Installing an Ac'cent Vibrato

beatcomber · Post by **beatcomber** » Thu Aug 26, 2004 1:27 pm

I am awaiting the delivery of an '89 Rick 1997 (http://www.pmblues.com/content/services_details.asp?record=422) that I just purchased, and have also ordered a new Ac'cent vibrato system to replace the trapeze tailpiece.

Is there any special technique needed to make the swap? It looks to me that all you have to do is unscrew the strap button to remove the old tailpiece and rescrew it to secure the Ac'cent. Am I correct?

Also, didn't Rickenbacker install a roller bridge of some sort on their Ac'cent-equipped guitars in the '60s? Are these still available?

Thanks

8mileshigh · Post by **8mileshigh** » Thu Aug 26, 2004 9:30 pm

That's all I did - just use the same hole. Although I may well drill a new hole closer to the back of the guitar - so the bottom of the accent is more flush with the back of the guitar - this looks better. Not sure about that roller bridge - but it sounds right - good luck.

beatcomber · Post by **beatcomber** » Thu Aug 26, 2004 9:42 pm

Thanks, Graham!

adam_swapp · Post by **adam_swapp** » Mon Aug 30, 2004 12:46 pm

You may want to consider drilling a hole in the tailpiece to line up with the existing hole in the body. It seems it would be preferable to leave the body undamaged.

As for the roller bridge: you can get a reissue from a C58 for about $50. Lots of folks Lennonize their C58's and replace the roller bridge with a bowtie.

fred · Post by **fred** » Sat Oct 02, 2004 5:21 pm

I had a 1961 model 365 and it had the roller bridge and accent vibrato.