Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I'd love to see some pictures of Ric's with the VH Vibrato option. Also, any information anyone has on them would be great. When was the option available? I assume it was just available on 650's, just because of the nature of the unit. Also, for those of you that have used this vibrato unit, what are your impressions of it? What does it compare to? Strat, Wilkinson, Bigsby, Floyd? So, please impart any knowledge you have on the subject and share pictures tou have of guitars equipped with the VH Vibrato. Thanks.

Here's one I sold a couple years ago. Wish I hadn't. But it couldn't have played that great, or I wouldn't have sold it. I always prefer Bigsbys and Accents. I've never liked Strat vibratos. This one was okay, but when you released it, it smacked against the body and I was worried if I played it too much it would damage the finish.

Ok, pic too big. I'll resize and post when I get home. Remind me if I forget!

Sorry I don't have a better pic of this one; I was about to take a new pic for you, but I remembered that I left it at our rehearsal space last night. This one's a bit better: I've never owned a guitar with a Floyd, but I have a few Strats with the vintage trem, and I had a Kahler once on an old 70s Strat once (forgive me), and I own a few Gretsches, all with Bigsbys. the Accent works really well, and does a good job of staying in tune in my experience. It's more subtle than the Strat trem, and close, action-wise, to a Bigsby, though the Bigsby probably has a more extreme range of pitch bending. I like to put an extra spacer in my Bigsbys to give them more range in any case. Practically speaking, the two are pretty close for the typical whammy dip or pull. I've been pretty happy with the Accent vibrato.

I think he means the Schaller high-performance vibrato,the option 650s used to have.

Some pics from http://www.rickbeat.com:

dpowell wrote:I think he means the Schaller high-performance vibrato,the option 650s used to have.

Ah, that makes sense. Oops.

But its always nice to see that 381!

brianeharmonjr wrote:What does it compare to? Strat, Wilkinson, Bigsby, Floyd?

The Hi-Tek vibrato was an option for the 650 Series guitars only. Underneath the cover on the back of the guitar is a claw and return springs, just as you would find on a Strat. You can dive bomb with it pretty well, if so desired. If set to "float," you can press against the top of the unit with your palm to raise the pitch (a la Jeff Beck) without having to worry about any uncomfortable, sharp surfaces or edges.
My Dakota has it and is shown above (i.e., the side-view image). From this view, you can see the precision bearing upon which the unit hinges; there's one on the opposite end, too. It's a very smooth moving unit. (no ExLax jokes)

dpowell wrote:I think he means the Schaller high-performance vibrato,the option 650s used to have.

Schaller? Are you sure about that? I've read the brand is ABM-Mueller.

jdogric12aolcom wrote:This one was okay, but when you released it, it smacked against the body and I was worried if I played it too much it would damage the finish.

That's why you set it to "float." Then it won't smack the body upon release.

Sorry, I can't find my pic, but Monday I'll get it together. It's a 650A TUR with the HiTek VB.

Maybe I had it confused with the Schaller piezo system in the 380...

Thanks for the info and pictures. I'd really like to get my hands on one of these. I think a 650A VH would be the one I'd like to have the most.

dpowell wrote:Some pics from http://www.rickbeat.com:

Ric650Sfront.jpg

Ric650Sback.jpg

650dside.jpg

Dammit!
If I had one of those (my 650 has no vibrato) I wouldn't need my Strat (almost).

This model, and especially the dark, light, dark, wood pattern, remind me of 1970s era custom or boutique guitars, especially with the gold hardware. I don't say this as a disparaging comment, just that the guitar reminds me of a number of instruments made during that time period. It seems odd to me that it was a model that RIC thought of during this past decade, some 25 years or so after that time.

Here are a few pics of a 650C I purchased a few months ago from a fellow forumite. I was really hankering for a Rickenbacker with a tremolo bar, and the humbuckers give it a sound that's a nice change from high gains or toasters.

Very nice looking 650 Steve, I have never seen a full maple one before.
Thanks for posting those pics. What finish is on that model? And is the fingerboard coated?