OLD Ric Acoustics

[kennyhowes]

Anyone here ever even seen any, outside of the RIC collection?

NOT the 700 series, or the Wilczynski models. I'm talking Models 385, 390, 385s, etc.

[grazioso]

yes there was one somewhere in holland in late 80's. seen it on stage there once. i can't recall
the band name or which model it was just that it was smaller jumbo plain dot neck.

[nelsonic]

How about this one? Very much like a Martin...Wonder where they all went?

[Darkhollow]

How about this one? Very much like a Martin...Wonder where they all went?

Hey!! An auditorium sized Ric!!

Not sure I have looked up the old series of acoustics.

[jingle_jangle]

How about this one? Very much like a Martin...Wonder where they all went?

The gold sure looks better, but probably didn't show up on black and white TV back then.

Here's what Leo Jackson has to say about this color change:

"Q.: Hello Leo, huge fan of your long career. Hope you can answer a question for me. I own the Jim Reeves Rickenbacker Blue Boy "Martin". Looking through old pictures, it is apparent that the lucite pickguard and "J R" initials changed color at some point in the early 1960's from the original Rickenbacker gold to its current deep blue. Your Jazzmaster went through the same transformation as well...Just wondering when the band had this done and who did the color change for you guys? I see too that you must not have cared too much for the big blue Rickenbacker 360F... not many photos of you playing it (can't blame you as the Jazzmaster is one terrific guitar). Thank you for any help and all the best. Bill Nelson, USA

A.: Hi Bill,

Good question. To be honest I didn't know Jim's guitar had changed until I read your email. The last time I saw Jim's Rickenbacker, the pickguard Jim's initials and headstock truss rod cover was old. My 1959 Jazzmaster was originally a sunburst finish but in mid-1960 Jim asked me if I'd consider having it refinished to match his. I told him no problem so this guy Jim knew who lived ext to Jim's office in Madison, Tn. said he would do it for me. He just sandblasted the guitar including the Fender Jazzmaster decal and spray painted it with a car paint. That's when he told me it was his first time to refinish a guitar.

I liked my Rickenbacker o.k. except Jim was adamant about everybody being in tune and my Rickenbacker was very hard to keep in tune.

I hope I've answered your questions. Thanks for your interest, Leo.

Q.: Thank you Leo for your response. Yes, I also do think the gold lucite looked sharper on Jim's acoustic. About the lucite color change, I am thinking it happened by 1963, because in the movie "Kimberley Jim" the color is blue already (also, Jim removed the "JR" letters for the film- you can see the screw holes in some shots). Maybe Rickenbacker themselves did the color change- on their website they have a picture of Jim's guitar with the blue parts- though we know in 1961 it was made with the gold, like in the promotional postcard. Anyhow, I know this is a long time ago- but I thank you again for taking time to answer. Best Regards- Bill Nelson."



So, Bill, welcome o the Rickenbacker Resource Forum!

I'm assuming that you are aware of the Rick 700C in BB that was built for the Yokohama show by RIC, with a replica JR pickguard. It's now owned by Bob Singer and was restored by me last year when the top developed a couple of splits in the spruce. I also built a 12-string twin to it for Bob.

These two Reeves "replicas" are quite different in appearance and construction from your original Reeves Rick, upon close inspection...they are made to '90s Rick 700 specs.

[nelsonic]

[/quote]

These two Reeves "replicas" are quite different in appearance and construction from your original Reeves Rick, upon close inspection...they are made to '90s Rick 700 specs.

Thanks Paul. This guitar is very much different from the recent 700 series, of which I have had a few (and are all quite nice). The Reeves Blue Boy is patterned after Martin, as exemplified in the bracing, neck shape, and ebony board. I suspect Rickenbacker was taking note of JR's preference for Martin guitars, providing an instrument that would be similar enough...

[rick_ovic]

There is a late 50s or early 60s Rickenbacker acoustic in Australia. I understand that the owner expects mega-dollars IF it's put up for sale. Apparently he's been in contact with Gruhns about it.

I have a photo of the guitar at home, courtesy of Glen Lambert. I'll post it here a little later today.

[rick_ovic]

Here it is:-

[kennyhowes]

Here it is:-

Very cool. I think I've seen that pic before too.

It'd be neat to find one of these, I think. I mean, any of these may have the quality of Rossmeisl's Fender acoustics (i.e. marginal), but maybe not.

[rick_ovic]

Bill, welcome to the Forum and thanks for posting the photo of your guitar. It was great to learn about the changes to it. I'd love to hear how it sounds.

[ozover50]

Haven't seen any old ones but if Trotty lends me one of his I could probably make it look old!!

[leftybass]

Here it is:-

Damn, that's cool. Never seen this pic before. Thanks Darren.


Well, we know they were in the '68 catalog (but were the late 50's samples in the pics) and F.C. Hall had an electrified dreadnought-style Rickenbacker flat-top at NAMM around 1970......

Bill, welcome to the Forum. Good to see you posting.

[grazioso]

Here it is:-

Very cool. I think I've seen that pic before too.

It'd be neat to find one of these, I think. I mean, any of these may have the quality of Rossmeisl's Fender acoustics (i.e. marginal), but maybe not.

if it was like rossmeisl's fender it woudn't be such a bad thing, they are (beside old style newporter) pretty much indestructible and pretty cheap . i am quite fond of malibu and villager ...

[jingle_jangle]

Here it is:-

Very cool. I think I've seen that pic before too.

It'd be neat to find one of these, I think. I mean, any of these may have the quality of Rossmeisl's Fender acoustics (i.e. marginal), but maybe not.

if it was like rossmeisl's fender it woudn't be such a bad thing, they are (beside old style newporter) pretty much indestructible and pretty cheap . i am quite fond of malibu and villager ...

Wish we knew more about those early acoustic days...the Oz acoustic looks almost like it could have been built by Rossmeisl himself, judging just from proportions.

The Fenders definitely were not, though...Fender built and equipped a new plant to manufacture those by the thousands; how much of their design is down to Rossmeisl is debatable. The few I've played were unremarkable, but again, consider the price. They went over like a lead balloon, though. They seemed to be overbuilt (this was before I got into acoustic building, so my evaluation wasn't really comprehensive).

My own recent experience with archtop German guitars of the '50s and early '60s--which did not include a "Roger", I hasten to add--indicates that overbuilding with these was common, too. They all sound "choked" to me. They are jazz-accompaniment rhythm guitars; imagine a dance band, archtop-playing guy in back with a funny moustache. Chunka chunka...Flat-tops were uncommon; they are an American innovation and never that popular with German luthiers.

The history of any of those early flat-tops would be fascinating.

[kennyhowes]

Re: Rossmeisl-designed Fender acoustics: It was always my understanding that any of those with the brrom stick going down the inside were RR designs. I am happy to stand corrected though.