I've joined the 430 club!

[kiramdear]

Just wanted to offer this latest pic with her new bridge plate. I had to fill the three rear screw holes and move the ground wire, then do a color touch up. I think it looks pretty good until she gets a much needed refinish.

[jdawe]

Hi Brian:

I thought about adding a blend knob to mine but decided against it. It's really just a second volume pot wired in series with the bass volume knob, so it doesn't actually do anything that you can't already do by turning the bass volume. It may be wired differently if you have a third pickup. I like the look of it a lot, but decided it wasn't worth the cost of buying a whole new set of knobs (I couldn't find anywhere that sold the smaller blend knob separately). Fortunately, wiring the blend knob into the existing setup would be straightforward, although if you're also going to install a third p/u it might be easier just to buy a whole new harness.

I agree that the standard Ric square jack plate would look better. Is the body of the 430 wide enough to accomodate it? I thought of going that route but was concerned that it would require drilling a larger hole which might weaken the body. which is pretty thin.

Jon

[Ontario_RIC_fan]

Jon:

All good points. I don't have the guitar in my possession yet so I can't comment on the thickness of it. You may very well be right.

I will post some images when it arrives...

[Ontario_RIC_fan]

Well I picked it up from the Post Office tonight...

Here are some quick images exploring it..

Kira is correct it has a very different feel from any other Rickenbacker that I have played... The colour of the body is definitely Jetglo... I was worried that it might have been the Matte Black that the factory was doing in the 70's. (This is a good thing as it means only the neck has to be refinished JG, and the lutier has something to match it to)...

I have not yet had the chance to look under the bridge pickup to see how bad the routing is..

[Ontario_RIC_fan]

More Images to look at...

David Coyle shared some images with me of his new 430 (from 1975) which like Kira's has a Bigsby... The guitar seems un-RIC like without something to extend the line of the guitar to the edge of the body... Although I think the R-tailpiece is what I will add. Upon reflection I am thinking that I will keep it a two pickup guitar, although definitely with toasters...

The neck feels fine, although the look of the dot inlays takes some getting used to as well..

The TRC is clear plexi with no raised letters...

I wonder how much surgery it would take to make it a 21 fret guitar?

[kiramdear]

Nice one, Brian! I like it in jetglo.

What do you think of the no-radius fretboard? It's different but it plays great, eh?

[Ontario_RIC_fan]

Thanks Kira!

I need some time playing it still to have a vailid opinion... I will let you know by the weekend...

David should have his by them with luck too I think... and he can join our new club as well.

[jdawe]

Looks great! Welcome to the 430 club. The black-on-black looks very nice.

[kiramdear]

Just my two centavos but I wouldn't change the color of the neck and headstock. The contrast is striking and for me is one of the primary design cues that says "430".

Worth saying is that the 430 has one of the nicest shaped headstocks of any Rick models, as well.