Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

After years of wanting one, I finally have a 650D on order - it'll be nice to have a second Ric in the house (joining my '80 Azureglo 4001 - I'm a bass player).

The only thing that bugs me about the Dakota is the chrome plated pickguard. Is anyone aware of a replacement two piece or one piece drilled to fit? I didn't have any luck in the archives.

I ordered a black upper and lower (designed to fit a 320/350) from RIC and put it on my 650D. I use the 5th knob as a master volume.

Yes, the hole-pattern is quite different.

Am I the only one who likes the chrome scratchplate?

Being metal, the plate lends itself nicely to being replated or powder-coated in just about any finish you'd like, probably for less than what anyone would charge you to make a new one.

There was an earlier thread on the 650 that I posted photos of mine with a black pickguard made by Don Adamek. I had 2 problems with the chrome pickguard. It was extremely wavy, the reflections were very distorted, and it was not tight to the body. It is held at the ends only by 2 screws and when you used the knobs (especially the toggle), the panel moved. I added a 3rd screw aligned with the bridge pickup to prevent this. I'll try to post them here again.

Nice looking combination Bruce. I will expect to see your comments under the lefty thread at some point.

Peter - What lefty thread? Are you starting one?

Bruce - not to get off topic, but is that a clear gloss finish ovre walnut on your guitar?

No, I think that's a Maple-Glo 650C. They're available in all Ric colours now. Looks good doesn't it?

Looks great

So I guess the actual wood is maple, not walnut? I can;t really tell but it definitely looks darker than the maple on my 330. Probably the lighting and my POS school-system monitor.

All maple, but the body wood and neck is definitely a different color than the fretboard. The fretboard has a yellowish tint to it. Different tree, I guess. The black pickguard goes well with the black TRC.

"The black pickguard goes well with the black TRC."

That's why I went with black, too.

Also, I went with the two-tiered pickguard for "logistical" reasons. I can play with my thumb, hold onto the vibrato bar with a couple of my fingers, and rest my other fingers on the upper pickguard. It works for me...

That is a glorious guitar! They come in all standard colors? I suppose that doesn't include the clear colors available on the CI's? Ya know, if it came without a pickguard, ala the CII bass, it would look awesomely modern, not that it doesn't now.

pickguards.com (aka WD music products) will make
any shape you give them. Just trace your pickguard
on a piece of thick paper and give it to 'em. I
believe it's fairly cheap too.

Here's a picture of a black matte pickguard.
After reading this thread, I decided to make one.