Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I've been a RIC owner for many years now, actually, I've had a love/hate relationship with them since I bought my first RIC, a 360, back in 1967. They are the most beautiful guitar there is, but in my opinion you have to work at them a bit to get music out of them. Since I first saw John Lennon with his trusty old 325 back in 1964, RIC and BIGSBY went hand in hand. I've been reading a lot on the forum about putting B5's and B50's on 325's, 330's, and 350's, but what to do about the holes left in the butt end after the tailpiece is removed? The black ones are more easily covered up with putty and some black paint but what about the maple and the fireglows? I came up with a solution I'd like to share. I recently installed a B50 on my 350 FG. The holes bothered me and putty didn't quite make it. I carefully hacksawed the hook end of the R tailpiece bracket off, then ground down the remaining part until it fell just below the top of the guitar body. A buffing with a flannel wheel polished it up and I mounted it using the original screws. It came great! It actualy prevents strap burn on the butt end and covers up those nasty holes. See picture attached.....

Good Idea. How does your it stay in tune with the bigsby on it?

That's cool. I kind of like it.

The Bigsby doesn't cause it to go out of tune. The problem I had was too light gauge of strings. When I switched to an 11-48 set, it stays in tune.

looks great!

Someone else had posted a while back where they had done a similar mod. It does look good, and takes care of the holes nicely.

Wow. I agree, That's a great mod. I've done the holes on Jetglo by gluing toothpicks in the holes, sanding, sealing and finally paint. Gone forever.

It looks great I think. As an alternative solution, I know that when Bill Mahony installed a Bigsby on his MG 325, he just put the original screws back into their holes and it looked fine. Not as sophisticated as your mod, but simple and still effective.

Looks nice but I hate the idea of destroying an "R" tailpiece to go that route. Plus my 350V63 has the trapeze tailpiece.
I saved this pic one of our RRF members posted and wish I could credit who did this one. If you recognize it please post and take credit for it.

Well to tell you the truth, I didn't actually destroy an R tailpiece to do the job. I purchased an R tailpiece bracket from Pick of the Ricks for 25.00 and used it. I eventually sold the R tailpiece on eBay...I like the Bill Mahoney mod. Looks like he got the 'cover' from an 'old' guitar.

Well that's my 350. Now I want to find a 325......