Route 66 Guitars Rickenbacker Gallery

[route66guitars]

I will add them to the registry as well. It appears someone has submitted this guitar since I posted the thread, as it's not in the viewable registry, but my attempt to submit it warns me that someone else has posted that serial number. I guess in the future I have to add them to the registry before posting them here to prevent others from taking credit that isn't theirs.

I doubt it's a case of anyone "taking credit", rather, just someone making sure the guitar gets entered into the register. It should be entered as a "CI", collected instrument, meaning it does not belong to the person who submitted it. If it was entered otherwise, the entry will be corrected.

In any case, it's probably a good idea to enter them before posting just to save the hassle of entering and finding it already there.

Great thread though, it will be interesting to see these historic guitars!

I did look, and it wasn't listed. It's when I entered it myself that it told me that it was already there. I searched again. Not listed.

I don't own any of the instruments I will be posting. I either did at one time, or sold them for their owners while they were in my possession. I do own the images. I am not looking to take ownership credit of the instruments, but I do own the images. The way the registry is currently implemented it does not differentiate between the two. So if someone else enters the instrument, they could be mistaken as the owner of the images.

Now that many of my best customers know each other through this forum, and the internet in general, the images are the only modest income I see from 30 years of experience with Ricks.

[cjj]

I will add them to the registry as well. It appears someone has submitted this guitar since I posted the thread, as it's not in the viewable registry, but my attempt to submit it warns me that someone else has posted that serial number. I guess in the future I have to add them to the registry before posting them here to prevent others from taking credit that isn't theirs.

I doubt it's a case of anyone "taking credit", rather, just someone making sure the guitar gets entered into the register. It should be entered as a "CI", collected instrument, meaning it does not belong to the person who submitted it. If it was entered otherwise, the entry will be corrected.

In any case, it's probably a good idea to enter them before posting just to save the hassle of entering and finding it already there.

Great thread though, it will be interesting to see these historic guitars!

I did look, and it wasn't listed. It's when I entered it myself that it told me that it was already there. I searched again. Not listed.

I don't own any of the instruments I will be posting. I either did at one time, or sold them for their owners while they were in my possession. I do own the images. I am not looking to take ownership credit of the instruments, but I do own the images. The way the registry is currently implemented it does not differentiate between the two. So if someone else enters the instrument, they could be mistaken as the owner of the images.

Now that many of my best customers know each other through this forum, and the internet in general, the images are the only modest income I see from 30 years of experience with Ricks.

Yes, the current way the register is implemented, instruments will not show up in a search until they get approved by the powers that be. If you try to enter the serial number again, it will find it in the database and not let you enter it again. This is a bit unfortunate in that it leads one to believe the serial number is not entered yet. I think it would be better if the search returned something to state that it is pending.

Your point about the images is a very good one. Currently, the general rule is to not use images that are copy-written. For CI instruments, there really isn't an "owner" listed anywhere, so it's not quite like someone can claim they own the pictures on a CI, but just putting them in sort of implies they may be free to use, I think, maybe. Actually, this whole topic, ownership of pictures and their use in the register, is something that should be discussed with Peter (user "admin"), the forum owner. I'm really not qualified to comment on that subject...

[route66guitars]

Nice thread, Scott!

Well.....technically, Sunday is the beginning of the calendar week, so let's have round #2 !

1957 Rickenbacker Capri prototype.



One of 3 known early Capri one-off prototype models with a 'butcher block' figured maple body. This is shorter than the earliest 'long body' examples such as the one in the left photo on page 103 of the Smith book. (Which will be my next post in a few days…) The glued on back is what we believe to be a pine(?) plywood.

Longer body with unique dual carve in the the tailpiece taper. This was done to locate the output jack closer to the end pin. Looking closely at the image you can see that the jack plate is located between the two carves.

Long soundhole. Visible through the soundhole is a paper label from the Electro String Instrument Corporation, including the Los Angeles address. This is the only instrument I have ever seen with this label.

Unique three tone sunburst.

This instrument clearly pre-dates the 330 Capri in the right photo on page 103 of the Smith book.

According to my original notes when I found the guitar in a box in the factory in late 1988, it needed 1 tuner, serial number plate, output jack, bridge, and tailpiece. Although it's not in my notes, my memory is that the original pickguard was badly cracked, and while I preferred to leave it as-is it didn't survive the disassembly to buff out the finish and a new one was made to fit.

The serial number plate used on the guitar is 3V250. As with all of the instruments that came from the factory collection, it was completed with era correct parts, but the serial number should not be used to precisely date the instrument.

As the instrument was missing the tailpiece, and we were unable to locate an image of the guitar in teh archives, I suggested it be completed with the longer F series Kauffman (which is nothing more than a standard Kauffman riveted to a standard Rickenbacker trapeze tailpiece.) As this pre-dates the F series instruments it is most likely that it had been built using an archtop style trapeze tailpiece, as seen on other Rick prototypes from this era.

More coming soon...

[egosheep]

Wow, that Capri is awesome!! I have never seen a double tiered ramp carve... that's totally wild. Have you ever seen another ramp with that detail? Is the jackplate square, or is it shaved to fit within the confines of the ramp and the back?

[route66guitars]

Yes, the current way the register is implemented, instruments will not show up in a search until they get approved by the powers that be. If you try to enter the serial number again, it will find it in the database and not let you enter it again. This is a bit unfortunate in that it leads one to believe the serial number is not entered yet. I think it would be better if the search returned something to state that it is pending.

Your point about the images is a very good one. Currently, the general rule is to not use images that are copy-written. For CI instruments, there really isn't an "owner" listed anywhere, so it's not quite like someone can claim they own the pictures on a CI, but just putting them in sort of implies they may be free to use, I think, maybe. Actually, this whole topic, ownership of pictures and their use in the register, is something that should be discussed with Peter (user "admin"), the forum owner. I'm really not qualified to comment on that subject...

This conversation has come up before. Based on current US law all images have copyright protection, even if they were not taken in the US or stored on US servers. I'm assuming that by stating that forum policy is not to post copywritten images that you believe that by sharing images on this site the poster is waiving the copyright on their image. (The fact that there is a thread with 71 pages of images of the Beatles, none of which were taken by a member of this forum, is proof enough that there is no such policy in place.) The owner of an image can waive their copyright, or place it in the public domain, but this has to be done explicitly, in writing.

There is fair use, which in the context of this forum would be for criticism and education. Using others' images in the registry constitutes fair use. This doesn't mean that someone could use the images they don't own for any commercial purpose, including the promotion of a web site that accepts advertising. This isn't something that Peter, or anyone hosting a web site, has the power to change.

All of that being said, I would like to share the stories and images of these rare instruments that few have ever seen. I know that many of the members here will enjoy them. I only ask that you not treat the images as your own.

[route66guitars]

Wow, that Capri is awesome!! I have never seen a double tiered ramp carve... that's totally wild. Have you ever seen another ramp with that detail? Is the jackplate square, or is it shaved to fit within the confines of the ramp and the back?

This is the only one I have seen with this carve.

It is the standard small single jack serial number plate from the late 1950s. Not quite square.

[8mileshigh]

Was this the one you offered to me for $1800? Please say no!!!!

[route66guitars]

Was this the one you offered to me for $1800? Please say no!!!!

I could say no, but you know the real answer.

It's best not to look back. It will end in tears.

[sloop_john_b]

OUCH. Where's my Delorean?

[route66guitars]

OUCH. Where's my Delorean?

Problem with time machines is that exactly the same people would own all of these guitars, just not the same ones. That, and the hilarious ever changing photos of several forum members rushing the stage at Who concerts to snatch 1993s and 1997s out of harms way.

[collin]

OUCH. Where's my Delorean?

Problem with time machines is that exactly the same people would own all of these guitars, just not the same ones. That, and the hilarious ever changing photos of several forum members rushing the stage at Who concerts to snatch 1993s and 1997s out of harms way.

See...that would just be messing with the time-space continuum.....but there's no harm in dumpster-diving afterwards!

[route66guitars]

OK, this is why I don't want others rushing to the registry to post items I've listed.

The first instrument I've featured here, Roger McGuinn's modified 360-12 is listed in the registry as a 370-12. This is incorrect, and all other references to this instrument in books, magazines, etc., note that it is a modified 360-12.

Why is this important? In this case nearly all of the recordings made by McGuinn using this guitar were done before it was modified to add the third pickup and custom wiring. Also, it's simply the truth.

I realize some people will think I'm being fussy about this, but I spend more time correcting other people's versions of what was essentially my research than you can possibly imagine.

New celeb guitar tomorrow.

[scotty]

Scott im really enjoying this thread and had a wee peep round your website and was drawn to this guitar which i find interesting.I was wondering if you could give us a quick low down on this.I dont want to interrupt this thread but i was just wondering if you have any info on it.Thanks and sorry if im drifting the thread.

[route66guitars]

Scott im really enjoying this thread and had a wee peep round your website and was drawn to this guitar which i find interesting.I was wondering if you could give us a quick low down on this.I dont want to interrupt this thread but i was just wondering if you have any info on it.Thanks and sorry if im drifting the thread.

This was a one off prototype of a never issued Blackstar 12 string model. I don't have my notes in front of me, but will dig out the info, including serial number, and post it soon.

[scotty]

Just visually its got,i presume a ebony FB which looks like slightly enlarged dot markers all with BT Looks great.Thanks