Rickenbacker Wiring Modification

I finally plucked up courage to do the mod I had proposed a few months ago. The idea was to re-engineer the two pick up tone controls into a Master Volume and Master Tone. Easter weekend was ideal because the weather was poor and I had plenty of time to do it without interruption.  I carefully prepped the kitchen table for the work.

Then I gently removed the pickguard screws hoping for plain wiring and not a circuit board.  Opening it up I was delighted to see a wiring layout I could work with.

I reviewed and checked the diagram against the actual wiring:

I plugged the guitar into an amp so I could check the outcomes before I closed it up.  Now the moment of truth - I unsoldered a couple of wires added a link wire and then soldered it all lightly up for check. First time the new Master Volume worked the wrong way round.  That was simply rewired to the opposite end of the potentiometer to give a clockwise "volume up" ergonomic.  Finally I made sure the soldered connections were sound and insulated the one hanging wire left.

 

Here is the final wiring - hard to tell any difference though!  The large black thing is an insulated hanging wire I would need to reconnect if I ever put it back to spec.

Then it was time to close up.

And jangle the rest of the day away - it all worked beautifully!