Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

jsm610 wrote:SPC was short for somewhat-period-correct.

I've been wondering for a long time what the "SPC" stood for. Many thanks John for shedding light on this. I can now appreciate that this is one of RIC's most accurate acronyms.

I have a couple of basses that say "SPC" on the warranty card, but they aren't reissues. I've always heard "SPC" means "special."

k43rover wrote:

collin wrote: I knew of the NRG run, but they had triangle inlays (one was recently on eBay for $3.9k). In my opinion, triangle inlays and gold plastic make it not a 1993 reissue, but a variation of the V64, with f-hole. In other words, if that was presented from RIC as a "reissue" of the 1993,I think people would quickly point out what isn't on-spec to an original 1993.

As far as I can tell, the 1987 Sam Ash "1993 reissue" guitars are little/no different with regard to accuracy of reproducing '60's specs than the later NRG 1993SPC guitars. For starters you couldn't get a much clearer non sequitur than "reissuing" a six string version of a guitar which was never originally made in that format. Both the Sam Ash and NRG guitars are way closer to each other in spec (or indeed to any standard late '80's or 90's era V series reissue) than they are to any original 1964/5 Rose Morris model 1993. Regardless, I expect most of us would have no problem agreeing that they are all stunningly beautiful guitars in their own right.

I think if you asked anybody to describe a 1993 (if they know what one is), they'll bluntly tell you "double-bound Fireglo 12-string with dot inlays.". They're not going to get into details like x-bracing, round neck heel, headstock shape, F-hole size, fireglo shade and all the other inaccuracies of the Sam Ash and NRG run. I know it's just a matter of semantics, but I just don't consider the NRG models to be an intentional "1993 reissue."

I think the Sam Ash models were done with the intention of reissuing the 1993 (along with a 6-string version by request), whereas the NRG models were an assembly of custom specs ordered by Norm, triangle inlays, gold plastic and everything. (and apparently a couple without FWI?). BTW -did all the NRG have dual inputs as well?

Regardless of the model, they're all fantastic guitars though - that's the obvious.

jsm610 wrote:I assume SPC was short for somewhat-period-correct.

Good one!

collin wrote:I think the Sam Ash models were done with the intention of reissuing the 1993 (along with a 6-string version by request), whereas the NRG models were an assembly of custom specs ordered by Norm, triangle inlays, gold plastic and everything. (and apparently a couple without FWI?). BTW -did all the NRG have dual inputs as well?

Regardless of the model, they're all fantastic guitars though - that's the obvious.

I've also heard that Norm ordered 660-style necks for his special run as well, but the one time I met him, I never talked to him about it.

Long story short, the guitars in both the SA and NRG runs all used the V64 body/neck for it's template

There was a NRG "reissue" on ebay recently, did not sell: http://www.ebay.com/itm/RICKENBACKER-CU ... 7675.l2557

To me, this guitar is a 360/12V64 MG with gold plastic -- and an f-hole. A $1000 f-hole.

BTW, SPC = special pickup choice (or special paint choice)***. That's why a 1997 RI with three pickups is labeled a 1997 SPC and not a 1998.

***For a list of RRF acronyms, see: viewtopic.php?f=25&t=389887

BTW, SPC = special pickup choice (or special paint choice)***. That's why a 1997 RI with three pickups is labeled a 1997 SPC and not a 1998.

I could be wrong, but according to some RRF member's guess it means that (AKA it doesn't mean that). According to someone who would know it means "Special"
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=397292&p=647006&hilit=+spc#p647006

collin wrote: I think if you asked anybody to describe a 1993 (if they know what one is), they'll bluntly tell you "double-bound Fireglo 12-string with dot inlays.". They're not going to get into details like x-bracing, round neck heel, headstock shape, F-hole size, fireglo shade and all the other inaccuracies of the Sam Ash and NRG run.

Not sure why the blunt views of "anybody" would be of interest in a detailed discussion thread like this. While I'd agree that the vast majority of people with only a passing interest and/or limited knowledge of Rickenbacker Rose Morris guitars would fall into the category you describe, I'd expect most members of this forum who have taken the time to read or contribute to this thread to be a) already well aware of the significant differences between V series reissues, original '60's vintage, and C series reissues, and able to contribute to the discussion or b) if they're not, then interested in learning more about what those differences are in the context of the Sam Ash/NRG guitars. Surely one of the main purposes of a specialist forum like this is to get into exactly this level of detail....certainly I find the detailed discussions on this type of thing both interesting and valuable.

k43rover wrote:...certainly I find the detailed discussions on this type of thing both interesting and valuable.

Im enjoying this thread immensely.Another new 1993 would be TPs now cant recall if this is Xbraced or not ive no idea but id definitely like to see a period correct 1993 at some point in the future.Period correct,i mean all the trimmings, in a vintage FG colour.I believe if your gonna do a RI it really has to be as close to the original as humanly possible.I also understand that the chances of anything coming from Mars are a million to one.A few of these to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Rose Morris would be cool.

scotty wrote: Another new 1993 would be TPs now cant recall if this is Xbraced or not....

IIRC the factory produced these Petty one-offs at pretty much the same time as the Pearl White UK only LE (which definitely used the X-braced C63 based body). I don't remember now whether there was ever a definitive confirmation/statement from the factory that the C63 based X-braced bodies were used for Petty's guitars but if not I think it was widely assumed at the time that they were X-braced and made at the same time as the bodies used for the Pearl Whites (and indeed the later Greenglo/Tobaccoburst X-braced LE guitars).

scotty wrote:I'd definitely like to see a period correct 1993 at some point in the future.

+1

And you could add accurate 1997 and 1998 reissues to the wish list too!

I agree with those who have suggested that SPC means simply "Special."

Here are a few shots of the lefty 1993. It seems that my photography lights want to bring out the red in the color, but it's actually brown in hue. It's not a perfect guitar, but still very clean for 26 year- old piece.

Great pics Marshall. Will be interesting to see if anyone here has ever seen another lefty one of these. Those cavity markings/signatures look pretty much identical to the ones in my six string. One detail difference is the positioning of the "Made in USA" lettering on the trc versus the right handers. That's probably an unusual trc for a V series type lefty reissue as by not much later it appears they'd produced some with the period "correct" positioning under the "Rickenbacker" logo (as per the 1990 model 1998 reissue pictured below from the Register).

What a good looking guitar. It's even got the "McCartney" headstock!

Is a 6-string a 1993? Wouldn't that be a 1997 or 1998? (Sorry, I'm not an RM guy)

jdogric12 wrote:Is a 6-string a 1993? Wouldn't that be a 1997 or 1998? (Sorry, I'm not an RM guy)

I couldn't agree more. The appropriate nomenclature for this spec should be 1997 WBBS. If any regard is paid to the brand history, a "model 1993" (whether original or reissue) could only ever be a 12 string (hence my point above about the 1987 Sam Ash "1993 six string reissues" being nonsensical).