TRC Changes

brian · Post by **brian** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 3:33 pm

Is there a way to determine which guitars have similar TRC sizes and screw hole placements. Or is it a similar thing to pickguards in which there may be different placement on instruments of the same model as well as between models ? I would assume in both cases on newer instruments they would be the same place by model, but how about for different models ? I am aware some TRCs are of a totally different size. If you were exchanging TRCs it would be nice to know this before doing so.

jps · Post by **jps** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 3:53 pm

My guess is that all the molded TRCs are the same size/hole placement. The Vintage TRCs ( the real vintage ones) vary in size and shape.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 4:10 pm

RIC Customer Service can help you with this.

However, if you are trading a white for a gold, bear in mind that the only gold plexi TRCs which you can get will be 660 parts. I'm not sure if the 325C58 TRCs are given out in exchanges; I haven't personally seen this.

My suggestion in a case where there is a problem with fit would be to paint the molded TRC with gold lacquer or enamel paint to match your gold guards, and then pick out the lettering with a black paint marker.

chefothefuture · Post by **chefothefuture** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 7:57 pm

I just swapped a white molded one(new) for a new
Gold 660/12 TRC.
The bottom holes line up, but the top one does not.
Good thing the TRC hides the old hole....

dale_fortune · Post by **dale_fortune** » Tue Jan 24, 2006 7:07 am

Way back in the early 70's all the T.R.C.'s were marked from a template, cut on the band saw and the holes were drilled by hand on the floor stand drill press. These were done 1 at a time. After the holes were drilled, they went to the pin router and were cut to exact size 1 at a time. We would do 30 to 35 of these a day. From there they went to the silk screen shop to have the logo put on the back side, then to the paint shop to be sprayed with white lacquer over the black logo. This is the way it was done from the 50's on up into the present day. Because the holes were drilled freehand, there were slight variations in placement holes, but since each one was fitted to a guitar at assembly it was no big deal. That's just another thing that makes Rickenbackers so unique.

paulv63 · Post by **paulv63** » Tue Jan 24, 2006 8:35 am

I would just go to a screen printer and have a one-off made instead of giving up the original to trade in. It would probably cost the same or close to it.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Tue Jan 24, 2006 9:45 am

A trade-in is $25.00. Silk screening, at least in cities, would run a lot more.

Better yet, it's legal and ethical. Why have a counterfeit TRC on a gennie RIC?

ol_reb · Post by **ol_reb** » Tue Jan 24, 2006 10:44 am

Like John, I too traded in a TRC for a new one. I have a Montezuma Brown 650 and man I couldn't take that black TRC cover. So I traded it in with Rickenbacker for a vintage 660 TRC. And like John said, the bottom holes line up but the top didn't. Made my own gold pick guard though, came out pretty good. The guitar looks like it should now.

paulv63 · Post by **paulv63** » Tue Jan 24, 2006 11:26 am

P.W. Said: A trade-in is $25.00. Silk screening, at least in cities, would run a lot more.

Better yet, it's legal and ethical. Why have a counterfeit TRC on a gennie RIC?

I owned a screen printing company. If somebody showed me a piece of plastic and wanted the name on it, I'd do it for 10.00 and I live in New York . Ethically, I wouldn't feel as if I was doing something wrong. A one off
wouldn't bankrupt RIC and the holes would definately line up.

bails · Post by **bails** » Tue Jan 24, 2006 12:04 pm

Is the fact that "a one off wouldn't bankrupt RIC", really an appropriate excuse for theft. I suppose robbing one bank wouldn't necessarily bankrupt them either as they have heaps of money, right?

I am truly amazed at society's ability to justify their own selfish, and in some cases criminal actions, by explaining that their crimes aren't really hurting anyone. At what point does it start to hurt?

tomg · Post by **tomg** » Tue Jan 24, 2006 12:10 pm

I traded the white TRC from my 620 for a vintage style one. The vintage one is a bit bigger and due to this the top screw hole didn't line up.

I drilled a new hole (gasp! shock! horror!);-)

Twas ok, since I had already modified the guitar to install a vintage style tailpiece.

Looks great. I do have to take some pictures to brag on.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Tue Jan 24, 2006 12:49 pm

And I'm about to do the same to a 660 cover (exchange) to replace a molded 330 white one.

I really don't want to nitpick, but $10.00 for a silkscreened piece of plexi hasn't been any sort of going rate for about 20 years in LA and SF. The minimum charge here to generate a photo silkscreen is about $35.00, and then there's a run charge. NY may be different.

In my work as a prototype builder and developer, I bought lots of screens (to run myself) and screened parts (when I didn't have time to run them). Here, the guys won't sneeze for less than about $50.00 all in for one part.

aceonbass · Post by **aceonbass** » Tue Jan 24, 2006 2:03 pm

Well I own two RICs without truss rod covers because I had to give them(as in for free,never to be returned to me) to RIC along with a few bucks for new covers for my doubleneck. Now I will have to fabricate new TRC's(which I would rather not do) or pay $50.00 to $100.00 plus EACH for two more cores so I can also give those to RIC for FREE. You tell me who's getting robbed?

dale_fortune · Post by **dale_fortune** » Tue Jan 24, 2006 2:04 pm

I'm not going to condone this type of work, but if you own a 1938 Buick Touring Sedan and can't find an original Hood Ornament, what do you do? Have one cast from an original. There is a big difference in fraud and restoration.

brian · Post by **brian** » Tue Jan 24, 2006 2:19 pm

Gee, I didn't realise this would be such a touchy subject, sorry I brought it up. I hope this thread doesn't deteriorate. As I am looking for the type of cover on the Sierra with the raised gold lettering on a black background, I will either paint the one I have or contact Ric about an exchange and the screw pattern.Thanks to you all for the info you have provided.