Does Roger have a new RIC?

firstbassman · Post by **firstbassman** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 10:13 am

OK, I have a dumb newbie question.
If the guitar is from the early 70s, how come it has a cut-through headstock instead of the grooved one?
Was the headstock replaced? Isn't the headstock part of the same piece of wood as the neck?
[I still have to take a look at the shots from the last show I went to.]

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 11:53 am

Mark, the slots on Roger's 1970 12-string aren't factory.

Roger had that mod performed in the 70's when Rickenbacker wasn't doing it, and Rickenbacker has just recently implemented the cut-thru design in regular production instruments, last year as a matter of fact...

firstbassman · Post by **firstbassman** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 10:49 am

Thanks John.
Yes, I know the cut-through is new, that's why I asked. (Mine is a cut-through.)

Here, finally, is a close-up from the show I was talking about that I went to last year at the Ranch. One can clearly see the black frame of the prints on the wall showing through the cut grooves of the headstock.

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 11:56 am

Cool pic, Mark. I have to wonder why he has gone back to the old guitar rather than use the RM limited edition models.

loverickbass · Post by **loverickbass** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 12:38 pm

I saw a pic somewhere of his RM model that shows his bridge up close. From the looks of it, I'd say his RM model needs a neck reset. The bridge was bottomed out. Of course, he is Roger McGuinn, he prob has a couple in spare.

jcb1100 · Post by **jcb1100** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 2:35 pm

Did the guitar in the picture have the signature on the pick guard or was it plain? Like I said, I din't notice the cut-throughs (or lack thereof) a few weeks ago, but he was either playing a signature model, or one he signed himself!

loverickbass · Post by **loverickbass** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 2:52 pm

No, it was def his signature model.

rick12dr · Post by **rick12dr** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 6:21 pm

Not a super clear pic above, Mark, but my eyes are trying to see if the neck PU there is a higain[which #3 would have originally had] or if Roger has more recently installed toasters on it.Anyone else wanna guess on this? That PU kinda looks like it just may be a toaster.If so, whoa, cool, Roger with a Vintage Rick again.

firstbassman · Post by **firstbassman** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 7:19 pm

Sorry for the quality. The Ranch (like most places) prohibits flash (though I've been known to take a few).

HiGains and no signature (as far as I can tell or remember):

But selector switch is down.

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 2:09 am

That is his old Rickenbacker, it has crushed-pearl inlay on the fretboard and the high-gains like Mark mentioned above. Don, I'd say it's #3.

loverickbass · Post by **loverickbass** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 8:03 am

Right now, all the "toaster only" crowd are going nuts.

Of course, those early Higains sound alot like toasters.

rick12dr · Post by **rick12dr** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 8:46 am

John; no dispute about whether it was # 3, now that a 2nd pic has been shown, yup, still the old hi gains.

firstbassman · Post by **firstbassman** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 3:22 pm

Yeah, JC, I was kinda thinking the same thing.

johnashfield · Post by **johnashfield** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 1:51 pm

I watched the clip of him playing and I have to say, I am not thrilled with the sound he is getting from his 12 string (heresy I know!), it sounds over compressed and not terribly trebley!

loverickbass · Post by **loverickbass** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 2:40 pm

I don't think he's going for the trebly sound now. I think he's trying get an overall balanced sound. Playing solo with an ice pick RIC doesn't sound too good IMO.

Cole