Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Too cute!

I'm late to this thread, but I'm pretty much in love with my V64. I like all the vintage cosmetic differences, the small headstock, 21 frets, full width inlays, toasters...

Something just doesn't sit right with me about the WBs.

I just posted some pics of the Plimsouls show last Friday in Nashville. Lots of shots of Peter Case's long stolen/recently recovered OS (or is it a WB?). Click on Plimsouls 6/16/06 at:

http://community.webshots.com/user/wshershfdp

Peter Case's guitar is definitely a 'WB'. The easiest way to tell is that it has a 24-fret neck. All of the V64's and original OS's are 21-fret guitars.

There are two big visual differences between the V64 and the WB, as far as I can see.

1. The headstocks on the WBs, due to their vintage (late '70s--mid-to-late '80s?) are about the largest of the "boat paddle" styles. Got a WB? Got a rubber raft? Want to get from Cuba to the Mainland? No problemo!!!

2. Because of the 24-fret configuration of the WB, the neck protrudes into the body another 1 1/2" or so over the V. This pushes the pickups together, by lowering the neck pickup on the body.

Since the upper edge of the guard is typically in line with the top of the neck pickup, the shape of both guards is substantially different from the guard on the V (and the C, too), which allows more of the guitar's body to show along the outside edge of the guard. This makes the body look much wider than the V's body.

Of course, there are numerous smaller differences, too.

Ahh, thank you Randy!! That's the first definition I've ever seen of the differences between what constitutes an OS and a WB. I thought that the OS's also had 24 fret necks and just the old style body design (with double binding, of course).

I have to disagree with you on the headstock size Paul. My '79 is thinner than most of my 360/12s. If you still have my disc of pics check out the 360/12WB.

Actually here it is:

Bill my 360/12WB is JG but it has the same headstock shape as yours. If I recall correctly mine was made in 1991.

Your examples are twelves, Bill and Brian. I'm talking about sixes and should have been clearer that twelves were excluded from my own points.

Twelves cannot exceed a certain width, due to the maximum length of the string pegs on available tuners. To my knowledge, there are only two premium tuners, commonly available, which have a long enough peg to work on a Rick 12's horizontal tuning pegs, and they "peg out" at 1 1/8" long. All the rest are a fraction under an inch, and leave a gap when used in this application. Rick 12 headstocks are also a good deal beefier than any other 12 string headstock out there, to take advantage of the 1 1/8" long pegs when used in the standard ("vertical") orientation. Check this with a rule if you like! The mini Schallers that Rick has used for yonks are the only minis with a mounting screw that is located in such a way that the tuner body will fit onto the edge of a Rick headstock. Others have an offset screw that would find itself off the headstock, grabbing thin air.

My 6 is the widest of the boat paddles--'82. My guess is that tuners were in flux, using up stock on old tuners while headstocks grew in width, new tuners coming into use, etc. So we get odd combinations.

My six string has Schallers with short shafts. The holes for the pegs are far inboard. There is less than 1/32" of clearance between the tuning key itself and the headstock, so that the paint is all chipped around them, from fingernails hitting it when tuning up. This is something I plan to remedy when it stands its turn in the refinishing booth.

Oh.

Paul, you're starting to creep me out. My 12-WB is off at Arnquist's getting worked on, but I have two rubber rafts in the basement and you would never guess what just happens to be leaning against the WB's hanger in the corner of the room.....

Paul,

The depth of information you are able to provide constantly amazes me.

Many thanks

As long as you're not planning a trip to Cuba, we're OK, Todd.

Brian: working on so many Ricks leads me to observe and deduce. My deductions are occasionally a bit off-mark, but as JH told me, we're all here both to teach and to learn.

This virtual place is real live fun.

This place is soooo much better than any school I can think of..... I'm learning about stuff I'm really interested in!!

C-o-o-l....

Maybe we could introduce an exam and award a DipRick certificate to those who make the grade. Those who fail could be awarded a DipStick one!