Ricky ? No not really

Exploring the beauty and tone of Rickenbacker Lap Steels

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kelvin
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Ricky ? No not really

Post by kelvin »

Thought it may be of interest to see my early 40,s Aussie Steel.Has a very hot horseshoe pickup and appears to be a Ricky copy.It was originally hard wired and so has had the jack socket added later.The white panels are Celluloid and the tuners and knobs have been changed.The centre paned houses a huge 2"long capacitor and the pots are the large old style with bakelite.I find it interesting that such a copy would have been made so long ago especially the Horseshoe pickup it looks so close to an opriginal it's even 1 1/2".Image
matz
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Post by matz »

Kelvin, That senario was not all that uncommon before the economic boom around 1965-70. When I was a kid, late fifties early sixties, there were a lot of stratocaster copies around Sydney too. They were usually made in the shed at the bottom of the backyard. People were living on 20 bucks a week, they couldn't afford to import a lot of stuff. I'm going to try to upload a picture of another Aussie Rick that came up on ebay recently, keep your fingers crossed, I'm computer illiterate. Aloha, David. Image
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matz
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Post by matz »

Kelvin, That senario was not all that uncommon before the economic boom around 1965-70. When I was a kid, late fifties early sixties, there were a lot of stratocaster copies around Sydney too. They were usually made in the shed at the bottom of the backyard. People were living on 20 bucks a week, they couldn't afford to import a lot of stuff. I'm going to try to upload a picture of another Aussie Rick that came up on ebay recently, keep your fingers crossed, I'm computer illiterate. Aloha, David. Image
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matz
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Post by matz »

Well second time got it, but I can't figure out how to scrub the first. DM
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kelvin
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Post by kelvin »

David,thanks for the pic that green one looks like the same builder although a later model.I knew the builder back in the 60's he made me a couple of amps around '63 his name was Peter Mc Carthy his amp line was called Maxim and he built a few one off special order guitars.He rarely put a name on his equipment which always made it difficult to pin down.His Horseshoe pickups are awesome very hot,top end of a very good telly and the balls of a P90.His shop was in Richmond Melbourne.Kelvin
matz
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Post by matz »

Kelvin,That period of Australian improv and design is really interesting to me. I'm going to look for a Maxim when I return to Aust. There are a couple of posts about Maxims on the HSGA forum. Regards, DM
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matz
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Post by matz »

Kelvin, About that last post, I finally put 2 and 2 together. Pretty swift huh?
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porge
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Post by porge »

To add my .02c to this one, I also have a Moody made Fakenbacher, and have played a Maxim (the maxim was killer!!). My Moody has gold plated parts, mahogany body, was a gift from slide genius Jeff Lang (check out www.jefflang.com.au, or go to see him when he's in your neck of the world). It's also signed by R.L Burnside, BTW
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Post by ozover50 »

Hey, Kelvin! Another Aussie member.......... welcome!! Image
"Never eat more than you can lift." - Mr. Moon
kelvin
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Post by kelvin »

Thanks Howard.Andrew I did not know Moody made guitars I owned a Moody Amp back in the 60,s.Love to see a pic. Cheers
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porge
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Post by porge »

Hey Kelvin,

Moddy did have some limited guitar production. I think the steel pictured at the top may be a moody? I've seen at least one moody regular electric (ie, non-steel).

The Maxim I played is owned by Jeff Lang, and if I remember rightly, included an Amp-case.

I'm currently moving, and will post a pic when I'm back on deck. Mine has been (I think) refinished natural. It must have suffered a broken coil, as there is a telecaster bridge pickup inside he horsehoe. Would love to know polespacing/coil hieght to wind up a pickup (never done before, but can't see it being terribly difficult...famous last words!)
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