Ric 4003 push/pull tone knob functionality question

[dusterdan70]

TB Fam,
Have tried to research this, but am not getting a straight answer. HELP!

My push/pull selector on my treble tone knob works, and selects between a vintage or modern tone. However, I want to know what this knob is supposed to do when you rotate it on or off.

Currently, when I rotate this treble tone push/pull knob, it acts as a volume knob and turns the bridge pickup on or off. Is that right? There's also a treble volume knob on the bass, so what does that do differently if anything from a volume level perspective?

Is this supposed to be like this?? (I bought the bass used, and it's had some wiring work done....)

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[mikeswals]

Rotating it rolls off the treble for the bridge pickup, its one tone knob per pickup. The other one rolls off the treble from the neck pickup.
Treble roll-off, its the same with any passive bass.

Pulling up for vintage mode engages an extra capacitor that really cuts low-end output from the bridge pickup

 

[dusterdan70]

@mikeswals so this push/pull knob shouldn’t have any effect on volume though, right? Right now it is turning my bridge pickup volume up and down as i turn it. Seemed odd to me…

 

[mikeswals]

No it shouldn't be turning the volume off as you describe up top. Someone monkeyed with it

 

[Jeff Scott]

@mikeswals so this push/pull knob shouldn’t have any effect on volume though, right? Right now it is turning my bridge pickup volume up and down as i turn it. Seemed odd to me…

...(I bought the bass used, and it's had some wiring work done....)

There's you answer. As well as what Mr. Wal said. Can you contact the seller to ask him what changes he did?

 

[dusterdan70]

Thank you @mikeswals and @Jeff Scott, I very much appreciate the insights! Attached is a pic of the wiring...the black/white cloth wires are lead extensions coming from the pickups. I'm not sure about where the bridge hot (white) is going to the push/pull pot, I've compared this to a few diagrams, but am still a bit unsure.
Wondering if you fellas spot anything out of line from this pic?

 

[dusterdan70]

upon further review, it's fixed! The bridge pickup hot was wired to the push/pull lug which is downstream of the capacitor. I rewired it to the lug of the pickup selector switch which is upstream of the capacitor and it's perfect! Thanks for pointing me in the right direction guys, sometimes it helps to just talk through an issue

 

[Gilmourisgod]

The grounds soldered to the pots look kinda sloppy, I hope that wasn't original factory work. Glad you got it sorted. In future, post questions like this to the Rickenbacker Club thread, there are a few people who are literally experts at Ric wiring, @Aceonbass in particular, he builds and sells custom Ric wiring harnesses.

 

[iiipopes]

@mikeswals so this push/pull knob shouldn’t have any effect on volume though, right? Right now it is turning my bridge pickup volume up and down as i turn it. Seemed odd to me…

Well, it will have a slight effect on volume since the lowest fundamentals are cut from the signal.

 

[dusterdan70]

Well, it will have a slight effect on volume since the lowest fundamentals are cut from the signal.

Sure, that's to be expected. But before I rewired it, it was acting the same as a volume knob. Full on, full off, and everything in between. It was the darnedest thing

 

[iiipopes]

Sure, that's to be expected. But before I rewired it, it was acting the same as a volume knob. Full on, full off, and everything in between. It was the darnedest thing

Indeed. Yes, I have had that happen to instruments also. You found the wiring issue and fixed it. Rock on!

 

[lowendblues]

I have 2 push pull controls in my 4003s. One bypasses the cap, the other switches stereo and mono mode.

 

[D.M.N.]

I have 2 push pull controls in my 4003s. One bypasses the cap, the other switches stereo and mono mode.

That's how I have my Greco PMB-800 wired too, it's a great option for those with S models.