Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

This is a photo of the headstock of a Rickenbacker guitar, supposedly a Combo 1000, manufactured in 1962.

Yet, on the basis of the Bacon & Day and other reference books, it seems that Rickenbacker was using the curved & pointed TRC (as designed by Lydia Catherine Hall, mother of John Hall) from at least the mid-1950s. Certainly, all the pics of Combo models which I have seen on the net have the modern TRC design.

Does anyone on the Forum have an explanation, or should I assume that the guitar and its TRC are suspect?

I have heard, on this forum, that the stamped metal plates were used in 1959-61 on various models including the 1000, so 1962 is probably not out of the question either given that the only absolute about Rickenbackers is that there are no absolutes...

...absolutely.

redamber wrote:This is a photo of the headstock of a Rickenbacker guitar, supposedly a Combo 1000, manufactured in 1962.

Ric combo trc.jpg

James - the only way to date the guitar is by its serial number, which will be stamped on the bridge plate. The TRC looks correct for a guitar made between 1959 and 1961.

By 1962 they had plastic TRCS. You can track this in the register. I would suspect your guitar is earlier then you think it is.

It could absolutely be authentic.

Ask for a photo of the headstock with the TRC removed. If there's an extra screw hole, the cover's been changed.

Thank you all for your expert responses.

On the basis of what I now know, it would seem to be authentic. The Serial No. appears to be BJ 511, indicating that the guitar was manufactured in October 1962 - consistent with what is on the Register. The remainder of the body, including the lower & upper bout of the 'tulip', look about the right shape for the period (see pic).

I don't want to ask what's under the TRC until I'm sure I have an interest - and that depends on whether the seller adjusts his price from where he is at present. Work in progress!