Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hi All,

I've just become a forum member having lurked about for the past few months. Thanks for your views and great advice on all things Rickenbacker. I hope I can now contribute meaningfully too.

I'm located in Melbourne, Victoria. There are two Rickenbackers in my collection at the moment and a third on it's way. The first is my 1992 Model 340-12 in Fireglo. The second is my pride and joy...an April 1965 Export Model 1998 also in Fireglo. It's date of manufacture is two months before mine! On the way from the US is a 1966 Model 360-12, you guess it, in Fireglo. I'll post some photos once I can resize them.

Later this year I'm travelling to the East Coast of the US, primarily to go guitar huntin'. The range of Rickenbackers is just so much greater than what we have here in Australia. I'm going to attend the Summer Philly Vintage Guitar Expo, which just happens to be on my 40th birthday. Hopefully I can come home with a 1959-60 Capri and maybe a mid 60's 460!

Peter McC, thanks for providing such a great "virtual-venue" for us all to share our Rickenbacker passion.

Cheers, Darren

Welcome to the forum from another Melbournite, Darren.

You may be new to the forum but you're certainly not new to Rics!

When did you get your first one?

I've loved Rics from afar for 40 odd years (that's about 40 years, not 40 odd years....well, maybe...) and got my first Tuesday this week - a 330FG (vintage pups). You seem to like the fireglo!

When you get the 360/12 I'd be interested to hear your comparison with the 340/12. I'll be looking for a 12 string later in the year - 340/350V63/360/370/620/660. However, with what's available here I may have to wait a lot longer.

The trip sounds great. I guess 'guitar huntin' is a hell of a lot more fun than shopping at Coles. Do you pack a 12 gauge to help convince the seller to actually let go if it?

Looking forward to the pics.

Cheers

It would be very cool to know there was a 50's Capri here in Aus. So far I think most oldies are Rose Morris 64's or later. I did hear of a '63 model 900 in SA some years ago. I have 3 x '64 Rose Morris Rics. Sadly no 12 string among them, but recently I brought in a lovely '91 360/12v63 and have been delighted with it.

I'm working on trying to get a 50's combo down here. Maybe a '58 combo400 or 450. Btw, if you'd like to get an improvement on the pickup selections of your 340 drop me a line.

Howard & Glen,

Thanks for your comments. Both the 340/12 and the 1998 were eBay purchases....you gotta love the Buy It Now option!

I'll be keeping my fingers crossed that the Aussie dollar holds up against the US Greenback
still in June.

I'm going to be staying with a close friend in New Jersey. He lives about 10 minutes drive away from "Pick of The Ricks" - a shop devoted primarily to Rickenbackers. Imagine that...an entire shop of Rickenbackers, whereas we have to put up with the occassional one or two now and then!

As promised, I've finally managed to resize some photos of my Ricks. Thanks to all before me who provided tips on doing this. First shot is my 1965 Export Model 1998 in Fireglo (two months to go until she turns 40 years old!) and the second is my 1992 Model 340-12. Cheers!

Beautiful guitars, Darren!

I wouldn't expect to find your Capri at any guitar show. Guitar shows ain't what they used to be, pre-eBay! Last one I attended ("World's Largest! Thousands of Punters!") had about two thousand each of Str***, Te***, L** P****, PR*, and about seven beat and overpriced rockabilly wife clubs. One solitary 450-6 with an Electro nameplate sat in the corner, priced at US$750.00. But a Capri?

Good luck, though!!

Lovely stuff, Darren. I haven't exposed mine to the sun yet but I will when I try to take some better pics.

Cheers

Darren, really love the '65, love 'em both, fantastic looking'. And welcome aboard.