Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Do the knobs for the vintage Ric basses(the non top insert type) fit on the new 4003 basses?

Pretty much all pots (except mini-pots and metric ones) have 1/4 inch diameter shafts, and have been that way since way back in the 1920s. So, yes, they fit.

except for the 4003 equipped with the push/pull pot on the treble tone control. that is a smaller diameter shaft so a vintage knob will not fit as well but you'll have to turn the set screw in most of the way. anyone ?

Unless you make a sleeve, it'll be spinning round like a wonky bicycle wheel.....

if the set screw is long enough, it should tighten up. the disc knobs have the same principle unless RIC is making disc knobs with smaller dia holes.

do you think using some tape wrapped around the shaft,there by expanding the diameter, and then cut off even with the shaft top might do the job? I really like the look of the vintage knobs. Thanks.

Johntheson wrote:Do the knobs for the vintage Ric basses(the non top insert type) fit on the new 4003 basses?

Yes. They are solid shaft pots and the knobs are set screw. No mods are needed even for the 500K DPDT pot.

One thing I haven't checked: the skirt on the vintage knobs is of a larger diameter -- are the pots physically far enough apart as mounted on the pickguard/control panel that there is room for the larger diameter vintage knobs?

the 4000 series basses can use both styles and certain models shared both at the same time.

BAD RONBO, KiLLeR DWaRfS wrote:except for the 4003 equipped with the push/pull pot on the treble tone control. that is a smaller diameter shaft so a vintage knob will not fit as well but you'll have to turn the set screw in most of the way. anyone ?

I have the vintage knobs on all three of my 4003's with the push/pull switch and never had a problem , they work great, first thing I do when I get a 4003 is replace the standard knobs swith vintage ones and get rid of the high gain neck pick up and install a toaster, recently had a horseshoe installed on one of my 4003's and love it, no a big fan of high gain pick ups, love the toaster/horse shoe combo best..

BAD RONBO, KiLLeR DWaRfS wrote:if the set screw is long enough, it should tighten up. the disc knobs have the same principle unless RIC is making disc knobs with smaller dia holes.

The screw probably is long enough, what I meant was by moving the centre of the knob by that distance that it is smaller, will cause it revolve out of true, but then again does it really matter.

it will do a slight oval orbit but unless you're trying to create a wah-wah effect, you won't notice. and if you do notice...you'll be making a lot of fretting mistakes by not paying attention to your work on the board.

I just measured the shaft of the push/pull pot I ordered from RIC a few years back and it is a 1/4" in diameter. (Actual measurement is 0.2505") The bushing size is smaller than the 3/8" size of a normal pot though. The shaft has a reduced diameter through the bushinging. My knob tracks true.

i bought one from RIC for noto'76 brother's '74 and it was a smaller diameter shaft and bushing. could not use it. cavity was not deep enough over all.

More than one supplier? or changed since first coming out?