What model is this?

beefandbones · Post by **beefandbones** » Sat Feb 19, 2005 11:00 am

Is this a Fakenbacker? or a Rickenfaker?

It's shaped a little like a 230, but with an R tailpiece and a black TRC. The cord plugs into the front, and it seems to have one knob and a switch. Wha? Also, the fretboard is so dark it almost looks like ebony.

http://www.thelucksmiths.com.au/docs/thelucksmiths/images/in_the_studio/mac1.jpg

It's a photo from the recording sessions for the Lucksmiths' MacIntyre record from the mid 90s. If you're not familiar with the Lucksmiths, you should check them out. Great pop music! Not so sure about their friend's guitar, though...

beefandbones · Post by **beefandbones** » Mon Feb 21, 2005 7:13 am

Anyone care to venture a guess? Has this guitar stumped the experts?

jwilli · Post by **jwilli** » Mon Feb 21, 2005 9:05 am

A clearer picture would be nice.

sir_andrew_of_left_coast · Mon Feb 21, 2005 1:28 pm

OK... I'll play!

Hmmm... I don't see any binding on the body (unless it's "black" trim,)... so I don't think it's the 250 or 260 El Dorado model.

The dark grain of the fretboard suggests a 230 Hamburg... even though I thought even 230s had binding on the neck (or is it black?).

Unless it just came off or got rubbed off, the lack of the "RIC" monogrammed pickups (HB-2) also suggests a 230.

I can't tell if there's a "slot" cut out for the original output jack. His hand is in the way, too... can't see the bridge at all. Also, it looks to me like the lower bout has been modified to a more "Les Paul-like" shape.

My guess: A "heavily-modified" 230.

kennyhowes · Post by **kennyhowes** » Mon Feb 21, 2005 5:19 pm

At a quick glance, I would have said a Glenn Frey, but the R tail is throwing me off...

frankabq · Post by **frankabq** » Mon Feb 21, 2005 8:13 pm

Looks like a 230 Hamburg, is there a date on the photo or album if so check Rickenbackers history pages on their site. Looks like the 1950's Combo 600 or 800 buterfly shape or the student Combo 400. The 800 had one pickup that could switch the humbucker in half to treble or bass or use the whole pickup as a single humbucker. It does look like a student playing the Rickenbacker. Only problem is the tail piece, I bet that was added at a later date because I don't see any Rickenbakers with the "R" tail piece before 1958. Go to Rickenbackers site and click on Gallery and then the link to see photos they have collected on the site so far. They would probally like it if you sent them a copy of this photq for their site. Check it out. The Combo 800 is under their History link. That one look like it the most.

jwilli · Post by **jwilli** » Tue Feb 22, 2005 1:12 am

Whatever it is, it is certainly modified.

BTW, the R tailpiece wasn't used until the latter part of '64.

sir_andrew_of_left_coast · Tue Feb 22, 2005 8:20 am

Too many frets (24!) to be a 1950s guitar... but I can *somewhat* see the Combo 800-inspired body modification.

bmi_guy · Post by **bmi_guy** » Tue Feb 22, 2005 9:32 am

I think it's a Gibson... A mutated SG...

bmi_guy · Post by **bmi_guy** » Tue Feb 22, 2005 9:34 am

Ok - a "Ricken-Paul"

frankabq · Post by **frankabq** » Tue Feb 22, 2005 2:58 pm

Rickenbacker claims to have 50,000 pictures waiting to be put on their site, send them a copy and they will let you know.

johnhall · Post by **johnhall** » Tue Feb 22, 2005 6:46 pm

I think Kenny's right- it looks like a Glenn Frey guitar or a 230 that's poorly lit. I'd say someone added the -R-, which would have likely necessitated a bridge replacement as well.

It's nothing I'd want to show on our website. Mike Parks Hall of Shame, perhaps.

doctorwho · Post by **doctorwho** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 10:35 am

Here is a brightened-up close-up:

The player's shirt is obscuring the true shape of the lower bout, and it looks like an attached guitar strap is distorting the view of the upper bout, but I agree that it appears to be a modified 230.

Good call, John!

cdaniel · Post by **cdaniel** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 11:13 am

Probably a modified 230GF, but that pickguard looks too big. (A replacement?) The model 430 was available in black (see the example in the bottom row here:

http://www.rickenbacker.com/images/cf75x-14.jpg)

and had a pickguard that size, but I can't tell exactly where the neck pickup is placed in the Lucksmith photo.

Still, it's my favorite RIC body shape. (Go ahead and call me aesthetically challenged. My wife does!)

bmi_guy · Post by **bmi_guy** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 12:12 pm

The bottom cutaway looks to sharp to be a 430.
My 2 centavos... Chris is right about the pickguard - plus it's white! The tail piece is definitely not 4-3-0 model stuff.