Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I found it quite easy to bend. Its all good just a little too close to the switch . . . but I can learn caution

I wonder why they didn't think to drill the hole on the new Rickenbacker Vibrato so it would easily retrofit non-vibrato guitars? Curious!

fabandgear wrote:I guess you could put an upward bend in the arm. I wonder what would be the best way to bend the Ac'cent's arm without breaking it?

Easy! I've done this with a couple...or possibly more of My Accent VBs. The one place one does not want to bend the arm is at the joint where it is welded onto the mounting ring. Clamp the arm in a vise so that the ring and portion of the arm immediately next to the ring are clamped down (use a rag to protect the chrome), and bend the long section of the arm upwards at the first or the second upward bends.

Cool, Paul! I figured the weld would be the weak point. In pictures I've seen of John Lennon's second "Miami" 325, it appears that he bent the arm inward a little. Not sure why.

fabandgear wrote:I wonder why they didn't think to drill the hole on the new Rickenbacker Vibrato so it would easily retrofit non-vibrato guitars? Curious!

Winfield Vintage have done just this. Scroll to the bottom of the linked page and you will see comparison pics of the Winfield part and the standard Accent bracket.

I lobbed one in and fitted it to my 330 last night. The increased angle definitely gives more clearance for the vibrato arm, and hence a wider vibrato range without reducing the break angle of the strings between bridge and anchor point too much. I also note that the folded section of the bracket is much shorter than the original, so there is a gap between the bracket and the string anchor. This makes restringing easier but is a little less pleasing to the eye than the original. On the asthetic upside, the bracket covers up the screw holes from the "R" tailpiece bracket very nicely. All in all, the bracket does exactly what it is intended to do and makes a retro-fitted accent work just like a factory-fitted one!

I REALLY love my '91 1997, but the incorrect mounting of the Ac'cent really started to bug me. a little while ago, I got out my '65 365 and my '91 325JL and compared the way the Ac'cents were mounted. I came to the conclusion that I'd never really be satisfied until I mounted the vibrato properly. After carefull measurement, I drilled a new strap button hole in the proper place and installed the Ac'cent correctly. It works GREAT! An added bonus is that the trapeze tailpiece's mounting holes are covered up by the vibrato's base. Also, should I ever decide to convert it back, the trapeze hides the Ac'cent's hole nicely! It's a win/win for me and I don't regret drilling it out for a second!

Glad it all worked out for you Forrest.

Speaking of accent, I was in Toronto years ago and was told I had an midwestern accent. I found that hilarious as that is how all on-air newspeople try to sound. Shrug.

johnallg wrote:Speaking of accent, I was in Toronto years ago and was told I had an midwestern accent. I found that hilarious as that is how all on-air newspeople try to sound. Shrug.

That's referred to in the trade as a "General American" accent.

scotty wrote: . . . but if I install one myself as a replacement for a different tailpiece, I have learned to bite the bullet and simply drill a new hole.

I'm new here and posted a question about the Accents in another thread. I understand the dilemma regarding drilling a new hole lower down in the guitar body but rather than drill the body could you not instead drill a new hole in the Accent baseplate a bit higher (or elongate the existing hole if they'd be too close together) and secure the strap bolt through this higher locating hole instead? I'm not the most mechanically minded soul but I wondered if this might be a better option than drilling/filling the guitar's woodwork.

I saw "Accents" and that it was buy Scotty and thought "Wow-that's news?" haha. If you've ever spoken with him he has a very thick Scottish accent you almost need a Rosetta Stone translator software for skype

Love ya mate!!

Frank-I bent the "Chet Atkins" arm on the Bigsby on my Gretsch 6119 Tennesseee Rose by removing the arm, wrapping it in a diaper that I use to polish my guitars, and put it by the hinge on a steel security door and just goosed it by hand. I don't have a vice(well a clamping one anyways ) and managed to do it nicely.

Paul-you Accents work great on your Ricks, I can't imagine them any smoother or stay in tune any better

I actually slow it down for you mate and try not to use big words

I know, and all those years of Hiwatt ain't helped my ears any either

What???