Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I picked up one of these this weekend and I'm looking for any information that anyone may have.
The amp fires up fine and actually sounds really good. It needs some filter caps I'm sure because of the hum but you can tell it sounds great.
Anyone know the real Model number?
How about what years they were made?
Already been to this sight http://jzu.free.fr/rick/amp/3040.html
Mine is the 3rd one under "The Black Metal Box" with two inputs, small fuse holder, one switch, no tone or volume.
Other than that I just need the belt style handle and I'm good to go.
Hard to believe it actually still works after probably 70 years.
Haven't taken any pic yet but I will in the next couple of days.
Thanks in advance to anyone who can help.
Rich

I can't offer any info, but it sure would be fun to sit down with one of those amps and trace out the circuit.

Where do you live, Rich? Maybe there's an amptarded RRF guy nearby!

- Scott

I'm in Irvine, CA. I'm taking photos this weekend. Wish someone could tell me more about them. Thanks, Scott

I've got one of these little beasts...an early one with a red stenciled "RICKEBACHER ELECTRO" logo...probably 1938/1939...they were sold with the Silver Hawaiian lapsteel...black-wrinkle finish...I have a matching model 59 lapsteel with it,and the two of them WAIL...and a 360/12V64 sounds pretty good on one,too!I had it re-tubed with NOS/JAN tubes & had the filter caps done by an antique radio restorer in Colorado...no volume or tone controls,just an on/off switch and pure TONE...I wish that I had a 70 watt one with a 15" speaker,so I could play bass through it!If anyone reverse-engineers one,I'd love a copy of the schematic!

Thanks for the info Matt. The one I have seams all original with no changed parts and just like you said, power on and play.Pretty cool. I plugged a regular 6 string Les Paul in it and it sounds pretty good and dirty. It needs a filter cap or two changed and probably a tube or two to really bring it back for the lap guy who would probably want this.
I'm a playing/recording musician that ended up with this. It really should be in the hands of a collector of vintage Rickenbacker amps for obvious reasons. With no price point to really start with, I have no idea what it's worth but I'll be putting it up on eBay within the next week and asking $600.00 and see where it goes. It should do well. Thanks again, Rich

Sell it if you will,but you'll miss it when it's gone!Don't say that I didn't warn you!They're really good little recording amps...

I got me one tooo.....

but I can never sell it because he'd miss his friend...

Marc,I'm afraid your amp is not the one we're talking about...while yours is an early RIC amp,the one we're talking about is like a lunchbox on steroids,with a black wrinkle finish...here are some pix of the front and back of mine...it's a KILLER!!!

Here is mine and the companion!

http://s431.photobucket.com/albums/qq38 ... G_1339.jpg

Nice set! The lapsteel is from around 1950 or so...it's 10 or 12 years newer than the amp...I'll bet that they sound great together!

I'm gonna start feeding mine AGH - Amp growth hormone...and see if it helps lol

Bumpity-bump: http://prewaramps.com/ricklp.htm

- Scott

No knobs. I love it. I wouldn't sell it if I could avoid it

Scott_s,you are the MAN!!! Thanks for the reference pix and the wiring diagram and schematic! I'll get my amp tech right on making me a modern version,with a 12" alnico speaker,instead of a field-coil speaker...I can use the hot lead to the field coil to drive a pilot light...that should give it a bit more bottom end and "honk"...maybe in a closed-back, retro-looking Masonite cabinet...hmmmmm...maybe an external speaker jack,too...