should output to one of the mono plugs, and the other pickup to the other mono plug. If you're still having problems, it could be that one of the tabs on the stereo jack in the bass is not making good contact.

The cable has a stereo jack on one end which splits to two monos. The two mono jacks are labeled, one says tip and one says ring. Is that OK?

That should do it. When you plug the cable into the bass and into two amps, can you get the weak side to cut ina nd out when you jiggle the stereo plug?

beatlefreak wrote:That should do it. When you plug the cable into the bass and into two amps, can you get the weak side to cut ina nd out when you jiggle the stereo plug?

Nah, the jack seems solid. They signal's not terribly weak, just somewhat. I get a good mono mix to both amps. The wirings been worked on inside. Could someone have wanted it this way, for DI + amp out?

It's possible. Check out Joey's Bass Notes for a visual schematic that's easier to view than normal schematics.

Thanks, Dog, and thanks to Joey for an excellent visual. This is one diagram even I can sort out

Kira, pay special attention to the mono jack with all the extra blades - one could be bent or even held mono'd when in it is in the hole in the bass. That will cause always mono.

johnallg wrote:That will cause always mono.

Yeah - You want to be real careful with mono - It's highly contagious...

The mono jack has been resoldered and it's a lumpy mess, caused intermittency when I got it. I was able to twist the jack a little and gain a signal. Maybe I should redo them both correctly.

kiramdear wrote:The mono jack ... caused intermittency when I got it.

Sounds dangerous and intriguing!

Like my Mom used to say in the car, Jeff: "Don't make me come back there!"

kiramdear wrote:The mono jack has been resoldered and it's a lumpy mess, caused intermittency when I got it. I was able to twist the jack a little and gain a signal. Maybe I should redo them both correctly.

That would definitely be the place to look, Kira. The mono jack is the one that actually switches the guitar to mono mode.

Kira, Kris is right - a quick solution would be this but it is temporarily OOS:
http://www.rickenbacker.com/cart.asp?vi ... lectronics

Here is a replacement mono jack:
http://www.rickenbacker.com/cart.asp?vi ... lectronics

Thanks, John. I hope I can just clean up the existing (I'll compare the photo and see if they're factory), but it's good to know factory replacements can be had. The operation will take some planning; gotta see when I don't need it for a day or three, because unstringing and restringing plays havoc. It may not happen until I'm done with the album.