Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

The pictures I have seen of 1967 dated Rose Morris guitars have variously showed a mix of chrome topped volume/tone knobs and the earlier style all black knobs. As knobs can be switched around with ease, I would appreciate any views on whether by 1967 all the guitars exported to Rose Morris had transitioned to the US market style chrome topped knobs.

Eddie,

I'll let the 6 strings guys chime in with their 2c here, but on the RM basses from '67 I have seen, all have the chrome top knobs. At this time, the factory probably were predominately using the chrome tops, but as ever from this period YMMV...

Many thanks Andrew. My '67 1998/345S has the chrome tops and they look absolutely period original - as does the rest of the guitar, so that would corroborate your point. The vast majority of the RM export guitars I have seen pictured with '67 jack plates also have the chrome tops so it seems most (if not all) of the guitars shipped by 1967 must have left the factory that way...

My 1966 1997 and 1967 1998 both have chrome-topped knobs that appear to be original.

My 1964 1995 and 1965 1993-12 have knobs that are solid black with white lines and appear to be original.

that's great info Ron, thanks

Yeah, from what i've mostly seen----'66 and '67 are often chrome-topped (in fact, it seems the norm by then).

Most Rose Morris models in general are '64-'65 so the black knobs are considered "the" Rose Morris type knobs, though it did change.
Also nearly all "S" models shipped to Italy, USA and other places are all chrome-topped, of course.

My 1964 330S has black knobs.

Thanks for the input Rod. Consensus view here seems to be that US market S models (i.e. with the f-hole) would have used chrome tops from late '64 onwards and genuine UK/Australia Rose Morris exports would have had them by 1967...