Class of '66

Early years of Rickenbacker Guitars prior to and including 1972

Moderators: rickenbrother, ajish4

Post Reply
pacealot
Member
Posts: 273
Joined: Mon Nov 12, 2007 3:47 am

Class of '66

Post by pacealot »

Due to a completely unforeseen set of circumstances, I have been able to obtain two guitars which have been my dream to own since I was a small child. Along with my mother's 4005 O.S. which she gigged with from 1973 until she retired from music in the '80s (and on which I learned bass - such as I ever did - after that), here they are:
ClassOf66_1280.jpg
The serial number of the 365 O.S. indicates that it's from March 1966 - in other words, it starts FC. Something seems particularly apt about that to me. 8)

The 12-string is "only" FF, and thus June '66 (the month of my ex-wife's birth!) - but oddly enough, it came with the earlier style of case with no "goodie box," and the O.S. came with the later case with goodie box - ah, the vagaries of Electro....
pacealot
Member
Posts: 273
Joined: Mon Nov 12, 2007 3:47 am

Re: Class of '66

Post by pacealot »

And now the whole family get to know each other....
RickFamily.jpg
User avatar
Danotron
Intermediate Member
Posts: 1423
Joined: Wed Jul 30, 2008 12:07 pm

Re: Class of '66

Post by Danotron »

That's a beautiful family!
User avatar
opticnerve
Advanced Member
Posts: 1685
Joined: Thu Feb 15, 2007 6:00 am

Re: Class of '66

Post by opticnerve »

Danotron wrote:That's a beautiful family!
+1
User avatar
rkbsound
Veteran RRF member
Posts: 1204
Joined: Fri Apr 19, 2002 3:48 pm
Contact:

Re: Class of '66

Post by rkbsound »

I think that this was a very good year for RIC production and quality. Perhaps their peak before slowing down and changing how they did things? I have 2 '66 330 guitars and they simply can't be beat. One really is "beat" and it still is awesome. Ironically, these better guitars sell for the same or just above the price of a new one. That's called a bargain!!!
User avatar
jch
Intermediate Member
Posts: 851
Joined: Sat Jul 28, 2007 10:23 am

Re: Class of '66

Post by jch »

Beautiful Fireglo goodness! 8)
User avatar
scotty
Senior Member
Posts: 7094
Joined: Thu Nov 22, 2007 11:27 am

Re: Class of '66

Post by scotty »

Absolutely stunning Congrats!
pacealot
Member
Posts: 273
Joined: Mon Nov 12, 2007 3:47 am

Re: Class of '66

Post by pacealot »

Thanks, guys - one thing I didn't mention before is that they both smell just like my mom's bass! I don't know what makes the distinctive scent (maybe something in the cases?) but it's unmistakeable. Eau de Rickenbacker vintage!

I cannot express how much of a dream come true this is to have these incredible instruments. They will be played, one way or another, musical "retirement" or not....
User avatar
leftybass
RRF Consultant
Posts: 5359
Joined: Sat Feb 03, 2001 10:23 am

Re: Class of '66

Post by leftybass »

Quite a collection....I'd be a proud papa as well...! :D
User avatar
libratune
Veteran RRF member
Posts: 4254
Joined: Mon Jul 29, 2002 9:06 am
Contact:

Re: Class of '66

Post by libratune »

Great collection.

What is the year of the two basses added to the "Class of '66"?
pacealot
Member
Posts: 273
Joined: Mon Nov 12, 2007 3:47 am

Re: Class of '66

Post by pacealot »

The bass on the left is a '93 V63 which has been significantly altered parts-wise to come as close as possible to a "true" RM reissue, and the one second from the right is a late '71 which I picked up here on the forum back when I was still gigging (both that bass and my mom's have had their original jackplates removed/swapped/swiped, so I don't know for sure their "birthmonths" - in the case of my mom's, she kept the original receipt with the real SN somewhere, but I've been unable to locate it yet - some day I'll know for sure!).

(The '71 came with a RIHS in place of the original Hi Gain, so I felt little compunction in swapping it for a "real" magnetic shoe/Sérgio bobbin pickup, which sounds great. The V63 sports a real magnetic shoe and a bobbin from Dale Fortune made from a mould from one of the original "lipped" bobbins. The pickups on my mom's bass are, surprisingly, original. :mrgreen: )
User avatar
libratune
Veteran RRF member
Posts: 4254
Joined: Mon Jul 29, 2002 9:06 am
Contact:

Re: Class of '66

Post by libratune »

Cool, thanks for the info. Great set of Fireglo Ricks there!
User avatar
danm
Junior Member
Posts: 130
Joined: Sat Feb 03, 2007 6:50 pm
Contact:

Re: Class of '66

Post by danm »

wow! very nice.
Post Reply

Return to “Rickenbacker Guitars: Vintage Years - Before 1973”