Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

This has been covered before, but I forget: At what point, according to your collective studies, did the silver-top knobs change from having a small "line" marker to the current-style "dot?"

I saw a '60s Ric 360/12 the other day with the line-knobs, and I was trying to remember when they changed.

Gracias.

Hey Kenny.

From my searching for original knobs for my '65, I think early '66 was the change over period. My guitar is Nov '65 and I've seen a couple 450/12's from the same month come up that had the knobs with the line. Bummed me out as I'd just secured an original set of knobs with the small dots.

I'm not aware of the original thread, and I'm sure there was some overlap + maybe they went back and forth for a bit, but my guess is '66.

Tuesday, February 22, 1966... Around 3:30 PM Pacific Time.

JKC

My June 335 has a mix. The bass and treble knobs have a dot. The other 3 have a line. I NEVER noticed this before. My first impression is that two are not original, but I don't know why that would be.

jcreasy wrote:Tuesday, February 22, 1966... Around 3:30 PM Pacific Time.

JKC

Thanks Jimbo.


Punk.

Sorry, I couldn't resist.

Now the suspense is killing me -- has anyone ever seen a mix of knobs?

At my local sports bar.

chronictown wrote:At my local sports bar.

Sweeeeet!

I starting to think that I've stumped the band? Although I am entertained by the banter!

These are the first style of Chrome knobs, sitting on a '64 360/12.... Dashes on the top, dots on the skirt, no lettering on the insert.

....so, has anyone seen a mixed set on a new guitar -- perhaps during the transition period?

Has anyone previously documented the timeline of these knobs?

It would be great if all of this highly detailed information was available for all the Rickenbacker parts and features. I think most regular Rick players are only aware of old style and new style knobs, and not aware that there are actually a few varieties of each one.

Although this thread is a bit more specific than usual, it seems people are always asking the same questions - when did checkerboard binding end, when did hi-gains first appear, what are the different inlay materials used, when did Kluson tuners stop being used, how many different TRC styles are there, when was AutumnGlo available... etc? Perhaps somone could begin a webpage with all the different Rickenbacker parts and features, and permanently document the forums combined knowledge with photos and timelines, which could be updated every time we discover somthing new. Much of this information may be available from photos in the registry.

rkbsound wrote:....so, has anyone seen a mixed set on a new guitar -- perhaps during the transition period?

I have never seen a 'mixed' set, no.....that's not to say it didn't happen here and there....it's hard to apply absolutes to a situation like this.

George Harrison's second Rickenbacker 360/12 (the round-top version) is thought to have been made in the spring/early summer of 1965, and it has the same style knobs as my '64 360/12.

There are a few threads on the Forum here that discuss knobs, alot of what you ask for may have already been talked about...

It would be a good project for someone to do an observation of 10-15 instruments from various years in the 60s and 70s (all in original condition) and see what they come up with.

Thanks!