Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

In 1973, I re-wired my then jetglo 4001 to stereo using 2 new mono jacks and isolating each pickup to each jack. Since then, I have always re-wired my guitars this way. Each cord goes to it's own set of effects and then on to it's own amplifier completely isolated.

The main reason for this is that I had been using a stereo cord and it shorted out during an important performance, and I did not/could not find a suitable solution to it on the fly. Had I been able to use a regular cord, I would have been able to borrow a cord from one of the mono players that I usually played with. Also, mono cords are available everywhere, but stereo are sometimes hard to find in a pinch. At any rate, I have to have them separated for the individual effects anyway.

Question:

Is there a way to replace one of the pots with a push-pull pot similar to that used in the "vintage" circuit, so that it can take both pickups signals and combine them when switched on?

My hope is to make both jacks mono (both pickups combined) with the pull of a switch-and then have the jacks stereo when switched off.

If so, please advise me as to the best way to wire it.

Thanks in advance!

Another solution - maybe:
With the right type of mono and stereo jacks, they can be wired so that they work the standard Rick way when a mono cord is plugged in the mono jack, or a stereo cord in the stereo jack. But also so that if separate cords are plugged into each jack, each cord gets one pickup in mono. I.e. if you have a mono cord in the mono jack you get both pickups on that cord, but if another cord is plugged in the stereo jack you get the pickups separated one on each cord.

Thanks Dane and Geir! I hadn't thought about the plug option, so I am considering that for another project.

I did do the mod on my 4001 just like Dane suggested and it worked perfectly!

Not only did it alleviate the problem of one day winding up with only one channel to work with (actually it happens all the time!!!), I found that when shifted to mono mode while plugged in stereo the resulting sound is a little punchier. Not that I could not get a similar sound by spending time to adjust a few knobs, this way I can get that sound on the fly with the tug of a switch.

Additionally, because polarity is not an issue while in stereo mode, this makes the push pull pot I have also added that reverses the polarity of the neck pickup-effective as a phase switch.

I think I'll add a 4th push pull that reverses the stereo outputs.

Please advise as to where and how this should be done.

Also, I have 2-330k pots and 2-500k pots. Should I make the 500k volume or tone, or should I make the 500's the neck or bridge only?

Thanks! again. I LOVE THIS FORUM!!!