What sort of Rickenbacker Guitar Oddity Did I Stumble Upon?

[Chubtone]

Hello Everyone. I am brand new here. I stumbled upon this interesting Rickenbacker "guitar" a few months back and set it aside, not knowing what it was or what I could/should do with it. I have had a couple of friends and a couple of local repair guys look it over and no one is quite sure what it is. I live about 15 minutes from where the factory is, and the guy I got this from sad his dad used to work at Rickenbacker way back.

Anyways, I took some pics and hope someone could shed some light on what this is.

Thanks

[Ontario_RIC_fan]

I would say it is an incomplete Light show cicra 1970/71... Didn't know they had done them as a 12 String though

[scotty]

Has the fretboard been painted with the black paint also?
how does it sound? Looks like a template

[sloop_john_b]

Looks like an ebony fretboard. If that TRC is original, it's not. 70/71.

I have no idea what it is. Some kind of template?

[scotty]

You just beat me to my Edit john on the template thought.

[8mileshigh]

The Smith book did mention a round top lightshow IIRC

[collin]

Very interesting find Curt!

For some reason, I'm doubting it's fake. Looks like factory work to my eyes, but for what?

The routes do remind me of 331 routes, and why else would they be there? Could be a template, or some kind of tool from the factory, if it is real. Strange about the dark fretboard, as well as the dot inlays and rounded-top shaped body.

Whatever it is, I'd sure like to check it out in person (hint: I'm in OC, Curt!)

[jingle_jangle]

I might agree with Graham if I had any hunch what a round-top LS would look like, but the edges are too thick and it's too thin front-to-back. Also, the way the neck is joined is more like a standard 330/360 joint than a LS in my experience. A LS should have thinner outer walls, and also space where the ramp normally is, to hold the SCR heat sink.

My own feeling is that it could be a test piece for a standard 360 routing pattern, or possibly a reject in intermediate stages of routing (pre-edge raduis) that had its front shaved off. It looks on first glance about 1/4" thinner than it should be. The neck looks like it could have been a reject, the headstock is too wide to be a '60s 12 string (maybe late '70s, early '80s) and somebody took a shot at tuner placement (it's critical and these are wrong) and attached an ebony fretboard.

Possibly the same somebody thought a "skeleton" or "silent" Rick would be cool? Like this Yammy?

[collin]

Btw, Curt - welcome to the RRF.

[Chubtone]

Thanks for the welcome and the insight guys.

The fretboard is not painted, it just looks to be ebony.

I think it is most likely that round top lightshow 8mileshigh mentioned that they only made one of that is in the book. Please send payment for this unbelievably rare piece to an new account I am going to set up in the Cayman Islands.

I was thinking of putting it up on the wall in my home studio as an art piece, but decided I should see what it is first.

There is also my other plan of turning it into a San Dimas Charvel inspired shredder. You know, Floyd Rose, some ultra high output active pickups, scallop the fretboard, paint some tribal graphics or better yet, a bikini girl graphic. I know you will all like that idea.

[collin]

There is also my other plan of turning it into a San Dimas Charvel inspired shredder. You know, Floyd Rose, some ultra high output active pickups, scallop the fretboard, paint some tribal graphics or better yet, a bikini girl graphic. I know you will all like that idea.

Now you're cooking with oil!

[jdogric12]

I like this guy, can we keep him???

Welcome!

[Chubtone]

So, apparently this thing is pretty odd as even you guys seem to not be sure what it is. I'm wondering what I should do with it.........

[sloop_john_b]

Curt, have you contacted John Hall @ RIC?

[admin]

Very nice find Curt. The mystery continues. I also want to welcome you to the RRF.