Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Paint the binding on! From 10 paces it will look great.

Well...the stripe would have to go down the middle of the sides, in between the front and back body edge contours of a 450 (versus the flat front edge of a 460). Kinda like converting a 4003s into a 4003. But what the hell, it would make for a unique look!!

I have one of the first 450 12s (think JB's played it, too.. commented how flat the peg head is.) It was played a lot over the years. Has the seldom seen 64 12 tuners. Had a re-fret and new nut made (definitely needed both.) I'd like to pickup another one just to compare it to. I think it was better before I had all the work done, though one of the strings was constantly popping out and yes, the frets were toast.

studiotwosession wrote:I have one of the first 450 12s (think JB's played it, too.. commented how flat the peg head is.) It was played a lot over the years. Has the seldom seen 64 12 tuners. Had a re-fret and new nut made (definitely needed both.) I'd like to pickup another one just to compare it to. I think it was better before I had all the work done, though one of the strings was constantly popping out and yes, the frets were toast.

What are "64 12" tuners? Single line Klusons with white/cream buttons?

studiotwosession wrote:I have one of the first 450 12s (think JB's played it, too.. commented how flat the peg head is.) It was played a lot over the years. Has the seldom seen 64 12 tuners. Had a re-fret and new nut made (definitely needed both.) I'd like to pickup another one just to compare it to. I think it was better before I had all the work done, though one of the strings was constantly popping out and yes, the frets were toast.

Oh yeah! I think what happened was that the headstock had pitched forward over the years and that it appeared "flat". That's why the string was popping out of the nut, I'm sure.

Yeah, that's a rare one but I've experienced the headstock thing a couple of times. People put really fat strings on these guitars years ago and the headstock starts creeping forward until it starts looking like a Fender profile with no backwards angle.

Sometimes it affects playing and sometimes, oddly, it does not.

jdogric12 wrote:

studiotwosession wrote:I have one of the first 450 12s (think JB's played it, too.. commented how flat the peg head is.) It was played a lot over the years. Has the seldom seen 64 12 tuners. Had a re-fret and new nut made (definitely needed both.) I'd like to pickup another one just to compare it to. I think it was better before I had all the work done, though one of the strings was constantly popping out and yes, the frets were toast.

What are "64 12" tuners? Single line Klusons with white/cream buttons?

Those are the open back tuners similar to John S.'s '64 360/12...not sure if they're Kluson or what, though. Carl Wilson's new-style 360/12 also had them.

Are they Grover Sta-tites?

Well, I should update this thread. I didn't get a 450/12, but this 1980 620/12 with full Mark Arnquist mods fell into my lap for an insanely low price and I couldn't say no. It is a total "pro" instrument all the way - one of the best Rick 12's I've ever played!

Sweet Congrats John!

I like that one knob. Kind of reminds me of a pirate's eye patch. ARRRR!!!

Love the 620/12.

And I believe this is the second 1980 620/12 JG you've owned, right JB?

jdogric12 wrote:And I believe this is the second 1980 620/12 JG you've owned, right JB?

For some reason I think that one was an '82? Do you have the serial written down anywhere?

I remember barely being able to play that one because of the nut width!

Matt still owns it. I'll ask him. Pretty sure it's 80 though for some reason.