Tempted by the fruit of another

[analogpackrat]

Another Rickenbacker, that is. There's an oddball available locally and I wanted to ask you folks what you thought.

It was marked as a 360-12V63 but the "V63" was scratched out and replaced with "WB." Based on what I see, I believe it's a WB. Supposedly the pickups have been replaced as has the tailpiece and bridge, but we'll get to that. It also was said to have been refretted. Features of note:

Jetglo
Double bound
Bound soundhole
Hi-gain pickups with foam surrounds
trapeze tailpiece (looks to be a RIC part)
12-saddle RIC bridge
chrome top knobs
Schaller keywinds
Short inlays
Small frets
Stripped fingerboard
I think it was a 21 fret guitar (dang it, I knew I'd forget something!), but I could be wrong
Serial number decodes as late 1996
Comes with case

While I don't care for the short inlays or the bare fingerboard, the guitar played really well. The work that had been done on the frets and fingerboard looked pro to me. It was very clean with no apparent dings or scratches. What would such a beast be worth? I can already feel my wallet crawling out of my pocket...

[libratune]

If its 21 frets you've got a hybrid on your hands. All the other features indicate a WB with some changed parts. I'm betting its 24 frets.

Other details: TRC type, plexi or raised letters (WB)? Ric-o-sound (WB) or double-mono jacks?

If it's a 360-12 WB JG in nice shape, you'd be doing well to get it for $1500 or under, stripped 'board discount and case included.

You can check out the Register market comparables here, limited as they are: http://www.rickresource.com/register/vi ... lebrity%3D

[analogpackrat]

I believe the TRC was the newer raised letter type. One other detail I checked--it was x-braced. I looked at the jack plate, but can't recall if it was marked Ric-o-sound or not. Problem was that there were a lot of other Ricks there to ogle including a newer FG 360-12 and a FG 4003. Thanks for the additional info.

[sloop_john_b]

If it was '96, it wasn't X-braced.

Short inlays would clinch it, this is a WB. It woud have 24 frets.

[libratune]

On your question regarding value, a 360-12WB Jetglo 1985 just came up on ebay with a minimum bid of $1500: http://cgi.ebay.com/1985-Rickenbacker-3 ... 4aa381f8b8

[analogpackrat]

OK...I succumbed to the temptation on the way home yesterday. I managed to negotiate the price down in the range that Ron indicated--thanks for the info. So now I'm a card carrying member of the double-bound club! This thing really plays nicely. The action is low, the neck is straight, and it rings out acoustically despite the rather thick top. My '72 360S-12 has a bit more bottom when played acoustically, but this WB isn't far behind. Plugged in it has the jangle in spades.

It came with a vintage style case (silver), but the original bridge, bridge cover, and tailpiece are gone. I found out that the refret was done by Gryphon in Palo Alto (perhaps by Mr. Ford himself) which explains the high quality work. As you can see in the close-up the new frets are tiny vintage ones, but they actually feel fine on a 12. Great job on the beveling. The fingerboard is finished, but it is a matte finish. I think the original owner was trying to go for the vintage V64 look. The short inlays don't quite do it, but overall it looks fine.

The only two problems are some kind of goof on the binding behind the heel and a missing knob insert. There are a few light scratches here and there, but nothing through the finish. When I saw the binding problem I thought maybe there was a neck problem (re-set?) but looking into the sound hole and behind the guard there is no indication of any work having been done to the neck joint.

Introducing my double-bound black beauty:

[jps]

.....now I'm a card carrying member of the double-bound club!

Welcome! I joined the club in 1973 when I got my first Rickenbacker.

I take it basses are welcome in the club!

[paologregorio]

Oh, man, that's COOL!!!!!!! Cogratulations, Doug!!

[jch]

Congrats, white binding looks really class with Jetglo

[analogpackrat]

Thanks, guys. I like a nice FireGlo, but so far 4/5 of my modest collection is JetGlo. There's just something about black and white...it's like a classic tux. You just can't improve on it! And there is something really nice about the double bound shape. The swooping curve of the cutaway, the pointed bouts, and the binding on both sides really emphasizes how thin the body is. I'm surprised how good the hi-gains sound on a 12. And this one doesn't have the bridge cap. I've got an extra 500k pot with switch...hmmm...should I put on this one or the '92 320?

Man, that 4005 is really nice. Checker binding?

[jps]

No CB on the 4005WB, the far more common , standard issue 4005 did have CB until, probably, the early '70s.

[libratune]

Congrats, Doug. Glad it worked out. Looks like a nice one.

Wouldn't worry too much about the binding peel. It's cosmetic and pretty well hidden.

Nice frets, too.

[Trav]

Good purchase there Doug, good looking guitar

[8mileshigher]

So now I'm a card carrying member of the double-bound club!

Congratulations, Doug!!
A big thumbs-up on joining the club !!
Very nice looking Ric !
Another Confluence induced RAS-attack !

Congrats, white binding looks really class with Jetglo

.... so far 4/5 of my modest collection is JetGlo. There's just something about black and white...it's like a classic tux. You just can't improve on it! And there is something really nice about the double bound shape. The swooping curve of the cutaway, the pointed bouts, and the binding on both sides really emphasizes how thin the body is...

Yep !!!

[analogpackrat]

She's a keeper alright. She was strung with D'Addario round-wounds (new looking) and I have to say [sacrilege alert] they sound great on this guitar. I've got the old '72 12 strung with RIC ground wounds (TIs next), so this give me a different flavor altogether. I was definitely bitten at BARC!