First of all, I must again express my thanks to Mr. JH and all at RIC for the long thread about my wiring modifications. A lot of folks have enjoyed modifying their guitars. I've sent the diagrams to all 50 states, all the provinces of Canada, to the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, and other former Commonwealth countries, and to Germany, France, Holland, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Greece, other EU nations, and elsewhere I can't recall off the top of my head just now. Mr. JH and crew have indulged me greatly, for which I am eternally grateful.

I would like to think that I have helped spread the good word as an informal ambassador of RIC instruments, which I enjoy dearly.

That said, I am disappointed that the new combination pot/switch is no longer a DPDT, because the new SPST switch, while being of higher quality and reliability, and of course, what RIC needs for the 4003 bass factory wiring, will not work with my 3-pickup modifications.

I wonder if RIC would consider selling both versions?

I bet the older variety is available somewhere else from CTS or Alpha so you should still be able to find it, and probably in multiple R values. I agree, though, the DPDT was useful for certain wiring mods. I was just noticing this when I wanted two shunts on the same switch.

This looks pretty much the same (link):

Our only concern during the specification phase was to make it do its intended job as well as possible. Non-factory modification or alternate uses simply were not examined; not even considering the additional costs, added poles would have increased the depth defeating the design goal of making it compatible with older RIC instruments.

There are already plenty of off-the-shelf multi-pole and throw pots out there to choose from at all price levels.

Mr. JH, thanks. I appreciate your reply.