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1930'S Rickenbacher Electric Tenor Guitar
Posted: Thu Jun 01, 2006 9:39 pm
by leesh
Posted: Thu Jun 01, 2006 11:44 pm
by sowhat
How should it sound?
Posted: Fri Jun 02, 2006 2:49 am
by leftybass
Wow, that is very cool.
Posted: Fri Jun 02, 2006 10:37 am
by johnallg
I see Kenny's in on this one. I also noticed no 3rd fret dot, so that tradition goes way back. Really nice old HS pickup too.
Posted: Fri Jun 02, 2006 10:54 am
by shamustwin
At what pitch are the strings tuned?
Posted: Fri Jun 02, 2006 11:44 am
by leftybass
C-G-D-A, most of the time. There are many alternate tunings...
Posted: Fri Jun 02, 2006 3:44 pm
by fran4001
Super cool! I would love to take a spin on it! Historical to say the least.
Posted: Wed Jun 07, 2006 7:05 am
by tracy
Seems tenor guitars were quite the norm for special orders at Rickenbacker at least through the sixties. I've seen them in bakelite, a 420/4 and now this Ken Roberts aberrant. Unlikely that Mr. Hall could be persuaded to supply a 350/4 on special order, or, maybe? Heh, heh, heh......
Posted: Wed Jun 07, 2006 8:35 am
by leftybass
A 420/4 eh? Wonder where that one is. I'd love to have that one.
I have one based on a Tulip 950, made in 1961.
Here's the peghead for it...
Posted: Wed Jun 07, 2006 10:42 am
by shamustwin
Very elegant!
Posted: Wed Jun 07, 2006 11:52 am
by leftybass
Tracy, here's another pic of the 950 Tenor with the 1971 Mando Guitar mentioned in the Smith book..
Posted: Wed Jun 07, 2006 4:48 pm
by tracy
Oh, yeah! Just show me where to stand in line. I'll take two of each and you can supersize my order.
The 420/4 (single pickup) was on the bay a few years ago. I'm surprised you missed it. I don't remember what it sold for, but my highest bid was $1100. I think it went for alot more than that. No telling how many anomalies are out there. I'm just looking forward to the next weird Rick to make it's appearance.
Posted: Wed Jun 07, 2006 4:52 pm
by jwilli
This was pretty weird ....and legit too.
Posted: Thu Jun 08, 2006 4:28 am
by leftybass
This Tenor on ebay was a regular production item when it was made according to Richard Smith's research, and not a custom order. They were much more popular in the 30's due to the music being popular. It's still really cool though..
Posted: Thu Jun 08, 2006 4:50 am
by tracy
JS--Yeah, and some of those old tenor players could really 'fly', y'know, stuff you couldn't even think of doing on a six-stringer. Tuning is open fifths, just like a violin. Too much fun.
JW--What the heck is that headstock connected to? That is a a weird one!
Happy Friday everybody.