??? No. 470 Rickenbacker Strings

[rickofan]

I recently won a Ebay auction for 4 sets of NOS Rickenbacker Strings 2 boxes of which are still sealed in their original red boxes. The side of each box is noted as #470. Anyone know what gauge these strings are? I would be interested to learn ANYTHING regarding these strings. The strings are flat wounds but that is all am sure of.

Thanks In Advance
Alan

[jwilli]

Alan, according to my July 1, 1964 Rickenbacker Technical Data & Price List, the 470 contained chrome-plated Flat Wound Polished strings of Medium Weight and they cost $4.00.

[rickofan]

Thanks John !!! Do you know if medium means .13's ??

[johnhall]

These are indeed 13's and were the classic "purple set" used on factory instruments up until about 1964, when the switch was made to the light 10's "red set" number 482.

Some of these 470 sets (but not all) were pretty interesting because they had a wound 22 as a second string, a really slinky feel.

[rickofan]

Thanks you for the follow-up Mr. Hall. I did not mention it in my original post but Bankos Music located in Ansonia Ct. (the source of the Ebay Auction) offered 4 sets of the #470's, 2 sets unopened plus 2 sets having had the box opened but otherwise mint nos condition. Joe Salvati the owner of Bankos Music remembered me as the winner of his vintage silver 325 case three weeks earlier, so he included an additional set of vintage #482's still in their red box. So I appreciate the information regarding the #482's.

[jwilli]

I saw that auction on Ebay and almost bid on them. Glad you got them.

[leftybass]

John Hall: Were the 470's used after '64 on the short-scale models like 950s and 325s, or was something used as a replacement after '64? Thanks..