Rickenbacker baritone conversion

Vintage, Modern, V & C Series, Signature & Special Editions

Moderators: rickenbrother, ajish4

Post Reply
Yuanjia
New member
Posts: 7
Joined: Tue Sep 11, 2018 10:52 pm

Rickenbacker baritone conversion

Post by Yuanjia »

Has anyone ever turned a normal Rick into a baritone?

I'm thinking of doing it to a 650S. A gorgeous guitar but with a 24 and 3/4" scale length.

Also I will have to drill the bridge and maybe even the lowest tuning peg to acommodate a .68 gauge string.

Anyone have tips or photos or stories of making a baritone?
User avatar
scott_s
Veteran RRF member
Posts: 612
Joined: Mon Nov 26, 2001 12:59 pm

Re: Rickenbacker baritone conversion

Post by scott_s »

Yuanjia wrote: Thu Feb 20, 2025 2:20 pm Has anyone ever turned a normal Rick into a baritone?

I'm thinking of doing it to a 650S. A gorgeous guitar but with a 24 and 3/4" scale length.

Also I will have to drill the bridge and maybe even the lowest tuning peg to acommodate a .68 gauge string.

Anyone have tips or photos or stories of making a baritone?
Hey Kyle, not sure if you're still considering this, but I just spotted the thread.

My 330 wears 0.012-0.054 strings, so it's no big deal to tune it down to B-B on a blue moon. Based on my crude measurements, you could probably fit a 0.060" low string without drilling out a tuner capstan. And you may be able to get enough backward movement on the lowest string saddle by removing its spring, rather than needing to relocate the whole bridge.

Good luck, and keep us posted if you go ahead with it! 8)
User avatar
jdogric12
Rick-a-holic
Posts: 10925
Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2005 6:00 am

Re: Rickenbacker baritone conversion

Post by jdogric12 »

Davis Guitar Works in Florida did one. Probably has it up on his site or fb page. I think the donor was a 330 or something similar.
Post Reply

Return to “Rickenbacker Guitars: by John Simmons”