Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Mod or upgrade? I'd been wanting to try the volume, volume, tone arrangement on my CII for a long time, but didnt like the idea of any permanent, irreversable modifications,(reaming out the switch hole for a third pot.)

After a little research,I found that Stewart-MacDonald offers concentric style pots that fit perfectly in the stock holes that RIC uses.

They work great! A little pricey, but worth it. My bass is currently wired Vol/tone, Vol/tone for each pickup, with the switch disabled. This allows for the blending for the two pickups, with independant tone controls. And it is completely reversable back to stock if I choose.

I think they look cool too. www.stewmac.com

Cool Scott, I would also prefer to be able to blend the pickups of my 4004/5Cii rather than just switch between them.

That looks really great Scott! There is a use for the switch, as a mute. I had one on my first Zon so that I didn't have to change any control settings (relative volume settings of the two pickups)during breaks at gigs.

Just to clear up some controversy that we had earlier this year concerning clearance in the control cavity when using concentric pots, I didnt measure it exactly, but I'd say the pots fit with a good 1/2 to 3/4" of an inch clearance between the rear of the pot to the control cavity cover.

I may try that on a 4004 soon ... very cool ... that allows you to blend and toggle ...

the simplicity of no toggle and a vol vol tone arrangement is nice ...

just ask Jaymi how he likes his ...

I have a similar setup on my Cheyenne. I love the tonal flexibility it offers.

That looks great, Scott! Good job! Added flexibility and no real mods!

cool!

I've said it before but it is worth repeating. That is a pretty piece of wood there Scott. I have wanted to do that very mod on my 4004C but just have not found the time yet. Reversable is always good!

I think several of us 4004 owners have come to realize the one volume and one tone and one toggle just doesn't give you the subtle tones that the 4004 is capable of ... but blending pickups does ...

I wonder why RIC doesn't do that as standard? From what I believe I've read didn't RIC use those concentric pots on the very first 4004's?

Personally I'd like to keep the switch in order, as it allows a very quick change in tone without messing up 2 other sounds...although I readily admit I rarely use the selector switch on my 4001

Well, I have an idea of what I want to do with my 4004-when I get it...hehehe.

Scott-how much $ are those pots? And how does one install them?

Scott, I have the Jeff Rath/Ted Staberow Cheyenne I as you know. Ted did the GREAT work...Jeff did the GREAT mod...The C1 is sooooo much better with the ability to blend the pickups...It is an excellent way to get more tone....

I gave right around 28.00 bucks apiece for mine through Stewart-MacDonald. www.stewmac.com

This includes pot and knobs, they are very compact and have a real smooth feel. Expensive but worth it to me.

I don't think $28 is that costly of a mod, especially to get all the tones you can get out of your bass now. It's cheaper than an effects box would be to try and get different tones.

pretty much any 2 pickup bass with passive electronics will sound different with it's two pickups at the same volume ... when you roll off the volume of the neck pickup on a 4003 from 10 to 8 the bass growls more ... with the 4004 you have to toggle the neck pickup off ... it's like the difference between a dimmer switch and a toggle switch ... the dimmer gives you many subtle shades of light ... the toggle is all on or all off ...