Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Thanks, I do too.

I did a recording of all four in the bridge position only the other day. The '57 425 Prototype is my favorite.

My lineup.

This has been solved. That wiring weirdness is original, as are the pots. I wasn't aware of the 1kOhm pots in that era instrument. Quite strange, as is the dark circuit, but it sounds good.

I've learned that this is the correct wiring, even though it's quite unconventional.

Forward position = bridge (normally that would be neck)
Middle position = both
Back position = neck with dark circuit engaged

The guitar sounds great, but it takes a little getting used to.

Hi, all - I posted over in the vintage forum about this, but maybe it's not a broad enough audience. Can someone with a '56-'58 Combo 450 with two knobs and a 3-way selector show me their wiring if they have a picture of it? I need to fix my wiring after some turd knuckle did something weird to it ...

Do you plan on selling the original set? I have an instrument they'd be great for.

Hi - I just plucked a '57 tulip. Wiring seems a bit off and I was hoping someone might be able to share pics, give me pot values, and validate what I've got under the hood of mine. 3-way selector works in reverse: position 1 is bridge, middle is both, position 3 is neck.

The neck is mega dark and ...

Sorry, you are just misinformed about the earliest of these guitars. This is a 425. Moreover, it's the very first 425 - the prototype from 1957.

These were first designated 425 - the first production models in 1958 and maybe into '59 had the pickup way back like an Esquire or Junior. By '60, the ...

I was planning on it.

Again, what I meant by "I've seen painted ones," is that obviously somebody painted it bold after the fact. The point in me asking was to figure out what was original, which was obviated by me acquiring the 1960.

Thanks for the assistance.

That's not what I'm talking about. I have seen a painted metal one before.

As you can see in my photo, there's a painted plexi right there in the middle.

Thanks. The '60 and '57 are just perfect guitars. The '61 is amazing, too - it actually sounds better, but the slabs are home.

I am letting go of the '61. I think it won't get played anymore.

Killer.

Never touched a 420, but have a 425 prototype from '57. There's nothing like a single-pickup guitar. They just ring out differently.

Posted this to the wrong forum before. It's in the right spot now.

(love that it still says I'm a new member, despite joining in 2006. My post-count is lacking. )

Thanks for the info. I have seen them painted, but it's not good looking to me. Since posting this, I acquired a '60 Slab 450, and was able to see firsthand that it was anodized. I just posted a pic of my trio in the guitars forum. I'll put it here, too.

I've got a '58-'60 pickguard for a 450. The gold has all gone away except at the pickup adjustment screw holes. It's hard to tell if it was anodyzed or painted on. It had a layer of surface rust, which I've removed. I was thinking about getting it back to gold again.

Does anyone know the paint ...