425 a Student model?

[blueboy]

Hello,

I own what I believe to be 1961 425. I am wondering when this model first appeared and how many were made. Also, were they primarily produced as an entry level or student guitar? Thanks.

Anthony

[clementc3]

Although the 425 has some aspects (such as only one pickup) that might lead one to think that it was a "student" model, it appears that (except as noted below) it was not specifically intended to be a student model. George Harrison played a 425 on the "Ready, Steady, Go" TV show, and at a few other performances in 1963. There is more information on the Beatles subpage of Bjorn Ericksson's Rickbeat page http://www.rickbeat.com/beatles/beatles.htm.

The original 1958-1973 model can be seen at http://www.rickbeat.com/modelslibrary/425/425.htm.

Rickenbacker reissued it (I am not sure of the date) as a 425V63 without a vibrato, inspite of the "5" at the end of the model number. The Rickbeat page on the reissue http://www.rickbeat.com/modelslibrary/425v63/425v63.htm has moree interesting historical information on George Harrison's 425, provided, I believe, by our very own Peter McCormack.

It does look like one variation of the 425 was actually called a "student" model - http://www.rickbeat.com/modelslibrary/425s/425s.htm - it had a "low cost Japanese-made" vibrato on it.

Also, although the Rickbeat page calls the 425 vibrato a "Boyd" vibrato, that particular vibrato is probably not a Boyd. Thanks to some sleuthing by and photos from jingle-jangle on an earlier thread we now know that Boyd vibratos look like overgrown paperclips.

[jingle_jangle]

I, too, have a '61 425. Also several 1967s and a '67 450, too... This was part of Rickenbacker's regular line, and although it had one pickup, it has some interesting sonic tricks up its sleeve. It is of the same high quality as other Rickenbackers; no cost-cutting here.

These were in production for a loooong time, and were re-issued in 1999 as a limited edition V63 model, in Burgundyglo and Jetglo.

[blueboy]

Thanks for the reply Clementc3 and Jingle_Jangle. I found your posts to be very educational and just what I was looking for.

Paul I was wondering if you might elaborate on the "sonic tricks" of the 425 that you referred to in your post.

[blaine63]

What's the scale length of a 425? What were/are the sonic tricks contained in a 425? I found a really old one that someone is selling and I'm a curious.

[IHeartRics]

Paul I was wondering if you might elaborate on the "sonic tricks" of the 425 that you referred to in your post.

I think Paul is alluding to the electronics. There is only one pick up but you have a toggle switch that I believe changes to tone circuit (capacitor).

I still get mad at myself as many, many years ago I could have scored the Electro version of this guitar. The store had it at a low price because Ric told them it was not a Ric, which is correct. But thinking it was a fake, they had it at a low price. Not knowing about Electro at the time, I passed on it as I decided to save my money for a "real" Ric.

[doctorwho]

What's the scale length of a 425? ...

Standard (Rickenbacker) scale length, 24-3/4" (confirmed on my model 460).

One minor trick (of sorts) on these is setting the intonation ... I have found that it usually is better to loosen the pickguard before trying to move the bridge backward or forward.

[jingle_jangle]

The oval-shaped bridge bridge cutout on the pickguards on 425s come in varying widths. Some narrower cutouts will clamp down on the bridge lower casting, freezing it into place.This can disturb intonation and cause buzzing. Wider cutouts (not necessarily on later guitars, interestingly) allow free movement of the bridge lower casting in the guitar body, so it is held into place by the pressure of the strings alone.

The pickguard contacting the bridge lower casting at each end can be verified by observing the reflections of light in the pickguard--if they're distorted at either end, it's interference. In this case, loosen the guard as Gary recommends.

[doctorwho]

In this example (my 1999 450v63 Jetglo), it is very clear that the pickguard is resting on the bridge's lower casting:

1999 450v63 JG closeup