Transonic 200 History

Tube and solidstate amplifiers made by Rickenbacker

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tallchad
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Transonic 200 History

Post by tallchad »

Hi!
I have a 200 head on my bench, SN 446. With the history and “special clientele” of these amps, I am wondering if there’s anything interesting I can tell my client about his amp. He has reason to believe that it may have been used by Page on tour (or at least loaned to) but no evidence other than that it came to the previous owner with 2 cabs, one with the nameplate flipped upside down so it’d be right side up when stacked. Is there a way to find out where this amp was going when it left Ric or any other history on it?

Thanks,
Chad
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collin
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Re: Transonic 200 History

Post by collin »

The factory has a record of all Transonics and other gear that went out on the road with Zeppelin. This isn’t public data…and Page still owns his Transonic rigs.

This will sound pretty jaded, but it seems like every person with a Transonic 200 head or cabinet suggests some kind of Led Zeppelin connection. It seems like this is brought up almost every time one comes up for sale.

It was even repeated by Bob Rissi (RIP), who designed the Transonic circuits. You couldn’t visit his workshop without being shown some half-disassembled T200 chassis that he claimed was used by Zeppelin.

I would love your client to be the one correct person out of hundreds who have previously claimed to own a Zeppelin Transonic, but color me skeptical.
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kennyhowes
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Re: Transonic 200 History

Post by kennyhowes »

collin wrote: Thu Dec 26, 2024 10:09 pm...it seems like every person with a Transonic 200 head or cabinet suggests some kind of Led Zeppelin connection. It seems like this is brought up almost every time one comes up for sale.
I was actually going to say this exact thing.

They're seen so infrequently that it wouldn't be a stretch to think that Zeppelin touched all of them.

Cheap Trick still has all of theirs, I believe.
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fabandgear
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Re: Transonic 200 History

Post by fabandgear »

Yeah, and every old violin is a Stradivarius. I know for a FACT Led Zepplin never touched my 220. I bought it NOS in Hawaii years ago.
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