Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Does anyone here know which instruments the truss rod cover(s) like the one in this auction were issued on ?

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=7266&item=3760806310&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

There is mention and picture in the Bacon & Day book on page 51 of a proposed 50th anniversary model with one on that according to them never went into production.

Brian, I am pretty sure that I've not seen another TRC like that one before, either on or off a guitar.

The one in the book picture looks to be white and gold

Hmm, something smuggled out of the factory perhaps???

That's a first for me...

I have been told by a higher authority (JH) that there were 50 of these made.

Now if we only had the rest of the story: how did that one get separated from its guitar?

Did he happen to mention under what circumstance they were made ? (ie. was there a 50th anniversary model ?)

I don't think so. I will check with John to see if it's OK to post a copy of his message verbatim here.

Okay, fair enough. I was only wondering as other than if you collect truss rod covers, to me it would only make sense to put it on an instrument that came with it. (By that I don't mean to say it would not be neat to have it on an instrument that didn't, but it would probably be very expense to buy it to have that effect as it will probably command a "top" dollar). Also if one was to buy an instrument with it on it would be nice to know if it came that way.

I'm guessing that the factory would be able to confirm that it was original to a particular guitar according to the serial number.

Since we've never seen an instrument with one of these TRC's, my best guess is that RIC produced a small number of these, but changed their plans. The TRC's were never used (at least on a production instrument). Hopefully the message from Mr. Hall will clear up this mystery.

This is something I would sure like to see Mr. Hall's thoughts on.

I say it was something lifted from the factory.

John Hall is the man with the info.

You know guys, we had an incredible source here. And now its gone. We need a post on how we can get John Hall back.

John please come back, I personally apologize for any comments that may have offended you from any of the collective forum members.

Rickenbackers are great instruments. And good accurate information is hard to come by.

If its a sacrificial lamb that you are looking for, I would give up my posting status and go into lurking, just to get your input back.

Life is to short John.
Please come back.

Scott Doseck

Here is the verbatim response I received from John (with his permission to post it):

--- John Hall [e-mail address editted out - GLC] wrote:

> You said:
>
> "Brian, I am pretty sure that I've not seen another TRC
> like that one before, either on or off a guitar."
>
> I say:
>
> I know for fact that this is true.
>
> I'll also tell you that exactly 50 of these plates exist
> and this is one of them.
>
> Cheers,
>
> John Hall

Thanks to John Hall and Gary for your reply and postings, I guess that clearly answers my question about which instruments they may have originally been on.