Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

While watching a video of Mike Campbell sharing his 1963 620/12 model, it occurred to me that his guitar must have been a one-off experiment guitar, not a prototype for a future model, correct?

To my knowledge, few other 620/12 models have surfaced from 1963-1970s, right? Basically this model was not available as a standard catalog item until the 1980s?

I only see one other similar guitar in the registry, from '64 (as a "625/12) "There are a couple other listed under 620/12, but no photos, so I'm skeptical about the accuracy of those listings.

His was/is the first one, so it could be considered either a one-off or a prototype, really.

Collin there were two prototype 620 models made both fireglo.. Campbell's which was sn CM 108 and another one a year later... (DK 695)

Both are in the Register
http://www.rickresource.com/register/in ... celebrity=

For some reason the 450 12 was the guitar that went into production, Perhaps John Hall can comment as to why. I would guess price.

The Smith Book mentions that 620 12's were special orders after that (just like 381 12 strings) and said only a handful were made, He specifically mentions a 620 12 three pick up guitar that went to Canada in 1970. (Presumably he had the invoice in hand when he noted that).

The register notes only two instruments
EK407
http://www.rickresource.com/register/vi ... rings%3D21

and
JK3828 Which perhaps is the three pickup one that went to Canada.
http://www.rickresource.com/register/vi ... rings%3D21


On October 19, 1979 the Petty Album DAMN THE TORPEDOES was released with Tom holding Mike Campbell's guitar on the cover. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damn_the_T ... 28album%29

Presumably Rickenbacker started getting requests for them. By January 1980 they were in production.

There are 14 1980 620 12's in the register with the earliest being made the first few weeks in January
http://www.rickresource.com/register/in ... 80&order=5

(another one from 1980 is in the register TD 1622 as a 625 12 to indicate that it had been transformed into a copy of the prototype by Paul W for Glenn Wall - who later sold it)

http://www.rickresource.com/register/vi ... lebrity%3D

The thread about that is here...
viewtopic.php?f=68&t=403774&p=730225&hi ... ll#p730225

By the middle of 1982 the Klusons were changed to Grovers - and guitars that were essentially the same as Campbell's (other then the high gains) started to morph into the modern version we know today...