Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hi folks! Just thought I'd post a picture of my Transonic 220 for your approval. I bought this gem brand new in August 1985 from Harry's Music in Honolulu. The original hang tag touting General Tire's Tolex covering was still tied to it. It was up in their attic being stored along with some other Transonic cabinets. They said they had had a falling out with Rickenbacker and stopped carrying Rick products about 1967. This 220 head was the only one left. Unfortunately, I didn't know much about Transonic cabs back then-I assumed they were all 4X12 cabs like the one I bought. It would have been nice if they'd had a bass cab to use with my 4001 basses. I only paid $250.00 apice for the head and cabinet. Who knew they'd be in demand again?

fabandgear wrote:They said they had had a falling out with Rickenbacker and stopped carrying Rick products about 1967.

Boy, that's an understatement if there ever was one!

Welcome Forest -- that's a beautiful amp and guitar you have there. Do you still use both?

Thanks for the welcome! Unfortunately I no longer own the 330. It was a January '68 model whose previous owner had converted to a lefty (note the finish wear between the sound hole and bridge pickup.) I really prefered my '65 365 over it anyway and another guy wanted the 330 more than I did. As for the Transonic 220, I use it only occasionally. I usually run my Ricks through a '71 Fender Super Reverb. The Transonic is more of a piece of playable art to me. It is still in super-fine condition and I hate to scuff it up. I do enjoy owning it and using it when I need some big artillery. The only problem I ever had with the 220 was one of the speaker jacks. I had a David Clark sales rep fix me up with several insulated jacks, so it's back in top performance now.

Beautiful , Forrest!!

I've been looking for a complete original Transonic for awhile now- they are rarer than you'd think- yours is in amazing shape too, brilliant! Cool story as well.

johnhall wrote:

fabandgear wrote:They said they had had a falling out with Rickenbacker and stopped carrying Rick products about 1967.

Boy, that's an understatement if there ever was one!

hmm, sounds like quite the ordeal, you want to fill us in John?

That Transonic really looks cool. How does it sound? Is it tube or solid state? It raises a lot more questions than I can ask here. I haven't seen one of these since 1967.

Janglyman

Janglyman, the Transonic is solid state all the way (TRAN-sonic). It has that dry transistor sound you'd expect from '60s early technology trannys. It is LOUD, though! I had it in my room at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii back in the '80s. One night the guys in the next room had their stereo cranked up so loud that I couldn't hear my TV. Failing to get their attention by knocking on their door, I cranked up the Rick and blasted them for a minute. THAT did the trick! Unfortunately, it also brought the Brigade Staff Duty Officer and our company CQ up to my room to tell me to knock off the concert. They said they could here me all the way down to Brigade HQ!

I found a picture of my Transonic's control panel.

Welcome, Forrest and -- Wow! -- your Transonic 200 is in really nice shape.

What is the serial # ? It looks like it is stamped on the metal plate on the back.

Thanks Ron! Actually, the head is marked "Transonic 220". The serial number on a little foil sticker on the bottom is 492. The cab is a 4 X 12 model 200, serial number 299. The store I bought the set from had only that one head, but several cabinets to choose from. I don't know if they were all 4 X 12's or not. As soon as I get the chance, I'll take some more detailed pix and post them, including a better shot of the nomenclature plate on the cab.

Forrest, photos of the amp head where the "220" model designation appears would also be appreciated. I haven't seen or heard of that variation before and I am wondering if anyone else has.

Thanks again for coming aboard and sharing photos of this great amp with us.

For comparison with your 4 x 12" cab, here's a photo of a Transonic 200 cab with a 2 x 12" + 1 x 15" (bottom) speaker configuation owned by another forumite:
PS According to the RIC literature of the late '60s, there were other speaker combinations available for the 200, including a 2 x 15" setup.

libratune wrote:Forrest, photos of the amp head where the "220" model designation appears would also be appreciated.

Maybe it is 220VAC!

Nope. It's a model 220.

Here's the top panel. Look at the volume/tone controls. Much different configuration than the 200.

Back panel.