1930'S Rickenbacher Electric Tenor Guitar

leesh · Post by **leesh** » Thu Jun 01, 2006 9:39 pm

This should start an interesting discussion

Happy Friday everybody.

http://cgi.ebay.com/1930S-Rickenbacher-Electric-Tenor-guitar-Rickenbacker_W0QQitemZ7419851053QQcategoryZ119094QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

sowhat · Post by **sowhat** » Thu Jun 01, 2006 11:44 pm

How should it sound?

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 2:49 am

Wow, that is very cool.

johnallg · Post by **johnallg** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 10:37 am

I see Kenny's in on this one. I also noticed no 3rd fret dot, so that tradition goes way back. Really nice old HS pickup too.

shamustwin · Post by **shamustwin** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 10:54 am

At what pitch are the strings tuned?

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 11:44 am

C-G-D-A, most of the time. There are many alternate tunings...

fran4001 · Post by **fran4001** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 3:44 pm

Super cool! I would love to take a spin on it! Historical to say the least.

tracy · Post by **tracy** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 7:05 am

Seems tenor guitars were quite the norm for special orders at Rickenbacker at least through the sixties. I've seen them in bakelite, a 420/4 and now this Ken Roberts aberrant. Unlikely that Mr. Hall could be persuaded to supply a 350/4 on special order, or, maybe? Heh, heh, heh......

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 8:35 am

A 420/4 eh? Wonder where that one is. I'd love to have that one.

I have one based on a Tulip 950, made in 1961.

Here's the peghead for it...

shamustwin · Post by **shamustwin** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 10:42 am

Very elegant!

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 11:52 am

Tracy, here's another pic of the 950 Tenor with the 1971 Mando Guitar mentioned in the Smith book..

tracy · Post by **tracy** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 4:48 pm

Oh, yeah! Just show me where to stand in line. I'll take two of each and you can supersize my order.

The 420/4 (single pickup) was on the bay a few years ago. I'm surprised you missed it. I don't remember what it sold for, but my highest bid was $1100. I think it went for alot more than that. No telling how many anomalies are out there. I'm just looking forward to the next weird Rick to make it's appearance.

jwilli · Post by **jwilli** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 4:52 pm

This was pretty weird ....and legit too.

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 4:28 am

This Tenor on ebay was a regular production item when it was made according to Richard Smith's research, and not a custom order. They were much more popular in the 30's due to the music being popular. It's still really cool though..

tracy · Post by **tracy** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 4:50 am

JS--Yeah, and some of those old tenor players could really 'fly', y'know, stuff you couldn't even think of doing on a six-stringer. Tuning is open fifths, just like a violin. Too much fun.

JW--What the heck is that headstock connected to? That is a a weird one!