Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I don't know if this was discussed before, but I'm a bit curious:

What is the history of the evolving TRC? I enjoyed JH's explanation that his mom actually designed it, but as far as the changing style and materials...was it for upgrading or style purposes or something else altogether?

Alisha, from memory there was a post here at one time with a pictorial display of the various TRCs. I'm sure one of the brighter sparks here will be able to post a link to it.

Does anyone else recall this?

I haven't seen that one. It must be from quite an old thread - Possible in an archive we don't have access to right now?

I remember that thread...I'm talking more of a 'why did they change at each point and when' kind of thing.

Well Alisha here's what I know from my personal experience: the 1st ones in the 50's were thin anodized aluminum in black or mostly gold with the logo screened on it then clear lacquer over the logo. Then a very thin aluminum plate had the logo stamped into it with a surrounding border. I'm not sure if the date was late 57, but the acrylic plastic with the logo screened on the back was introduced, made the same way the aluminum ones with gold then clear over the logo. This was used up to mid 70's when I kept after Dick Burke to upgrade the acrylic to a raised letter name plate for the DeLuxe Models. When I made my 360/12WBBSin November of 1974, I had an engraved name plate made from a black/white/black material that matched the custom pickguards. Bill Meyers, Dick Burke and Ward Deaton liked it very much and it wasn't long after that when the new name plate was introduced. My favorite is still the vintage gold with black on acrylic.

I can't find the thread, but I think that I pulled these pictures from it at the time.

There are a few TRCs missing.
From the '50s:
Black Lucite w/white script.
Gold anodized aluminum w/ black script.
Rectangular metal w/presses script.

From '62 thru late '63:
White w/ black script. No Made in USA.

The 70's:
Black Lucite/Lexan/whatever w/ white script.

Perhaps this has already been covered... and at the risk of touching on a sore spot...but

What is RIC's reason for the new policy of only accepting trade-ins toward the purchase of a SAME COLOR truss rod cover?

I understand the need to protect against the rickenfaker industry, but if someone has bought a Rickenbacker guitar it is theirs to do with what they wish, correct? If that involves putting on different color plastic, why should that be a problem for RIC?

Thanks for that link, Sean. I've added a comment over there.