Can anyone lend a hand and tell me a little bit about this vintage 57 Rickenbacker amp based upon these pics? I'm interested in knowing to what degree this amp is original.
http://www.PictureTrail.com/gid5695935
Thanks all!
1957 Rick M-11 Amp
Moderators: rickenbrother, ajish4
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lhakim
Hi John. I saw that auction on ebay. Congratulations on your getting the M-11. I got the second M-11 on ebay the day your auction ended. Mine was listed as a 1954 based on the speaker code but the volume pots (both Jensens incidently) have 1951 date codes as does the output tranny which I think was made by Forrest.
On mine all of the tone/coupling caps are Astrons, so I think its possible the two red ones on yours (which look like Cornell-Dubilier's) are non-original. I would be curious to know the numbers on your trannies. The seller listed the codes off the pots but I didn't decipher them but if they match within 1 to 2 years the dates on the pots that should help you more accurately date the amp.
One final point--I thought that Rickenbacker had gone to 12A_7 preamp tubes by 1957. I have a friend with a '57 M-11 which also has the larger cab.
I will say this: your M-11 is in much nicer cosmetic shape than mine.
On mine all of the tone/coupling caps are Astrons, so I think its possible the two red ones on yours (which look like Cornell-Dubilier's) are non-original. I would be curious to know the numbers on your trannies. The seller listed the codes off the pots but I didn't decipher them but if they match within 1 to 2 years the dates on the pots that should help you more accurately date the amp.
One final point--I thought that Rickenbacker had gone to 12A_7 preamp tubes by 1957. I have a friend with a '57 M-11 which also has the larger cab.
I will say this: your M-11 is in much nicer cosmetic shape than mine.
I see your M-11 from eBay and it is a nice one!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10171&item=3758691170&rd=1
There are some differences between the amps from electrical and cosmetic perspectives for sure. Looks like you got a real bargain!
I really enjoy the quality of tone these amps produce and at a fraction of what a Tweed Deluxe would cost.
Do you own any other vintage Rick amps?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10171&item=3758691170&rd=1
There are some differences between the amps from electrical and cosmetic perspectives for sure. Looks like you got a real bargain!
I really enjoy the quality of tone these amps produce and at a fraction of what a Tweed Deluxe would cost.
Do you own any other vintage Rick amps?
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lhakim
John I completely agree with you about the great sound of these amps. My other Rick is a 59/60 M-11 I got a year ago. Its kind of an oddball--the pots are 59's, but its housed in the larger M-12 cabinet, and it has a fourth input. When I got it, it had all kind of issues and so I had my amp tech rebuild the circuit to Fender 5E3 specs.
I'm still on the prowl for the earlier version of the M-11 (with the single volume control) that Guitar Player magazine reviewed last year, and then I'll be done with M-11's.
I'm still on the prowl for the earlier version of the M-11 (with the single volume control) that Guitar Player magazine reviewed last year, and then I'll be done with M-11's.
