Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

In the 70s, did RIC ever use a white switch tip? I have a '75 4001 with white knob, the switch threads are too short to accept a black tip, and the switch looks like it was original. Input?

John can you post a pic of the wiring harness without going to a lot of bother?

I assume that you checked pots codes etc to make sure they are correct for the year and also the solder joints at the switch to see if they looked like they were done at the factory? If you have done all this it makes for a very interesting bass.

johnallg wrote:In the 70s, did RIC ever use a white switch tip?

Yes. I've seen them paired with a white nut (i.e. 72s, 73s) before but they definitely pop up.

Personally I love 'em, always thought they look pretty sharp especially with the white Delrin nut.

This bass wiring and most pots have been all rewired/replaced, but the switch is very oxidized like it would be if from 1975. Like Jeff, I've seen a few 4001 basses from the earlier 70s with a white switch tip. This one's nut is black and looks original. Just wondering and curious about whether RIC would have used them. I wonder why. Didn't Gibson use a switch like this and they have white tips?

My former July '73 4001 had a white switch tip on it when I bought it; it was shorter than the RIC black tip. Is yours the same length as the black switch tips that normally come on these?

No Jeff, the white tip is shorter and also the screw threads are shorter. Won't take a black tip because of this.

So the black and the white tips aren't interchangeable?

My recently acquired '73 model 480 guitar had a new wiring harness installed on it, (when it was refinished and tinkered with four years ago). The seller included the original wiring harness in a bag and it had a white switch knob, so I reinstalled the white knob and assume it is orginal, but I have no way of knowing for sure.

gibson used the switchcraft 90 deg. switch in the thinner guitars w/ white switches but they were 1/2" bats in white or black with shorter thread stem. all ricks i've seen used black 3/4 bats with longer thread stem.

steversaurus wrote:So the black and the white tips aren't interchangeable?

Not on mine. Mine has the shorter 1/2" bat and tip. Underneath the switch looks like a RIC one and has the same corrosion the old ones display.

RIC has never used white tips, whereas many of the copy guitars did. Anyway, it has to be a replacement and/or came with a non-original replacement switch.

johnhall wrote:RIC has never used white tips, whereas many of the copy guitars did. Anyway, it has to be a replacement and/or came with a non-original replacement switch.

I never noticed that!

johnhall wrote:RIC has never used white tips, whereas many of the copy guitars did. Anyway, it has to be a replacement and/or came with a non-original replacement switch.

Highly possible it was a long ago replacement as the wiring and pots were all redone at some point before I got it. I had to remove a Badass tailpiece from it also. 99.999% sure it is not a copy as Rosa signed it.

jps wrote:My former July '73 4001 had a white switch tip on it when I bought it; it was shorter than the RIC black tip. Is yours the same length as the black switch tips that normally come on these?

My Dec '72 had the same switch, as have quite a few basses I have seen from mid-late '72 until early '73 only. I can't recall seeing one on a '75 though. Maybe someone else here might have?

Given the relatively short window that you usually see these as I mentioned above, and the number that we have seen in that window, it seems irregular that they would have all been replacements just within those few specific months.

My '77 450/12 has the same short, white selector switch tip...always figured it was a replacement, thanks JH for the confirmation. I've never looked under the hood of this guitar but I'm pretty sure it's been monkeyed with a bit...the neck p'up tone knob works in the opposite direction than it should Still sounds great, though.

So the white tip must have been a predominantly '70s trend. Like disco.