Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=41439&item=3776544675&rd=1

Perhaps Mr. Hall can shed some light on this...
sounds like a very unusual one.

Part of the description reads:
This auction is for a used Rickenbacker prototype guitar. It was built by Forrest White back around 1971 and is one of two made. The other is hanging in the Rickenbacker Museum. The serial number is KF311. This guitar is all original with the exception of a Fender Lace Sensor pickup installed in the bridge position.
During it's time as a prototype at the factory this guitar had two different bridges installed and there are several screws in the bridge area used to to fill holes from the other bridge. This is a chance to own a really cool, unique American made instrument. USA bidders only.

This is not my guitar, just saw it and thought it was interesting, if real.

Looks alot like a 250 with a "R" tailpiece and a bowtie bridge.

This guitar was stolen from the factory in a "smash and grab" theft. During the night, thieves drove a pickup truck through the front glass at the factory and grabbed a handful of instruments from the first rooms which happened to be where prototypes were stored, and were gone within a minute.

Many of these were subsequently recovered from pawn shops throughout So. California, including the Music Man prototype and others made by Forrest but a few, like this one never surfaced.

Nothing to be done about it at this point obviously.

At least now we know where it is...what a sad story, John. Thank you for sharing that. Perhaps the current owner could be swayed into returning it to its rightful place...

Re J. Hall comment " Nothing to be done about it at this point obviously ".

I know laws vary by country, etc. but this is always something I have wondered about. If you have a guitar stolen and there are no insurance claims involved, when does it cease to be yours legally if it resurfaces ? Anyone have any experiences along this line ?
This is not a issue for me at the moment but always something I have wondered about.
My personal opinion is that it would belong to the person it was stolen from until they relinquish ownership in some manner. But then not being a lawyer my opinion is probably different from the realities of the situation.

I emailed the seller and asked him how he came to acquire this guitar, being a prototype and all. Interested to see the response...

Knowing the story behind this I sure wouldn't want to own it.

I would much rather have a 620 anyway

How long ago did this happen Mr Hall?

I would have to assume that this issue has already been well-researched by RIC lawyers and John's statement is the sum total of their opinions.

I believe it was 1984 or 1985. There's a police report on file here somewhere but it's probably not worth the effort to spend the time to find it given the span of time.

I was also thinking a bit more about this- there was a later theft over there at the old factory (i.e. prior to Dec. 1989 when we moved) and it might have been in that one instead. Again most goods were recovered in the end and the thief was caught in that instance.

It is a shame that this guitar is able to be left in public hands, instead of with Ric where it belongs.

It would be nice if the seller would return the guitar to its rightful place. Very possible he has no idea it was stolen.

He knows.

Then I shouldn't expect a response to my question of how he got it, then...

The original Police report & guitar's serial # should prove ownership, or has time run out on Statute of Limitations?