Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

has rickenbacker ever done a reverse guitar headstock? Anyone have any pictures?

All lefties had a reverse headstock until the mid '80's I believe.

Peter: I may have misinterpreted Gene's question but I was thinking "Firebird" when he commented on the reverse headstock. Your point is well taken though. Perhaps he will clarify.

Peter McCormack:
I don't understand what you mean by "firebird". As in reverse (body) Gibson Firebirds? I was only referring to the headstock. Peter Levett answered my question.

Has there ever been a reverse righty guitar (300/600 type) headstock? (I'm guessing if yes it couldn't have been before the mid '80s based on the previous answer)

I'm led to believe that the current vintage reissue 4001 has a reverse headstock on righty models. Truss Rod Cover's he right way up though.

But I'm interested to know if the lefty models are made the same way i.e. the headstock will still be reversed.

Thanks Gene. I am glad that Peter Levett answered the question. I am sorry that I misunderstood.

Peter Levett is correct; IIRC the 'mirror-image' left-handed instruments came in quantity around 1988. The earliest proper lefty headstock I've seen was from 1982, a AZG lefty 4008 (remember that one Peter?)

Here is one of mine, a '67 360/12...

And more...

This 1987 4003 is of the last (I think).



Never seen a righty guitar with a lefty headstock though (only basses).

From what I understand, Rickenbacker used the same necks on both the left and the right handed models. Given their way of working they just glued the body wings the other way round.

I have three leftys made before 1988 and I must admit I really miss the reverse headstock and the "smiley face" nameplates. It makes my Ricks look different from most peoples. I almost wish they had never changed.

Wouter, that's sort of true, and only on basses/solidbodies anyway. So it's hard to make a factual case for that sort of statement.

I don't know the date or year when things changed, but when I left there in 1975, all necks were the same:we made only 1 style of neck for all the different guitars and basses. We just flipped them around to be left handed.