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Ric 4003s wiring problem?

VirtualMan

VirtualMan

Mar 8, 2021
6
0
USA
#1
Hi everyone,
I recently bought a beautiful Rickenbacker 4003s JPS. I love the bass, but admittedly I stepped up all the way from a cheap Ibanez soundgear I got ages ago and have a lot to learn in the tech department.

Unfortunately, I’ve noticed it seems the “push” (modern), blended setting has an issue. With all the knobs wide open and with the switch in the middle, the sound is quite hollow. This isn’t a problem with the switch pulled to vintage. It also just takes a soft touch in either direct on the switch for the pick-ups to light up.
My initial assumption is that there is a problem with the switch, however I noticed just a while ago that if I roll either volume off 10% or so, I get the fuller sound. (Using either treble or bass volume) However, if I roll off BOTH volume knob at the same time just that small amount, the sound stays deader again.

To be honest, I’m still super happy with the purchase, but I would like to find out whats wrong and if it requires a significant repair to fix.

Thank you.
 
#2
I think it is probably a "character" thing with Ric's. They don't do opposite winds on the pickups (Reverse Wound, Reverse Polarity), so it could well be a phase issue (or something like that) when they're both on full.

If it goes away when you roll off a bit of volume on one pickup, do that.

I always play mine with the neck pickup rolled off a little anyway, as the neck has that little bit more "bite", but I like the "fuller" sound of both pickups on.
 
#3
By “hollow”, do you mean “thin and reedy, with no low end”? If so, the pickups are out of phase. But if by “hollow” you mean the scooped Jazz-like tone, with plenty of lows and plenty of highs and reduced mids, that’s normal.

Have either of the pickups been replaced?
 
#4
ctmullins said:
By “hollow”, do you mean “thin and reedy, with no low end”? If so, the pickups are out of phase. But if by “hollow” you mean the scooped Jazz-like tone, with plenty of lows and plenty of highs and reduced mids, that’s normal.

Have either of the pickups been replaced?
Click to expand...
The sound volume is cut drastically. At least by half. “Thin” describes it well, but its definitely not just a blend issue.

The previous owner never mentioned the PUs were replaced when he sold it to me.
 
#7
VirtualMan said:
Not yet. I am a member, but my understanding was that it was sort of an online ghost town now-a-days.
But I may go post that way today at some point.
Click to expand...
It is far from being a ghost. Very active. Peruse the threads to make sure the issue hasn't been asked and answered by someone else, then go for it. I will observe that the RIC factory forum has not been as active as in the past. Maybe that is what you are thinking of?
 
#8
I had t
iiipopes said:
It is far from being a ghost. Very active. Peruse the threads to make sure the issue hasn't been asked and answered by someone else, then go for it. I will observe that the RIC factory forum has not been as active as in the past. Maybe that is what you are thinking of?
Click to expand...
I thought it was both honestly.
Great to know that RickResource is still active.
Thanks.
 
#9
It’s hard to say if this is normal based on your description. It is normal for the middle position “all controls dimed” tone to display the standard phased midrange tone typical of any multi-pickup instrument, as well as a slight corresponding drop in output. If the pickups were wired out of phase then you could expect there to be next to no bass or low-mids in the middle position.
It is normal that rolling off one or the other volume slightly will fill in the mids again, though it definitely shouldn’t be anything like a doubling of output (which suggests out of phase pickups). Engaging the “vintage” tone switch has a similar effect with both pickups on of alleviating the mid-scoop of middle position (I have mine engaged 100% of the time for this reason).

Can you show a picture of the pickups and possibly a sound clip while switching the pickup selector?
 
#10
Like others have said, try the rickresource forum. They can be very helpful and there's no better place for info about Ricks but tread carefully over there. Anything that can be interpreted as a criticism of Rickenbacker will make the locals bring out the torches and pitchforks! I'm not kidding btw, people have been banned over there for criticising Rickenbacker.
 
#11
It is called 'comb filtering'. Some frequencies cancel each other out, so it sounds 'scooped'.
It happens on Jazz basses as well. If you want a fuller less 'scooped' tone just back of either pickup volume slightly to stop it happening. I tend to just roll back the neck pickup volume slightly.

I don't like that sound personally. It has it uses, but I have rewired the push pull pot so that the 'vintage' setting (with 0.0047 engaged) is the default. With this the comb filtering doesn't happen.

A lot of Rick players like the modern sound. Complaining that the bridge pickup sounds 'choked' if the vintage setting is used. As I don't use the bridge pickup soloed, it isn't a problem.
The bridge pickup supplies the top end and the neck pickup the low end. Lovely!!!!
 

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