Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I recently picked up a 1980 (December) 620, and someone, at some point, swapped out the tuners for Schallers, and changed the TRC and pickguards. Am a correct that the original tuners should be Klusons, and if so, what model? The pickguard and TRC were swapped for another Rickenbacker model (black), which seems to have a slightly smaller footprint, and the screw holes were re-drilled. The upper pickguard is flat along the pickup side, and isn't fit around the pickups. The TRC has the white-painted raised lettering, and Made in U.S.A. along the fret edge, with no model number. Does anyone have an idea what model my plastic might be for. I'd love to get mine back to original, as well as help anyone who might need the black plastic for there model. Thanks for any help on this matter!

Hello there Michael...

I can relate... I have a June 1977 620 that has had similar issues... My first RIC was an April 1982 JG 620, so I wanted one of that era again...
Yes the tuners on this guitar would have been Klusons.... RIC makes identical ones for their vintage reissues...

http://www.pickofthericks.com/products/ ... 00565.html

If you want original parts best to look at Ebay.... You want a raised letter TRC they can't be had from RIC without an exchange of a broken one...

http://cgi.ebay.com/Kluson-Oval-Metal-T ... 19c80e47de

http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=ricken ... 86.c0.m359

I believe that the pickguard has not changed since the 1980s so a standard one should still fit.
http://www.rickenbacker.com/cart.asp?vi ... Pickguards


Otherwise Pick Guardian will make you a new one to fit the original screw holes...
http://www.pickguardian.com/pickguardia ... itars.html

They have templates you can print out and check to see what fits...

Please post some pictures of your guitar! We never get tired of looking at them!

Also look at the RRF Register here for examples of what the guitar would have looked like when original...

The changeover in the tuners happened in the summer of 1982... By 1983 the headstocks changed too...

Here are a few examples of guitars that would have looked like yours...

http://www.rickresource.com/register/vi ... hp?id=8140

http://www.rickresource.com/register/vi ... p?id=12950

http://www.rickresource.com/register/vi ... rings%3D26

http://www.rickresource.com/register/vi ... rings%3D26

http://www.rickresource.com/register/vi ... rings%3D26

This last one is from Sept 1980

http://www.rickresource.com/register/vi ... rings%3D26

Brian,

Thanks for all the good tips! I actually found the template, and it doesn't line up with the original screw holes, so it looks like custom order, or an indefinite wait for one to come up on ebay. I picked up the 620 for $900, which seems fair, even with the mods, considering the vintage. It actually looks pretty good as-is, but I'm a bit of a purist. Here's a few pics of the machine:

More pics!!! More pics!!! It is jet glo yes?

What is the SN?? TL ????

I have a 610 that was BT trim before I swapped out the plastic and hardware for White/Chrome versions..
I think it looks much better now but that's my taste...

Looks like Azureglo to me, cool!

They call it Midnight Blue. I've had a few Azureglos, and I can't tell the difference. The serial number is TL 4926. I look forward to restoring to its original look eventually. The black plastic looks more and more to be off a 325 or similar model. Anyone think the same?

I am going to vote for a darker then normal Azureglo... Unless it was a finish prototype of some sort, Midnight Blue was not available as a colour until 1983/84ish.. The difference is in the metalic shine...

Yes I agree the pickguard likely came from an early 90s 320/350...

So it is! I wasn't aware of the timeline between the two colors. I must say, I thought it looked darker than the other Azureglos I've owned, and I've had several, but I just did a side by side with my '75 4001, and it's pretty close. It might be a hair darker, but I think the dark plastic made it feel a lot darker. The 90s 350 is a good call for the plastic. I see a few examples online in white and Mapleglo with black pickguards and no model name on the TRC.

Hopefully you can get the parts you need to get it all back to stock...