Is my Rickenbacker 420 a wannabe Electro???

vinylrec · Post by **vinylrec** » Sat Dec 20, 2003 6:44 pm

1973 Rickenbacker 420
Serial Number: MF 2355

The Guitar has a set neck and has ES-17-E written on the inner cavity (shouldn't say 420 or something..).

Are 420's with set necks a normal thing?? Any thoughts???

I'll try and link the pictures..

vinylrec · Post by **vinylrec** » Sat Dec 20, 2003 6:58 pm

Here's a shot of the body:

http://home.columbus.rr.com/garthur/Untitled-3.jpg

Here's a shot of the neck:

http://home.columbus.rr.com/garthur/Untitled-2.jpg

Here's a shot of the inner cavity:

http://home.columbus.rr.com/garthur/Untitled-5.jpg

http://home.columbus.rr.com/garthur/Untitled-6.jpg

Here's a shot of the headstock:

http://home.columbus.rr.com/garthur/Untitled-9.jpg

bruceglaser · Post by **bruceglaser** » Sun Dec 21, 2003 4:04 am

Grant

An ES -17 is an Electro branded guitar. Electro was a budget line marketed by Rickenbacker in the 60s and 70s. They were identical to correspnding Rick models except for the less extensive polishing of the body of the guitar. Some were set neck, some were neck through. Yours could have started production as an Electro ( hense the cavity markings ) and then been completed as a Rick. Or it could have been sold originally as an Electro and someone swapped the nameplate and made it a Rick. Are you the original owner? Maybe the serial number could be linked to the brand it was sold under. I'd email Rick customer service and see if they can help.

vinylrec · Post by **vinylrec** » Sun Dec 21, 2003 4:27 am

The finish looks just like all of the Rick jetglo finishes I've seen. It's nice and shiny and of high quality. The Rick nameplate appears to be original to the guitar.

I think you're you right in that this 420 started production as an Electro and then been completed as a Rick. Pretty neat ...eh?

vinylrec · Post by **vinylrec** » Sun Dec 21, 2003 4:36 am

What year did Rick stop marketing the Electro brand??

Thanks,
Grant

bruceglaser · Post by **bruceglaser** » Sun Dec 21, 2003 4:38 am

There's a thread now on VoxTalks about Electros. There's a good picture of one that shows the truss rod cover. You can see by the screw hole locations that either an Electro or a Rick truss rod cover could be fitted without drilling different holes.

vinylrec · Post by **vinylrec** » Sun Dec 21, 2003 4:52 am

Thanks for the info!!

beatcomber · Post by **beatcomber** » Tue Jan 27, 2004 3:25 pm

I have a 1969 ES-17.

I believe your guitar was originally an Electro, and someone swapped the truss rod cover for a Rickenbacker one sometime in the '70s. (That's a '70s TRC.)

Out of curiosity, which direction does your toggle switch move? Mine goes from bridge to neck.

vinylrec · Post by **vinylrec** » Wed Jan 28, 2004 1:43 pm

The toggle moves bridge to neck.

I checked with Rickenbacker and they weren't able to tell me if the guitar shipped as an Electro or a Rickenbacker. They could only verify that the guitar was a '73.

beatcomber · Post by **beatcomber** » Wed Jan 28, 2004 2:54 pm

Besides the neck construction, there are two other things that indicate to me that this guitar is an Electro.

The solid black knobs weren't used on Rickenbacker branded instruments after circa 1964, and by 1973 the toaster pickups were replaced by HiGains. Those parts were still being installed on Electros however.

No matter - the build quality of Electros was ever bit as good as Rickenbackers. My ES-17 is one of the nicest guitars I've ever played.

vinylrec · Post by **vinylrec** » Fri Jan 30, 2004 7:08 am

Based on the info from the "Vintage reissue nameplates on genuine '60s Ricks" thread, I'm think my guitar shipped as a 420. There are no additional screw holes in the headstock and the screws line up perfectly with the Rick TRC. Based on the thread, it sounds like the Rick and Electro TRCs would never line up.

36012 · Post by **36012** » Sun Feb 01, 2004 7:35 am

I've seen original 450/12's with set necks,so it is very possible to be original.If the finish is original then I wouldn't worry.I don't think they made jetglow electro's.I haven't seen one anyways.

vinylrec · Post by **vinylrec** » Mon Feb 02, 2004 11:29 am

Thanks for the info Jon!