Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hi all, this Ric 610 is up for auction on an Aussie auction site. I'm a bit wary about bidding as the truss rod cover seems to be a plastic 'embossed' type with 'Rickenbacker' in raised lettering. It's not the usual silk-screened job. is this a genuine Ric truss rod cover? I've been burnt by this kind of thing before.

http://au.page.sold.yahoo.com/au/auction/511643699?

Also, any idea as to it's US market value would be great.
Thanks in advance, Lee Kear

Lee,
The TRC looks absolutely normal to me, IMHO.
Usually the silk-screened, clear plastic top TRCs appear on the "vintage" and "signature" models, if I'm not mistaken.(Some of our senior experts please come forth and correct me if I'm wrong.)
A 620 is rare, but a 610 is even rarer.
My advice---Get it!

Good luck.

Lee,

Someone else here will know when Rick changed to a molded cover. Vintage, Sig, and left handed are still silk screened. I'd be more concerned at what appears to be rust on all the pickup screws, pickup buttons, and bridge screws. Electronics don't like water. You might want to get a bit more info from the seller as to its working condition.

The rust looks like the 'normal' stuff from not rigorously wiping down the guitar after every playing (I have a 1997PT that has similar-looking screws on its pickups). Sweat has a corrosive effect on harware due in part to the salts present (it also contains organosulfur compounds that really hit nickel and nickel alloys hard).

My 1977 4001FL BG has the same style molded plastic TRC, but I don't know when the change-over occurred.

http://au.page.sold.yahoo.com/au/auction/511643699?

Also, any idea as to it's US market value would be great.
Thanks in advance, Lee Kear

at even A$1000 it would appear to be a steal....although you have to add freight of about$200 to get it to USA All up about US$676.

Check out http://www.guitarcrazy.com.au for s/h Ric selling prices. I beleive there is still a s/h 610 there and also a new 620 plus a currency converter

Thanks guys,
That it's a genuine Ric TRC deals with that issue. But like Bruce and Gary I'm still concerned about the rust, and the dullness of the p/ups, tailpiece, and tailpiece (the fretboard looks dirty/dull too). I'm waiting on a reply from the seller for more info and pics, and maybe the chance to see it 'in the flesh' as it's in Brisbane where I am.

I agree with you, John, that A$1k is a good deal, althouigh Guitar Crazy has fairly high-end prices (I bought my minty Tom Petty froma dealer in February for A$3k for example).

I'll let you know how this works out. I've been looking for a 6 string Ric for a while now and this just may be the one!
Regards, LK

I think the molded /raised letter plates appeared
sometime after '75-'76.

I agree with you, John, that A$1k is a good deal, althouigh Guitar Crazy has fairly high-end prices

Ive found that they will always *deal*. I bought 2 Rics from them altho that was before Charlie passed away

John

""Ive found that they will always *deal*. I bought 2 Rics from them altho that was before Charlie passed away

John ""


I forgot to add... the shipped freight free, restrung aand intoned correctly too and on consignment too from Sydney to Melbourne ( thats about 700 miles for our non Aussie readers). Worth a few extra bucks although I have yet to find a cheaper dealer in OZ yet.

Hmm maybe I ll get a freebie for this editorial

Thanks again guys,
Still no feedback from the seller, so I may let this one go - all in all the rust, greenish looking frets and lack of detail leave me too uncertain to spend a A$1000 without playing the thing..

I'm glad to hear that about Guitar Crazy too John I'll watch their site and see what's up in the next month or so. From what I hear the best time to buy is at the end of January, when people have got their credit card bills, and have figured out what they can't afford.

I tried a couple of other Rics in the last week, a new 325JG - beautiful but too small a neck, and a s/h 1997 - which had a severely twisted neck and the intonation was out by half a tone on two strings.. but I know there's one out there somewhere with my name on it!

Cheers, (and Merry Christmas)
LK

To Peter,

Given the lack of rics in Australia and the lack of stock in dealers How about a topic for "Aussie buy/sell or exchange " ?