Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hi gang. Was it ever stock to put grommets under the lower guard? Thanks, J

jdogric12aolcom wrote:Hi gang. Was it ever stock to put grommets under the lower guard? Thanks, J

Yes. In fact, the early guitars didn't have a rout for the neck pickup coax wire, it was just fished out under the lower 'guard to the control cavity.

Many vintage 620s/625s I've seen have had them, just like about all of the Rickenbacker guitars that had gold pickguards. Dunno about the later ones......

That's too late for grommets under the lower guard. This seems to have ended around '61. Somebody was havin' some fun with us Future Historians.

Ah, so yes on early 60's but not on the '81? That seems right. Biscuti owes me a tasty Coca~Cola. Wait, I hate soda.

jdogric12aolcom wrote:Ah, so yes on early 60's but not on the '81? That seems right. Biscuti owes me a tasty Coca~Cola. Wait, I hate soda.

Wha? I gave you free grommets!

jingle_jangle wrote:That's too late for grommets under the lower guard. This seems to have ended around '61. Somebody was havin' some fun with us Future Historians.

At least until 1963, late in the year. Not just 625s, but 360s as well. The Suzi Arden 12-string had an elevated lower guard when new. The 625/12 of Mike Campbell (Dec. 1963) sports grommets under the lower 'guard as well. I'll have to go thru some pics to see more....

John S -- Are you guessing Campbell's 625/12 has grommets? Or have you seen pics?

leftybass wrote:

jingle_jangle wrote:That's too late for grommets under the lower guard. This seems to have ended around '61. Somebody was havin' some fun with us Future Historians.

At least until 1963, late in the year. Not just 625s, but 360s as well. The Suzi Arden 12-string had an elevated lower guard when new. The 625/12 of Mike Campbell (Dec. 1963) sports grommets under the lower 'guard as well. I'll have to go thru some pics to see more....

Thanks for expanding for us, JS.

JakeK wrote:John S -- Are you guessing Campbell's 625/12 has grommets? Or have you seen pics?

I looked at the guitar, up close...for 30-45 minutes....while it was on display at the RRHOF in the Tom Petty exhibit, which may not be there anymore.

The point about these early 625s is that there was no channel rout from the neck p/up to the control cavity, and the neck p/up lead needed room to make it to the pots. The lower 'guard had to be elevated for the wire to go under the 'guard.

Yep, '63 625s had elevated guards. Exactly what John Simmons posted.