Led Zeppelin’s Ricks

[JazzBoneDaddy]

Here's a pic of my 625.

My Rickenbacker 625

[JazzBoneDaddy]

Here's the jackplate with the serial number

The serial number links this Rick to the Led Zeppelin "loaner".

.

[marc61]

Awesomeness!

[jps]

Welcome, Chris,

What a great guitar, you have, Chris!

[JazzBoneDaddy]

Yeah - thanks! It actually helped me pay my way through college playing 4 nights a week in a band! And to find out it has an interesting early history makes it even cooler. I can't seem to get ahold of Scott Jennings, who started this thread, through this website. He apparently has some documents from Rickenbacker that they are unwilling to release to me (I called and asked today). Those loaner inventory sheets would help me substantiate the history of my guitar and establish its value. I have o idea what its worth, but even if just for insurance purposes it would be nice to have,

So if anyone there know how to get ahold of Scott, please have him contact me.

[JazzBoneDaddy]

Oh, and the serial number decoder says it was built in November, 1967.

[marc61]

Try him here:

http://route66guitars.com/

[JazzBoneDaddy]

I've decided I need to sell my Rick 625. See the posts to learn about this cool old Rick's link to Led Zeppelin! Gotta move fast!

[Ontario_RIC_fan]

I've decided I need to sell my Rick 625. See the posts to learn about this cool old Rick's link to Led Zeppelin! Gotta move fast!

Sorry to hear that you have to sell it.



I hope the sale goes well...

[Ontario_RIC_fan]

I am sad to report that Chris' 625 ended up in the hands of the New Jersey Butcher who parted it out.

I ended up with the body, jackplate with the serial number and the pickguard. The rest of its original parts are now scattered to the winds.

I have been reassembling it with parts on hand - here is how far I have got so far. Ironic that I was just able to afford the parts I got but would not have been able to afford the original Ebay auction amount. So this is the only scenario that I would have ended up with it.

This is my first 1960s era RIC. The neck is the thinnest 600 series I have ever seen.

High Gains instead of Toasters, And RIC deluxe Kluson repros. Chris had put Schallers on it at some point - I am thrilled that the new tuners cover the screw holes for them...

Still waiting for more parts to finish it up, but here is how far I have got with it.

This is my 10th RIC now - (well you CAN'T have just one can you??)

[loverickbass]

I think I feel sick. WoW, did the butcher now about the history of this guitar?

[Ontario_RIC_fan]

He has parted out many vintage 60s era Rickenbackers sadly...

I will add the toasters and other 60s vintage parts as I slowly acquire them... Eventually it will be restored back to the correct era. It may take a few years though.

My priority in the short term is just to get it playable again with what ever parts are in hand - (without drilling any holes in it). The raised letter TRC and the high gains are obviously wrong on this vintage era instrument. Vintage style parts (off a 660 most likely) are what I am seeking at the moment.

It was a financial struggle to get the bits of it that I did... Always hard to get a large lump sum in a hurry..

The Led Zeppelin connection is tenuous at best - there is no evidence that anyone from the band played it - just that it was in the pile of stuff Rickenbacker loaned the group in 1969.

Oddly the TRC on it when it was parted out was a 12 string one. It sat unsold at Wonderland music for 15 years. Chris in the above posts said he bought it there in 1984. Perhaps someone swapped the original TRC for a 12 string one while it sat unsold at Wonderland?

Still I am thrilled to have this.

From the loan agreement the original price in 1969 was $394.

[collin]

Just playing the devil's advocate, but if anybody cared about the supposed history of this guitar, it would have been reflected in the sale price. But it didn't, nobody stepped up to the plate and it went to the wrecking yard in NJ.


On the other hand, the guy in NJ did you a great service Brian - glad you could pick up the husk and build a guitar from it!

[Ontario_RIC_fan]

Thanks Collin..

It being butchered is the only way I would have ended up with it... And for me to get the correct vintage parts he will have to butcher more of them... He is one of the main Ebay sources for them

Still - it has allowed me a 60s era RIC. So I can't complain.

[tallpat1]

That's great info I thought JPJ was a fender man