Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I just bought a non-working unit off E-Bay on a whim. I have always wanted one and figured that I would tinker with it to see if I could get her running again.

Does anyone here have any experience with these units or feel they might have a better shot then me and my very basic understanding of electronics?

I'd be happy to just send it out if anyone wants to have a look at it and I could easily compensate you if you were able to repair it with guitar gear or cash (if you are into that kind of thing )

-Russ

Can't help with the repair, but based on my experience with British motorcycles, I can tell you that if it's of British manufacture and it has oil, watch out for leaks! Come to think of it, the lights might be questionable as well.

These were invented by Ray Lubowitz, who worked with Leo Fender in the Old Days. I have a working Fender unit from '67 or '68.

This unit is a Tel-Ray unit, as Tel Ray's factory made 'em for all the folks who badged them under their own brands.

First thing you want to do is replace the oil. It's pricey, but specialized and not substitutable. It is NOT "highly toxic" as you may have read somewhere, incidentally. No PCBs, etc. Then you can mess with the circuitry.

Here's a web group that should feed your frenzy:

http://telrayoilcanaddicts.yuku.com/

I think the sound is way overrated, incidentally. It's spooky and voodooey, but for me there's no substitute for my Dynacord tape echo...

Oh, I see you've already found them. Then whytheheckareyoupostinghere?

I posted here because they were no help over there. One guy offered to kindly help me out for a hair under $1000 all told. Sheeesh.

Anyway, I'll give it a look when it arrives and tinker with it. I can always use it for the world's coolest doorstop

-Russ

We used to make jokes about even our British CAD software leaving oil on our desks.

It sounds like a great find. Maybe if you can get a schematic and pictures of the guts, some of us can help from a distance.