Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

In talking with Ric about replacing a factory-marred pickguard on my C58, I was told that all PGs and TRCs are now being shot with the greenish-gold paint. Mine (from 2003) does not have the green cast ...which is the period-correct color for 1958? Lennon's does not look as "green" to me as the new ones I've seen lately.

All 325C58 guitars have been sprayed with that one color which you refer to as "greenish-gold", in fact it was for that guitar that the color was introduced.

As far as John's guitar is concerned, you'll only be able to make a comparison at one point in time. The original gold had bronze powder in it which aged with that characteristic green/blue color, essentially corroding to a patina over the course of the years. We chose to match the color after some of the color change had happened since most people were familiar with that shade, as well as the fact that the current material doesn't change much.

As you were told, we now only stock the one "vintage" color in order to simplify the matching of the various gold components we produce.

Well David, a hit!

I'd welcome you to the Forum, but it seems that you've already been welcomed--by Rickenbacker's CEO.

You're gonna like it here.

Thanks John for responding to my post, and for the valuable info....but here's the essence of my situation: my 325C58 was not fitted with that "vintage" color that you are now using.

Thus my guitar is apparently not as period-correct as it should be. I'd like to be able to rectify this by getting the correct "vintage" gold parts for my guitar.

Can I send in my pickguard and TRC in return for the correct color parts? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

If it doesn't have the period correct plates, it's not a 325C58 or someone swapped them. We only stock one kind of plate for these guitars and so far we're still working out of the same batch.

Any chance this was one of those Guitar Center blow out guitars? I know some of those were freight damaged units or scratch & dent units that might have third party parts.

Anyway, beyond these thoughts, this is a conversation you should be having with customer service.

Yes, it was purchased at Guitar Center with proper paperwork — and I have the warrantee registered with Rickenbacker. If it does have third-party parts, that could explain the color difference.

I'll follow up with Customer Service as you suggest — thanks again for taking the time to clarify.

Hmmmmmm, Guitar Center.