Rickenbacher Bakelite wiring?

James Inkster · Post by **James Inkster** » 23 Jan 2010 11:25 am

Hi guys,

A while back i stumbled upon some schematics, etc, for re-wiring my mid-40s bakelite... i've since rounded up all the necessary components and was about to solder it together, but now i can't find the schematics...

Does anyone know the site i'm thinking of?
thanks!

Roger Kelly · Post by **Roger Kelly** » 23 Jan 2010 5:10 pm

Here you go James.....save it.

http://www.hawaiiansteel.com/instruments/diagrams.php

James Inkster · Post by **James Inkster** » 25 Jan 2010 9:52 am

Thanks!

I was actually thinking of Rick Aiello's site (http://www.horseshoemagnets.com/_sgg/m6_1.htm) which I've obviously since found, but this is a good resource, too.
Thanks

Terry Goodman · Post by **Terry Goodman** » 26 Jan 2010 4:26 am

I'm planning on rewiring my postwar rick b/w 6 string and was wondering why the big difference in pot values in the sites given above? 100k for vol and tone at Ely's site for an electro bakelite 6 and 250k vol and 500k tone at Aiello's site for a dustpan. I thought they used the same pickups. Also, stewmac doesn't carry a 100k pot which makes me think it's an oddball. Thanks

James Inkster · Post by **James Inkster** » 26 Jan 2010 9:02 am

For what it's worth, I just used the 250 and 500 that Rick recommended...

J D Sauser · Post by **J D Sauser** » 27 Jan 2010 7:43 am

I don't remember if I sketched this or if I got it from someone else(?)... maybe Cartwright Thompson sent it to me 'bout over 10 years ago?

... J-D.

Bill Creller · Post by **Bill Creller** » 27 Jan 2010 7:38 pm

I believe the early pots (volume) were 100 K ohms, the large diameter type. Can't really say the pots matched the impedence of the pickup, since the early pickups had readings all over the place. I did two pre-war types with 1514 ohms, and 1277 ohms. Weird.
Someone mentioned a few years ago that these were hand wound in the 30s (??)
100 ohm pots are not an odd-ball, and are available at most electronic outlets, and I use them on amp projects frequently.

Allan Munro · Post by **Allan Munro** » 27 Jan 2010 8:35 pm

J D Sauser wrote:I don't remember if I sketched this or if I got it from someone else(?)... maybe Cartwright Thompson sent it to me 'bout over 10 years ago?

... J-D.

J-D, are these pots not labeled the wrong way around?

--------------------
Also, to suit the 'normal hearing profile' it is best to use a linear response pot in the tone position and a log taper in the volume position if possible.

Allan.....

J D Sauser · Post by **J D Sauser** » 28 Jan 2010 6:35 am

Allan Munro wrote:
J-D, are these pots not labeled the wrong way around?...

I dunno, Allan. Electronics are not my strong! Maybe one has to print it and hold it flipped over against a window?

... J-D.

Jason Hull · Post by **Jason Hull** » 28 Jan 2010 7:55 am

Using a 250k in place of a 100k will be fine. You might notice a little more noise, but the impedance difference won't be a problem. Using a 500k, in place of the 100k, would not be recommended, as it would have a relatively small usable range and might be excessively noisy. Of course, this is all dependent upon the impedance of the pickup, but applies generally.

James Inkster · Post by **James Inkster** » 28 Jan 2010 9:24 am

Hi!

As mentioned, i wired my t-logo model B according to: http://www.horseshoemagnets.com/userfiles/wiring.jpg

Everything seems to work and sound fine...
But, i was hoping to be able to sweep the tone a bit more dramatically (for a bit of of that 'wah' type effect while playing)...
I used pots with audio taper... am i looking for a linear taper instead?
Alternately, i also have a couple 100k audio pots, would these sweep a bit more dramatically? Could/should i mix a 250k volume pot with a 100k tone pot?

Finally, what about the capacitors... i used a .047mfd, but have some .1mfd's, too... how/when should i be using those? (clearly i know nothing of electronics, sorry!)

thanks guys

Kelvin Monaghan · Post by **Kelvin Monaghan** » 29 Jan 2010 1:23 am

My B6 war years uses 250k Audio pots for both Tone and Volume it gets a wonderful Wah effect on the tone pot.Linear pots are useless in a guitar circuit you will never get that Wah effect with a Linear pot.Also the original pots generally have a different taper so try different ones in the tone position also check the impedance of your pots they can vary quite a bit.Cheers Kelvin

Allan Munro · Post by **Allan Munro** » 29 Jan 2010 8:08 am

Kelvin Monaghan wrote:My B6 war years uses 250k Audio pots for both Tone and Volume it gets a wonderful Wah effect on the tone pot.Linear pots are useless in a guitar circuit you will never get that Wah effect with a Linear pot.Also the original pots generally have a different taper so try different ones in the tone position also check the impedance of your pots they can vary quite a bit.Cheers Kelvin

Absolutely right Kevin. In the case of a tone pot, an audio taper pot will cause all of the effect to be concentrated in a small section of the pots rotation. Great for the 'wah'! In my post above I was referring to a more 'standard' use of the tone pot. I wouldn't go quite as far as to say 'useless' however. I have seen a guitar (not a steel) that someone moded, back in the days just before wah-wah pedals came in. The guy added a second 'tone' pot which was switchable, in or out of circuit. It used a log taper and a cap and had a big knob that he could reach with the little finger for just this purpose.
Personally, I don't like subtractive (passive) tone controls and when I build a standard guitar I simply leave them out.

Regards, Allan.....