Wiring Rickenbacker Capris in 1958

Over the last decade I've made a point of getting all the information I could on the circuits and components Rickenbacker was using in Combo and Capri models in the period from 1957 to late 1959. The original intention was to establish the exact circuit and components used in the original '58 325 Capris, but it widened out to include information on the other guitars of the period. My thanks go to Larry Wassgren for his patience with all my questions regarding his original '58 325 wiring. Many others have contributed information that gradually helped fill in the gaps in the official schematics. Based on what I found out about the '58 325's and the models surrounding it in the period, I've been able to establish a circuit that appears to be the most likely format of the "factory converted" controls that Lennon had on his 325 when he first purchased it. It's possible that only 3 guitars were ever released from the Factory with this special 4 pot loom.    If you'd like your 3 pickup Ric to have an original '58 type of wiring loom contact me. Making these special looms is one of my specialties. If you need servcing or restoration of your Vintage Vox amplifier you can also contact me.

From the time I first saw photo's of '58 325's I wondered how they managed to control 3 pickups with just one plain toggle switch and 2 potentiometers in any useful way. Now, a few years down the track, I have an answer, and it was a surprise to see an elegant and simple design solution. The wiring of late 50's Rickenbackers doesn't appear to have been a very well documented affair so it's mainly been by looking closely at guitars of the period that I've learned about this topic. Being involved in both electronics and guitars myself, is the only reason I've been able to make any sense of it. It's proven to be quite a difficult thing to work out the wiring by looking at photos. Particularly when they are valuable early instruments where it's not wise to bend things around too much to get a look underneath. Experience in the electronics field has also assisted in filling the gaps. From '57 to late 59 there were no less than 5 distinct types of wiring found on Rickenbacker guitars. Note that on the earliest Capris, if a middle pickup was fitted, it was not connected in parallel with the neck pickup as is the case with current models. An alternative wiring method was used that enabled a wide variety of pickup combinations. Tone controls were wired anticlockwise in most models of the 1950's. ie: They worked in the reverse direction to most tone controls. This remained true until the early 60's 1) - "Combo Style" Consisting of two toggle switches and two potentiometers. For 2 pickup models. eg Combo850, 335, 365, 2) - "Combo Style" Consisting of two toggle switches and two potentiometers. For 3 pickup models eg 345 3) - "325 Style" Consisting of one toggle switch and two potentiometers. For 3 pickup models. eg 325, 345 4) - "Two Pot Style" Consisting of one toggle switch and two potentiometers. For 2 pickup guitars eg Combo450, 950, 335, 315. 5) - " Four pot Style" Consisting of one toggle switch and four potentiometers. For all two or three pickup models. Type 5 was introduced late in 1958 and, aside from the addition of the mixer control in about 1961, and changing of the tone pots to conventional clockwise wiring in 'approx '63, is the method in use to this day on all 2 or 3 pickup models with passive wiring

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Glen Lambert 2009