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Rickenbacker 430 questions
Posted: Sat May 02, 2026 8:03 pm
by scriffraff
I recently bought a cool 1970’s Rickenbacker 430 project.I’m having a hard time finding images or information about the one I got. No bridge plate.It has the model number on the TRC. It’s rear routed like a 230, but doesn’t have the cut out where the jack goes. I’m wondering what year it might be and if anyone has seen a rear routed 430 or knows anything about it. Thanks in advance.
Re: Rickenbacker 430 questions
Posted: Sun May 03, 2026 3:27 am
by doctorwho
IMO it looks like it had the original bridge/tailpiece at one time (the tailpiece has the serial number stamped into it). The430 I used to own was "normal looking":
- P5110158.JPG (237.9 KiB) Viewed 12550 times
Note that the output jack is surface-mounted on the pickguard/control plate. I would expect that yours had a similar arrangement.
The body rout on yours looks pretty rough, so to me that would indicate aftermarket work.
It is possible that yours was modified using a replacement body, or was a custom build using the original 430 parts. Too bad we don't know about its history.
Re: Rickenbacker 430 questions
Posted: Sun May 03, 2026 11:04 am
by admin
I believe that 430 bridge plate and the 450 bridge plate for both the 6 and 12 string models were very similar if not the same.
Re: Rickenbacker 430 questions
Posted: Sun May 03, 2026 1:17 pm
by scriffraff
doctorwho wrote: Sun May 03, 2026 3:27 am
The body rout on yours looks pretty rough, so to me that would indicate aftermarket work.
The routing is what made me think in was a factory original Rickenbacker. Just a nice forstner bit making a bunch of holes.
I've compared to a couple other 430's, and it's identical in every way screw holes, pickup routes body thickness everything lines up except for the rear route.
I've also had a tough time trying to find another 430 with the model number on the TRC.
Re: Rickenbacker 430 questions
Posted: Sun May 03, 2026 2:21 pm
by admin
Josh there are plenty of examples of the serial on the bridge plate. Do an advanced search in the Register for 430 and you will see examples. I had a metal shop produce one from my 450 bridge plate about 10 years ago. I will see if I still have it.
Re: Rickenbacker 430 questions
Posted: Sun May 03, 2026 3:29 pm
by scriffraff
admin wrote: Sun May 03, 2026 2:21 pm
Josh there are plenty of examples of the serial on the bridge plate. Do an advanced search in the Register for 430 and you will see examples. I had a metal shop produce one from my 450 bridge plate about 10 years ago. I will see if I still have it.
Thanks for the info,I don't have the original bridge plate, but I know all about the series #'s on the bridge plates. Winfield Vintage has great replacement bridge plates if I need one. I am not in need of the bridge plate just yet. I am really just looking for info about the rear route, if anyone has seen one, and what years Rickenbacker used the model numbers on the truss rod covers. I've read that they started in 76 with the model number on truss rod covers, but unsure of when this stopped.
Re: Rickenbacker 430 questions
Posted: Sun May 03, 2026 6:41 pm
by admin
Thus far in our limited sampling in the Register I have found one truss rod cover with the model identified for July 1975 and another for February 1976. We have no models beyond 1975 and 1976. The only consistent pattern of having the model 430 identified on the truss rod cover is that there is no pattern. His and miss and most without. There 115 instruments in total with about 6 dozen with headstock photos. Clearly we need more data to say anything definitive but in this sample I could not see there being more than a handful of them with the model being printed on the truss rod cover.
Re: Rickenbacker 430 questions
Posted: Mon May 04, 2026 8:38 pm
by scriffraff
admin wrote: Sun May 03, 2026 6:41 pm
Thus far in our limited sampling in the Register I have found one truss rod cover with the model identified for July 1975 and another for February 1976. We have no models beyond 1975 and 1976. The only consistent pattern of having the model 430 identified on the truss rod cover is that there is no pattern. Hit and miss and most without. There 115 instruments in total with about 6 dozen with headstock photos. Clearly we need more data to say anything definitive but in this sample I could not see there being more than a handful of them with the model being printed on the truss rod cover.
Thanks for the info