Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I recently sold an original '63 425 on ebay for a friend, and after setting it up and putting new strings on it, I kinda fell in love with it. I just recently realized that Ric did a reissue of the 425 and 450 guitars. Does anybody have any experience with both the vintage and reissue? I'm thinking about getting a 450v63 if it is anything near the original 425. So, if anyone has some insight, or if anyone has one for sale, please let me know.

Brian, I have a '59 425 and a '67 450-12.

The '59 425 has a superb playing neck and the thicker, non-rounded edge body shape. It's a great player, but the positioning of the single toaster pickup (half way between "bridge" and "middle" positions) provides a little less twang than I'd like. I paid $1000 for it around three years ago.
The '67 450-12 has the two toasters and the rounded edge body shape. It's very comfortable to play, super low action and the width of the neck is fairly narrow.
This one I purchased for $1250 about two years ago.
I think that the 450 especially is a very underrated guitar and I've always jumped to it's defence. You can still purchase these for less than $2000 if you search a little. My preference would be to buy vintage rather than reissue - why not have the real thing?

Wow, those seem like really decent prices for vintage instruments. I like the quirkyness of the 425 model's huge pickguard and such. As a one pickup model it's quite attractive.

Wes, you're right...I think I both of these purchases were good value. However, you should still be able to pick up either model of the same vintage for around $1500, maybe a little more for a 450. It's a matter of keeping your eye on the ball and doing the necessary ground work.

I just put some fresh strings on my 450v63 JG:
It does play sweet ... but I think that the neck feels a little 'thicker' than the one on the 1967 450 MG that I gave to my grand-niece:
but it's been a while since I played that one.

What about this one?

http://www.gbase.com/Stores/Gear/GearDe ... em=1574755

looks nice, I don't know about $2500 nice though. The 425/450 are the only guitars I like with the cresting wave body shape

1965 wrote:looks nice, I don't know about $2500 nice though. The 425/450 are the only guitars I like with the cresting wave body shape

Hmmm ... then you don't like the 460 because of the binding?

It's ok, but I like the utter simplicity of the 425 best. Even if the pickup isn't in the pristine location

Gary, is that your 460 BG? That is a stunner. My 425v63 BG should be arriving Thursday.

Yep, Brian, that is my baby. Plays great, feels great, and it's the dark 'plumglo' version of BG. Found it through serendipity on gbase mis-listed as a 620 Fireglo (!) and snagged it immediately. It's been my primary 6-string ever since!

I'll be interested in hearing your impressions of the 425v63 after you've had a chance to play it.