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Rick-O-Sound: What am I doing wrong (or right)?

pjmuck

pjmuck

Feb 8, 2006
1,183
68
New Joisey
www.naughtyhumphrey.com
#1
I've never bothered with the Rick-O-Sound output option on my '79 4001 before, but thought I'd giver it a try. I read up on it and purchased a stereo Y cable at Radio Shack, consisting of 1 stereo male plug in with two male single 1/4" outs (red=ring, gray=tip).

It was my understanding that when using Rick-O-Sound in this manner and sending each 1/4" to two separate amps/PA that it was splitting each pickup in two separate directions such that the bridge PUP could go to one amp and the neck PUP to another (When the pickup selector's in the middle/combined PUP position). However, with my bass both PUPs are going to both 1/4" outs, and if I solo either the bridge or neck pickups via the selector switch I still get that pickup sent to both outs. Furthermore, if I plug a standard 1/4" cable into the standard jack input on the Rick simultaneously, I get a third output. Again, it was my understanding that the standard output jack normally becomes disengaged when the Rick-O-Sound output is being used, but that's not the case here. Personally, having 3 outputs going at once opens up a world of possibilities, though I'd still like to be able to split the pickups to separate outputs rather than have them combined but going to 2 separate outs .

So what's the story here? Is my Rick wired wrong? Am I using the wrong cable?
 
#4
To the OP: I don't have an answer to your question, but I do have some other related questions whose answers may be instructive...

1. Would using something like a Rane dual channel compressor function as an effective stereo splitter? Seems like it would be ideal to conjoin its multiple abilities with the Ric's...

2. I wonder what would happen if you routed 2 Y-cables through 1 Y-cable? Or if you routed 4 Y-cables through 2 through 1? Etc. At what point does the signal become so diluted as to be unusable? Seems like this, too, could open up a lot of possibilities.
 
#5
EASonBass said:
I don't think the standard output becomes disengaged when the Ric-O-Sound is used.

I think you have the wrong type of Y cable. If the plug only has a Tip and a Sleeve its not correct.

It needs to be a TRS type plug splitting off to sleeve/tip and sleeve/ring.
Click to expand...

As I recall the mono jack does indeed get disconnected when the stereo (Rick O Sound) output has a jack plugged in. The problem could well be a combination of a wrong type Y cable and wiring. Check this out for reference. [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
 
#10
As has been said, you need a stereo to two mono splitter cable or box, and NO the two output jacks on the bass cannot be used simultaneously without changing the jack types, not sure it would work then.
When the standard jack is used, it switches off the ROS. If you look at the mono jack, you will see that it's not a standard mono jack.
 
#12
This is the actual cable I bought:

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/STP202/

It looks to be correct, so now I'm thinking it is wired up wrong. The question is, should I bother fixing it? What's going on right now is kind of cool, with 3 outputs happening at once.

Which would you prefer, the correct setup consisting of a stereo out to two mono lines with a split of each pickup and the standard out jack disengaged, or 3 mono signals out consisting of both pickups combined (or one or the other if I choose to switch to only one pickup).
 
#13
pjmuck said:
Which would you prefer, the correct setup consisting of a stereo out to two mono lines with a split of each pickup and the standard out jack disengaged, or 3 mono signals out consisting of both pickups combined (or one or the other if I choose to switch to only one pickup).
Click to expand...

Original Rick-o-Sound configuration, definitely. Three identical mults is easy enough to achieve with an aftermarket splitter -- and that's true with any bass -- whereas separating your neck & bridge pickups to different signal paths is totally cool & unique. I'd get that Rick wired up to its original state if it were my bass, definitely.
 
#14
Here's Mr. John Hall's (Rickenbacker CEO) take on the subject:

Posted: 11/1/2006 7:08:00 PM

Five minutes with a search engine gave me these alternatives:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Live-Wire-TRSMDual-14-Patch-Cable?sku=330897
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Horizon-HYSP-14-Inch-Insert-Cable?sku=336120
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/IPBQ2Q20/

Those Monster brand cables meet and probably exceed the audio specs of our kit.

Rick-O-Sound was functionally just a STEREO Y Cord. The emphasis is on stereo; a mono Y cord will not work.

This type of cord is also called a "Y insert" cable.
Click to expand...

(Recovered from [Invalid or Expired Link Removed])
 
#16
Hoover said:
Original Rick-o-Sound configuration, definitely. Three identical mults is easy enough to achieve with an aftermarket splitter -- and that's true with any bass -- whereas separating your neck & bridge pickups to different signal paths is totally cool & unique. I'd get that Rick wired up to its original state if it were my bass, definitely.
Click to expand...

+1. My take on using this Rick-o-Sound with a 'stereo to dual mono' cable was that I used one channel of a two channel amp for each pickup (a Peavey amp running a Peavey 215 cab with big Altec Lansing drivers). Given that amps were not nearly as full range and even and 'good' back in the 70's when I did this, it allowed me to EQ each pickup differently, and it sounded a bit better (i.e., I could dial in more brightness up top, and more low end down low) than running in the standard mono.

Quite frankly, I can't quite see the point of it now, given the much more full range and 'accurate' amplification we have these days. However, it did lead to a more full range sound for me back in the day.
 
#18
KJung said:
Quite frankly, I can't quite see the point of it now, given the much more full range and 'accurate' amplification we have these days. However, it did lead to a more full range sound for me back in the day.
Click to expand...

It's very useful when using overdrive or other effects, when you can keep the other signal clean and you always have that clear tone on the background.

Also, some Rics (like mine) suffered from somekind of phasing problem (volume and middle drop) with both pickups cranked up in mono mode. That could be corrected by rolling a bit of one of the pickup's volume down, but that alters the tone. By using stereo output, i can keep both pickups cranked without any side effects.

So i think it is very useful, especially when using distorted or/and effected sounds.
 
#19
#20
Kaivinkone said:
It's very useful when using overdrive or other effects, when you can keep the other signal clean and you always have that clear tone on the background.

Also, some Rics (like mine) suffered from somekind of phasing problem (volume and middle drop) with both pickups cranked up in mono mode. That could be corrected by rolling a bit of one of the pickup's volume down, but that alters the tone. By using stereo output, i can keep both pickups cranked without any side effects.

So i think it is very useful, especially when using distorted or/and effected sounds.
Click to expand...

+1, although for distortion or stereo chorus effects, I would want the full range of the bass in the 'clean and dirty' channels (i.e., both pickups equally represented in both of the 'stereo' channels). Hence, a simple 'Y' cable (or a head with a stereo effects loop and dual mono or true stereo capability) would be a better bet there IMO.
 

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