Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

OK, I have a dumb newbie question.
If the guitar is from the early 70s, how come it has a cut-through headstock instead of the grooved one?
Was the headstock replaced? Isn't the headstock part of the same piece of wood as the neck?
[I still have to take a look at the shots from the last show I went to.]

Mark, the slots on Roger's 1970 12-string aren't factory.

Roger had that mod performed in the 70's when Rickenbacker wasn't doing it, and Rickenbacker has just recently implemented the cut-thru design in regular production instruments, last year as a matter of fact...

Thanks John.
Yes, I know the cut-through is new, that's why I asked. (Mine is a cut-through.)

Here, finally, is a close-up from the show I was talking about that I went to last year at the Ranch. One can clearly see the black frame of the prints on the wall showing through the cut grooves of the headstock.

Cool pic, Mark. I have to wonder why he has gone back to the old guitar rather than use the RM limited edition models.

I saw a pic somewhere of his RM model that shows his bridge up close. From the looks of it, I'd say his RM model needs a neck reset. The bridge was bottomed out. Of course, he is Roger McGuinn, he prob has a couple in spare.

Did the guitar in the picture have the signature on the pick guard or was it plain? Like I said, I din't notice the cut-throughs (or lack thereof) a few weeks ago, but he was either playing a signature model, or one he signed himself!

No, it was def his signature model.

Not a super clear pic above, Mark, but my eyes are trying to see if the neck PU there is a higain[which #3 would have originally had] or if Roger has more recently installed toasters on it.Anyone else wanna guess on this? That PU kinda looks like it just may be a toaster.If so, whoa, cool, Roger with a Vintage Rick again.

Sorry for the quality. The Ranch (like most places) prohibits flash (though I've been known to take a few).

HiGains and no signature (as far as I can tell or remember):



But selector switch is down.

That is his old Rickenbacker, it has crushed-pearl inlay on the fretboard and the high-gains like Mark mentioned above. Don, I'd say it's #3.

Right now, all the "toaster only" crowd are going nuts.

Of course, those early Higains sound alot like toasters.

John; no dispute about whether it was # 3, now that a 2nd pic has been shown, yup, still the old hi gains.

Yeah, JC, I was kinda thinking the same thing.

I watched the clip of him playing and I have to say, I am not thrilled with the sound he is getting from his 12 string (heresy I know!), it sounds over compressed and not terribly trebley!

I don't think he's going for the trebly sound now. I think he's trying get an overall balanced sound. Playing solo with an ice pick RIC doesn't sound too good IMO.

Cole