Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

A lot of folks on this forum have expressed a desire for a solid bodied 3 series. Except for the carved top, would this mystery guitar be close?

Jerry, yup! That would be it for me. But mine would have to have the carved top. That is sweet!

I think it is interesting that a lot of solid body builders, starting with PRS, but now many more "custom" guys are doing the carve seen here on the 1950's combo 850s.

Another example of Ric leading the pack, way ahead of it's time? Or just another example of it's comin' round again?

...Dean

Leftybass posted early on that he thought it could be one of the left-over(finished off in the 80's) late 50's Rics and I'm fairly certain this is. Scott Jennings at Route 66 in Pasadena sold these for Rickenbacker. I've still got the pricelist in the closet somewhere. Some had no parts and some had all original parts and anything in between. I think this was finished off in the 80's as look at how white that binding is. It should be yellowed by now if it were sprayed with nitro in '57-8. Also the gold has not turned green at all, just looks too new. Plus, why does it have a two-tier pickguard? Remember, Rick was reissuing Lennon's V81 at this same time with the V59 which incorrectly also had a two-tier pickguard. It's also in an 80's Rick case. Still, it's a very cool guitar.

Heck, makes me like it more!

Yeah, but don't pay what an original is worth.

I'm also wondering why it would have four controls? And that bridge has rounded edges, screw holes for a cover and it doesn't appear to be an aluminum bass. Look's like an 80's bridge to me.

There are many more reasons to believe it is just as the owner says. Look at the Hi resolution photos. Bridge may not be a '58 but most likely a '59. Definitely not an '80s. Do you really think that Rickenbacker ca. '80s would dupe a '50s finish? What about all of the correct screws, nameplate, pickups, etc.... If you ask me, its legit.

Here are the 800 Series guitars from the '80s sale.

Its not listed. A find like this would surely be on the list.

Larry: Yes, at first that was the one thing I was thinking of, that it was a Combo made out of parts in later days....but after looking at the pics a good bit more and in detail, I have to say I am in agreement with David and John Williams about it being from the late 50's, and not one of the parts guitars built later on...All of the details about this guitar were in use in late 1958 and 1959, and yes I think the case is 70s or 80s vintage too....

Well, I'd want to look at it in person. Could be real but I'd be careful for the reasons I mentioned. Also, the upper tier on the pickguard is for a three pick-up guitar, not a two pick-up. Do you think that's factory?

Larry, my later '58 365 has only two pickups but a guard just like the three pickup model.

(Why am I chuckling?)

You guys have probably been on the phone talking to the owner and that's a smart thing. You can tell a BS'er in about 30 seconds. All I know of the guitar is these photos. As far as I can tell from the photos there are some questionable things. What does the seller have to say? What do you think it's worth if it is all original? What famous rock star played one of these? Don't tell me that has nothing to do with the value

The only person who has been in touch with the owner is Mike Guiterrez. I don't even know if its for sale. It is kind of weird that it has an '80s case. As far as some famous rock star playing this? None that I know of. No Beatle connection either. Value? I believe that Tony Blair bought an 850 for $6500. This one would go for more.

...and I had a line of people offering more to buy it out from under me as it sat waiting to be shipped. ...and that was in 2001-2.

I think this guitar was built in 1958 and was intended to be a deluxe model from the start. The back of a typical 850 has a carve on the body where it meets the neck. This one does not, so that it could be bound there. ...so if it was made out of old parts, it would have had to be a partially complete body. Anyway, somewhere up there is mention of this very guitar (or one just like it) from old Ric records.