Mystery Rickenbacker Guitar
Moderators: rickenbrother, ajish4
2T100 (1957 or early '58 longbody w/ painted sound-hole) had the walnet wings and center strip.
...though the neck on this 850 does look exactly like every other 1959 Fireglow Capri neck in existence- they all seem to have the exact same shading and curl in the wood.
...it's that neck that makes me certain that solid longbody that came up a few years ago is the real thing.
...though the neck on this 850 does look exactly like every other 1959 Fireglow Capri neck in existence- they all seem to have the exact same shading and curl in the wood.
...it's that neck that makes me certain that solid longbody that came up a few years ago is the real thing.
-
route66guitars
- Member
- Posts: 482
- Joined: Mon Jan 26, 2004 8:39 am
Let me set the record straight about the instruments I sold for John Hall in 1989 - 1991. Nearly all of these instruments were in boxes in a caged area of the factory. Most of these instruments were complete, some minus a jack plate, a pickup or two, and possibly tuners. The only later parts used on any of these instruments were replica tuners, as there were not enough old stock Klusons to be found. Very few had these, and none were used on the 1950s instruments.
The 4005 lefty was the only instrument that did not have a finish on it when 'found.' It was painted natural at my request in 1989, and I bought that instrument from John for myself, along with the two other lefties.
All of the instruments were sent through production to be buffed out, cleaned up, and set up.
All of the one-off or prototype guitars were already intact, except for the fish tail headstock F model, which had no parts at all. A photo of it is in the Rittor publication. John hung on to that guitar.
The only instrument that was 'cobbled together' is the Bantar that Oyama now owns, and this was out of necessity. The neck is nearly level with the top, so I suggested a 400 series bridge, as the 300 series bridge and R would not work.
As I remember, the 800 series instruments needed neck position pickups, tuners, and jack plates. All of these parts were pulled from stock on hand.
NO GUITARS were assembled from old bodies and necks. No such things existed in the factory in that era. I went through everything. If there had been any vintage necks available to the factory there wouldn't be so many vintage bodies with replaced 1970s necks on them.
The mystery guitar everyone is discussing here is not from this batch of instruments. I would certainly have remembered it, and had images of it in my files. It's very cool, and somehow I missed it in Dallas. Several dealers asked me about it, but I couldn't figure out what they were trying to describe to me. I'm glad Mike got images.
The 4005 lefty was the only instrument that did not have a finish on it when 'found.' It was painted natural at my request in 1989, and I bought that instrument from John for myself, along with the two other lefties.
All of the instruments were sent through production to be buffed out, cleaned up, and set up.
All of the one-off or prototype guitars were already intact, except for the fish tail headstock F model, which had no parts at all. A photo of it is in the Rittor publication. John hung on to that guitar.
The only instrument that was 'cobbled together' is the Bantar that Oyama now owns, and this was out of necessity. The neck is nearly level with the top, so I suggested a 400 series bridge, as the 300 series bridge and R would not work.
As I remember, the 800 series instruments needed neck position pickups, tuners, and jack plates. All of these parts were pulled from stock on hand.
NO GUITARS were assembled from old bodies and necks. No such things existed in the factory in that era. I went through everything. If there had been any vintage necks available to the factory there wouldn't be so many vintage bodies with replaced 1970s necks on them.
The mystery guitar everyone is discussing here is not from this batch of instruments. I would certainly have remembered it, and had images of it in my files. It's very cool, and somehow I missed it in Dallas. Several dealers asked me about it, but I couldn't figure out what they were trying to describe to me. I'm glad Mike got images.
-
route66guitars
- Member
- Posts: 482
- Joined: Mon Jan 26, 2004 8:39 am
John: John Hall figured the Bantar was an early prototype that was set aside because of the neck set. I personally like it better from a tonal perspective with the 400 series bridge, although there isn't much room between the strings and pickguard.
Anthony: Sorry to hear that. Oyama's is one of a kind. I am putting together several projects using images I shot of these instruments. I will make sure and note that it is not a production model.
Anthony: Sorry to hear that. Oyama's is one of a kind. I am putting together several projects using images I shot of these instruments. I will make sure and note that it is not a production model.
Just to follow-up on some questions previously posted on this thread:
The 850FG I had when I was a kid had full neck-through construction. There is a publicity photo somewhere of Steppenwolf showing that very guitar (unless there were two FG's?!? [anyone have a jpeg of that photo?]) I always had the feeling it was made in about 1959/60? Didn't keep the serial #......or the guitar for that matter. Back in the sixties, I'd buy a guitar-a-week and after awhile, I'd have to thin the herd (I refer to this as one of my Homer moments, DOH!). Who would've known I'd miss that one the most. A real good player with a variety of useable sounds and loads of charisma.
Also, someone mentioned the walnut 850 with two toasters. That guitar was originally owned by Brian Martin. I tried to follow up on it and the story is, he sold it years ago to a friend and then from there it was sold to a stranger and now nobody knows it's whereabouts (unless it turned up this morning somehow in David Mc's collection).
My opinion on the mystery guitar? It has all the earmarks of being real. I've seen alot of strange Rics over the years and this one is not so anomalous as to arouse suspicion.
Don't look for a V series reissue of the 850 anytime soon (if ever). J. Hall has clearly indicated that an 850 reissue is not something RIC is interested in persuing at this time, although they did create a prototype of one several years ago. Would it be considered unreasonable competition with the modern 650/660 line? Undoubtably. When it comes to looks alone, the 850 wins hands down.
BTW--I was the original owner of 2T100. I sold it in 1981 to Rick Barcellona (AKTOR) who later sold it to Doug Feiger (KNACK).
And the beat goes on.........
The 850FG I had when I was a kid had full neck-through construction. There is a publicity photo somewhere of Steppenwolf showing that very guitar (unless there were two FG's?!? [anyone have a jpeg of that photo?]) I always had the feeling it was made in about 1959/60? Didn't keep the serial #......or the guitar for that matter. Back in the sixties, I'd buy a guitar-a-week and after awhile, I'd have to thin the herd (I refer to this as one of my Homer moments, DOH!). Who would've known I'd miss that one the most. A real good player with a variety of useable sounds and loads of charisma.
Also, someone mentioned the walnut 850 with two toasters. That guitar was originally owned by Brian Martin. I tried to follow up on it and the story is, he sold it years ago to a friend and then from there it was sold to a stranger and now nobody knows it's whereabouts (unless it turned up this morning somehow in David Mc's collection).
My opinion on the mystery guitar? It has all the earmarks of being real. I've seen alot of strange Rics over the years and this one is not so anomalous as to arouse suspicion.
Don't look for a V series reissue of the 850 anytime soon (if ever). J. Hall has clearly indicated that an 850 reissue is not something RIC is interested in persuing at this time, although they did create a prototype of one several years ago. Would it be considered unreasonable competition with the modern 650/660 line? Undoubtably. When it comes to looks alone, the 850 wins hands down.
BTW--I was the original owner of 2T100. I sold it in 1981 to Rick Barcellona (AKTOR) who later sold it to Doug Feiger (KNACK).
And the beat goes on.........
Show him the shirts, Adrian.
Anthony--the photo I'm thinking of was probably taken at the old Stevens St. sales office and was the usual everybody holding a Rick kinda thing with Transonics abounding. It could've been an 800. It's been 30 years since I've seen the photo. Mine was definitely an 850. Full cutaways both sides. What a beauty.
Show him the shirts, Adrian.
-
route66guitars
- Member
- Posts: 482
- Joined: Mon Jan 26, 2004 8:39 am
My memory is that the neck thru versions I've seen were later variants, and the bodies were a bit thinner, back to front.
The Turquoise 850 we had on display at Voltage for years and years is a neck thru version.
When we acquired it in '83 or '84 the finish was the original blonde, the body wings were not attached and it had been fitted with a Bigsby. We had the 3 pieces reassembled, and had the guitar shot in an original turquoise color. One of the coolest looking ricks ever. I have photos somewhere in the archives.
I've been thinking of making up postcard sets using our rather large library of images. Any interest in a couple of sets featuring vintage and rare Rickenbackers?
The Turquoise 850 we had on display at Voltage for years and years is a neck thru version.
When we acquired it in '83 or '84 the finish was the original blonde, the body wings were not attached and it had been fitted with a Bigsby. We had the 3 pieces reassembled, and had the guitar shot in an original turquoise color. One of the coolest looking ricks ever. I have photos somewhere in the archives.
I've been thinking of making up postcard sets using our rather large library of images. Any interest in a couple of sets featuring vintage and rare Rickenbackers?
-
atomic_punk
- Senior Member
- Posts: 5093
- Joined: Wed Sep 17, 2003 5:00 am
- Contact:
-
route66guitars
- Member
- Posts: 482
- Joined: Mon Jan 26, 2004 8:39 am