Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

This can't be right?

Could someone post a picture of what is supposed to be under the comb and describe it - what is it made of? How thick? How does it mount?

Or is this the way it came?

If you're talking about the chop in the guard- I think it's just to look interesting when the teeth are in place- as it lines up with them when they're enguaged.

There's usually something that looks like blue duct tape under there (perhaps there were other colors too)... not sure what material it really was.

I always thought it looked funny- but I can see now that it was there to hide the route.

John: There is certainly a material missing from under the comb. Here is another 456/12 photo to compare.

It would have to be paper-thin, there is no room under that comb. Has anyone looked at that stuff first-hand? What is it? I'd have to guess it isn't plastic...

And is it just sitting there? Maybe it is mounted with the screws that are on the pickguards?

John: This material would appear to have been acoustic guitar guard stock.

Peter, do you have a larger version of that picture that you could email me?


I'm not sure even the thinest acoustic guard would fit:






If it were acoustic guard, I'm still unsure how it would mount - it would be too thick to slide under the white pickguards, and there are no screwholes. Would the comb just 'press' it in place?

John: I was not there during the days in which the 456/12 was manufactured. I will leave this answer to those who know with certainty. I do not have a large photo.

This is fascinating-I've heard people on this forum describe how the comb works but I've never seen one in person. From the picture, I can see how, in theory, it works but the tines of the comb seem too thick for it to operate how I had originally envisioned. Does anyone have a picture of what the comb looks like when it's engaged (sorry if I'm kind of changing the topic a bit here)? It is definitely a cool feature.

I'll take some pictures.... stay tuned!

The illustrated comb:

Note that the underside of the comb has indents to grab the strings:


Bend the arm up, get the comb on the strings you want to pull:


Push the arm down and hook it on the arm screw:




Here is a close up of the bent strings:


The 'hooked look':


It turns out the comb is fairly cool. A 9-string sounds pretty good, and my favorite is to hook the bass-strings and play all-treble...

Didn't you find that this feindish thingy throws the guitar out of tune when you pull the octave strings down?

John: While this may not be the only source, you can get guard stock from Leathertone that is less than a 32nd of an inch thick. So it is possible should you wish to go that route.

You can also pick up .015" (1/64") thick black rigid vinyl in a "hair cell" texture from most commercial plastics suppliers. It's pretty cheap, slips under the pwhite guards, and can be cut with scissors or an X-Acto knife.

Thanks! Cool indeed.

As I mentioned in another related thread, I played a 456/12 JG a while back and I was duly impressed how nice the guitar played with and without strings engaged. Cool indeed!