Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Did Rickenbacker originally put those little rubber grommets between the body and the lower pickguard, standing it off of the body? I'd noticed it done on an old 360F as well as Suzi Arden's 12 String and was just wondering.

My '67 615 when I received it had a grommet under and above the bottom guard for each screw except the short one closest to the jack.

I should also say, although I didn't get it new, the guy I traded for it said it was pretty much untouched, and really hadn't been played. So, I can only assume.

fabandgear wrote:Did Rickenbacker originally put those little rubber grommets between the body and the lower pickguard, standing it off of the body? I'd noticed it done on an old 360F as well as Suzi Arden's 12 String and was just wondering.

Is it still like that?

Here is a pic of Suzi's axe. Notice how the base guard is raised off of the body.

fabandgear wrote:Here is a pic of Suzi's axe. Notice how the base guard is raised off of the body.

I take it you haven't seen the recent news, then?

I think that may have been to keep the paint on the acrylic guard from sticking to the body and getting worn off?

Grey wrote:I think that may have been to keep the paint on the acrylic guard from sticking to the body and getting worn off?

Exactly, and to prevent the acrylic paint gassing off onto the CV finish.

This is likely why they stopped the grommets when they went to plastic opaque pick guards, though many gold guard instruments don't have the grommets under (including my '61).


In light of that Arden photo, let's take a moment of silence to reflect on the great originality that guitar once had.

Here, here!

All Hail to Suzi!

jps wrote:

fabandgear wrote:Here is a pic of Suzi's axe. Notice how the base guard is raised off of the body.

I take it you haven't seen the recent news, then?

Yeah, Jeff. I saw.

Hi, when i bought my 620-12 in the erly 80'ties it had also the Original rüber gommets under the Lower pickguard.
I was wondering wy Rickenbacker did that, because of düst That May damage the Electric .

I Took off the gommets but was always wondering , because i Never Saw it on any Rick again Since then.

Mckuen

325c58 models come with grommets under the guard as well.

They're half grommets, actually. Same as the ones under vintage pickups, just sliced in half.

And yes, RiP to the unique features of the Arden guitar...er..."#1."

fabandgear wrote:

jps wrote:

fabandgear wrote:Here is a pic of Suzi's axe. Notice how the base guard is raised off of the body.

I take it you haven't seen the recent news, then?

Yeah, Jeff. I saw.

uh oh. I haven't heard anything about this. Can somebody post or PM me a link to the story?

Someone converted this historic guitar into an ersatz George Harrison by changing the nut (to switch the octave strings) and adding a white pickguard and black knobs. This would be similar to putting Lace Sensors and a Floyd Rose on Buddy Holly's Clearlake Stratocaster.

a few people sent me links... I wish I hadn't asked! thx for catching me up though, guys.
now back to the topic at hand.

My Nov '64 Rose Morris 1995 has original old grommets still in place under the main control plate. It may have been limited to the solid body's though because I don't recall seeing them on other Rose Morris models.

Very early Capris sometimes came with small metal spacers rather than grommets. The good thing about these is they don't mark the finish or the control plate as they age.