Lefty Rickenbackers

incredibledisc · Post by **incredibledisc** » Tue May 31, 2005 6:28 am

Apologies if this has come up before but I'm new here...

I'm a left handed player thinking about taking the plunge and buying a nice 330/12 FG that I've got my eye on. I've noticed however, that while all the other manufacturers make "mirror image" versions for lefties Ric leaves a few things upside down - The "R" tailpiece and the shark tooth inlays on the 360 spring to mind. Its not going to stop me buying one but I have to admit that it looks a little strange!

Can anyone here enlighten me as to why this is the case?

Cheers,
Bill

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Tue May 31, 2005 7:20 am

Hi Bill...

RIC actually does do total 'mirror image' guitars now for lefties, it may depend on what period in time the 330/12 you're looking at was made.

From the first lefty Rickenbacker made until around 1988, a right-handed neck blank was used with dots added on the binding and a reverse nameplate/TRC. On some lefty Ricks made after the change you may find upside-down triangle inlays with a true lefty headstock, but this was changed too as time passed.

A lefty 'R' tailpiece was deemed too costly to manufacture, so the right-handed version remains the standard part.

incredibledisc · Post by **incredibledisc** » Tue May 31, 2005 10:36 am

Thanks for clearing that up John.

I think the 330/12 I'm looking at is a modern one as the headstock seems to be the "right" way must just be the tailpiece that remains upside down.

Surely there is a gap in the market there for someone!

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Tue May 31, 2005 10:54 am

I doubt it. A high-quality tooling job for these dies runs into 6 figures, and the market would be at most a few hundred units.

route66guitars · Post by **route66guitars** » Tue May 31, 2005 7:24 pm

Are the deluxe inlays left handed now? That's news to me.

I'm looking at a vintage 360-12LH, and it seems to me that there is no way to make a mirror image 'R' tailpiece without 'Toys R Us' filing an infringement suit for use of the backwards R. (Ask 'Guitars R Us' how 'Toys R Us' can be...)

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Wed Jun 01, 2005 1:08 am

Hmm, I think your right Scott. I had thought I'd seen some Ricks like that, probably just a reversed pic.....the inlays are still righty, from what I can see.

larry_mondello · Post by **larry_mondello** » Wed Jun 01, 2005 4:45 am

And the cost of importing strings that are wound counter clock wise from Australia .. bloody ridiculous !

I'l continue to use my clockwise wound strings .

Looking for more bottom end with those down under strings is futile ..just because they ARE lower made does not equate to low sustaining booming sounds .

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Wed Jun 01, 2005 7:15 pm

Good point, Larry, but consider the JANGLE from a 12 with counterclockwise-wound octave strings!

ozover50 · Post by **ozover50** » Wed Jun 01, 2005 7:59 pm

Do we make counter clockwise strings down here?? Never heard of them - bet they're only available "under the counter"!

It all sounds counter-productive to me!!

leftyguitars · Post by **leftyguitars** » Wed Jun 01, 2005 10:48 pm

I have actually seen strings marketed as wound for left handed players. Regarding lefty inlays, I too have never had (or seen) proper lefty inlays yet. Both of these guitars of mine have lefty headstocks....

leftyguitars · Post by **leftyguitars** » Wed Jun 01, 2005 10:49 pm

iamthebassman · Post by **iamthebassman** » Thu Jun 02, 2005 3:10 am

route66guitars · Post by **route66guitars** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 2:20 pm

1967 360-12 JG LH

route66guitars · Post by **route66guitars** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 2:28 pm

Note the 'Convertible' block route. Every lefty I have seen from this era has had it except the MapleGlow one in the Bacon book (which I also owned for many years.)

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 3:03 pm

Scott, they(Bacon/Day) date the MG 360/12LH in their book to 1970, but was it '67 production as well? Maybe if it was a real 1970 made guitar that may explain why it doesn't have the block in the body...