Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Mine has open back Grovers,oh and a white nut.Does this sound correct? That is,it 'sounds' great..well, you know what I mean.(can't post pic's)It also has a lovely orangey switch-tip.

Phil, my '61 450 had Grover Sta-Tite open-back tuners and a black nut, both of which were factory original. Post a pic of your guitar if you can....

Most of the late '50s I've seen had silver/metal bats. I can't say I've seen an orange one, but I'd like to!

The 900s used metal bats. Pretty much everything else used white ones that turned orange over time.

Phil, I once owned this '59 450, and it too had the Grover Sta-tite open back tuners and the lovely orangey switch-tip.

Incidently, this guitar recently sold again on eBay in the UK:-

That's the one mate! What's the story your end..orig. nut? (or dya pick y'r personality up from some of the geezers here!)

Phil, I bought this guitar on eBay about two years ago for US$1000. The seller said it played like a dog and was good for parts only. The gold anodized pickguard had been painted black.



I thought something looked funny with the block of wood which had been added under the bridge:-



The guitar was sent to my buddy in New Jersey where I was to collect it the next time I visited the US. When I arrived I removed the scratchplate and put paint stripper on it, revealing the lovely worn gold anodized finish still intact underneath the paint. The next job was to remove the block of wood under the bridge. This block raised the strings about a half inch off the fretboard, rendering it perfect as a slide guitar but not much else.

As soon as the block was removed, she played like a demon!

I'm sure the finish was originally fireglo.

The 450 accompanied me back to Melbourne where it sat in my collection until about a year ago. I sold it on eBay with a BIN of US$1600 to a UK player. It helped to fund the purchase of my '60 335F, otherwise I would have kept it.

The nut is original to the best of my knowledge. Here's a photo of a '60 450 in original condition with a white nut:-



These are fabulous little guitars. The thick, slab-like body reminds me of a Telec*ster. Imagine how much a '59 Telec*ster would set you back by comparison?

I'm glad to see it's found it's way into the hands of a fellow forumite, Phil!

Oh, and I replaced the non-original knobs with correct-era black Rickenbacker knobs

Thank goodness for the Trottmiester...you took this defiled work of beauty and re-instated it's place in the grand scheme of things(which I couldn't have done) and because your buyer has a needy g'friend it's now with me!Glory be to those girls too..I love 'em!My condolences to those who also have to serve....

Phil, if you'd like a set of all of my 'before and after' photos of the 450 email me off-forum. My address is in my profile.

It's an absolute little demon of a guitar

450s rule.