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Ric 4003 problem

RSNG

RSNG

Sep 6, 2010
139
29
#1
My 2004 4003 has been sitting in the case for the past few years. I took it out today, and noticed that the treble pickup doesn't work.

My first thought was to start taking it apart in order to find a bad connection. But that seems unlikely, since this bass has had very little use. I'm wondering if the toggle switch could be sticking because of so little use over the past few years.

Should I try some cleaner in the toggle switch, or just start checking connections?

Thanks, RSNG
 
#3
RSNG said:
My 2004 4003 has been sitting in the case for the past few years. I took it out today, and noticed that the treble pickup doesn't work.
Click to expand...

It feels neglected and is pouting :hiding:

Your idea about the toggle switch is a good one. You might try just flipping it back and forth a few dozen times, that might be enough to clean up any corrosion that might have formed on the contacts.

If that doesn't do it, I'd suggest loosening the strings and then carefully removing the pickguard with all the controls on it - don't just spray contact cleaner on the toggle from the outside, who knows what it will do to the pickguard and finish!
 
#6
If you aren't hearing any output from the bridge pickup or at least some crackling from the switch, I'd guess that it's a bad joint. Luckily the electronics are super easy to work on if there is something wrong.
 
#8
Last night, the bridge pickup started working briefly, and was cutting in and out. I was getting the crackling from moving the plug in the input jack; not from the switch.

So, as soon I have some time, I'm going to remove the jack plate and take a look. What seems kind of strange, is that I would expect a short in that location to cut out the sound entirely. But, it was just the bridge pickup shorting out. The neck pickup stayed loud and clear.
 
#9
If you live in colorado then bring the bass by my house and I can fix it quickly ...

It is a wiring problem ... The dual jacks on the Ric-o-sound sometimes malfunctions and shorts out ...

Maybe the connections are bent and shorting out ... maybe a connectione needs to be resoldered ...
 
#11
I removed the jack plate. The standard jack is a switching jack, which causes two contacts to come together when you insert the plug.

The switching jack was working fine, but still no treble pu. So, I tried some cleaner on the contact points. Problem solved!

RSNG
 

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