Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

...once in a while you also see white ones. Have they ever been used by RIC? Maybe there is the same colour variation as with the nut?

I know Rickenbacker used white long bat switch tips in the 70's.

There's a run of short white tips late in '72.

...seems there will be several of these RIC specific transitions?

I don't know about basses, but there are early production 480 guitars from 1973 with white nuts and white switch tips. Personally I think this combination looks much better than the black.

While of no particular relevance to this thread, it's interesting to note that 480 guitars have a flat fretboard, but the white nuts they used had a standard radius. When they switched to the black nuts the next year, the new ones were flat.

My late '75 has a white tip on it. It appears to be stock and I'd be interested to find if it is.

http://www.rickresource.com/register/us ... llsize.jpg

My Nov '73 4001 MG has a black toggle and nut.

Bassically, Michael

johnallg wrote:My late '75 has a white tip on it. It appears to be stock and I'd be interested to find if it is.

http://www.rickresource.com/register/us ... llsize.jpg

From the photo it appears to be a shorter switch bat, more akin to the Switchcraft bat used on a Les Paul, etc. Particularly, with the cream color. Does it measure the same?

My June '74 has a black tip.

Captain Bob wrote:

johnallg wrote:My late '75 has a white tip on it. It appears to be stock and I'd be interested to find if it is.

http://www.rickresource.com/register/us ... llsize.jpg

From the photo it appears to be a shorter switch bat, more akin to the Switchcraft bat used on a Les Paul, etc. Particularly, with the cream color. Does it measure the same?

It is shorter. I wondered if it was a replacement, but the patina of the metal under the guard and the soldering suggests its original.

johnallg wrote:

Captain Bob wrote:

johnallg wrote:My late '75 has a white tip on it. It appears to be stock and I'd be interested to find if it is.

http://www.rickresource.com/register/us ... llsize.jpg

From the photo it appears to be a shorter switch bat, more akin to the Switchcraft bat used on a Les Paul, etc. Particularly, with the cream color. Does it measure the same?

It is shorter. I wondered if it was a replacement, but the patina of the metal under the guard and the soldering suggests its original.

It's amazing how good forged "vintage" Fender parts can look, just something to consider.

jps wrote:

johnallg wrote:It is shorter. I wondered if it was a replacement, but the patina of the metal under the guard and the soldering suggests its original.

It's amazing how good forged "vintage" Fender parts can look, just something to consider.

Go home, Jeff!!! Oh, wait, you probably are home.

If I'm not mistaken Switchcraft builds the longer switch bat strictly for RIC. Perhaps, there was a shortage at one point and 'normal' switch bats were utilzed. Who knows. My memory recalls all my 70's basses (four) acquired back in the day (including a white with black binding '75 purchased early that Fall) had the longer black switches. That's not to say your switch is not indigenous to that bass. It very well could be, indeed.
Anyway, it looks fine.

Captain Bob wrote:If I'm not mistaken Switchcraft builds the longer switch bat strictly for RIC. Perhaps, there was a shortage at one point and 'normal' switch bats were utilzed. Who knows. My memory recalls all my 70's basses (four) acquired back in the day (including a white with black binding '75 purchased early that Fall) had the longer black switches. That's not to say your switch is not indigenous to that bass. It very well could be, indeed.
Anyway, it looks fine.

The switch on the bass I posted the picture for is indeed shorter threading also as a black tip from RIC does not fit. I really don't care because the switch works and the cream yellowing looks really good with the yellowed MG.