RFI on Accent vibratos

adam_swapp · Post by **adam_swapp** » Fri Jun 04, 2004 8:06 am

I'm looking for information on the various Accent vibratos. I have an incomplete unit from a '62 625. It's missing the original spindle and arm (see top picture). I have made a new spindle that is compatible with the arm from a new unit (see bottom picture).

Questions are:
- How did the original spindle attach to the comb?
- Will a new arm fit on an old unit?
- Were there different arms for different guitar models (e.g. 625 vs. 330)? What are the differences?
- When did they switch from Accent by Paul tailpieces to the plain tailpieces?
- Anybody got an extra arm for sale?

Any information (or detailed pictures) would be greatly appreciated.

tblair · Post by **tblair** » Fri Jun 04, 2004 8:42 am

The reproduction arms fit perfectly with the Accent by Paul tailpieces- so I'd have to imagine they are all more or less the same. The incompatible piece is the repro-screw. I've used the modern screw for the Accent of a '66 325, but was unable to use one for a '60 365.

I'm not sure if the threading changed when the tailpiece went generic, or just sometime between '60 and '66.

The only differences between units of a particular era should be the F-series vs. the non-F-series. The F-series versions were longer with little cheezy music notes cut into them.

I think the change from Accent by Paul's to plains took place sometime in 1963, but I'd bet a dollar that some Pauls snuck out later like everything else in Rickenbackerdom.

adam_swapp · Post by **adam_swapp** » Fri Jun 04, 2004 9:29 am

Tony,

Thanks for the reply.

What is the "repro-screw" of which you speak? Is that the screw that holds the arm onto the spindle?

The hole in the comb on the vintage piece is threaded with 10-32 threads, as is the center hole in my new spindle (and the spindle on a modern unit). I just ran a short screw up from the bottom of the comb into the spindle to hold it in place. How is the original spindle secured?

tblair · Post by **tblair** » Fri Jun 04, 2004 10:46 am

The repro-screw would be the screw that holds the arm into place.

If you are able to use one with an Accent by Paul vibrato, then maybe the threading changed while it was still the 'Paul' version.

...there's also the possibility that the Accent by Paul's I've tried just had the threads goofed up- hence the lack of a screw when they passed through my hands.

I don't recall how the spindles where fixed to the unit, and I no longer have any guitars with a vibrato. I might still have an old Accent in my box-o-parts that I could look at, though.