Rickenbacher D16

Richard Sevigny · Post by **Richard Sevigny** » 28 Jun 2008 5:46 pm

At least that's what I think it's called...

I was having my yearly yard sale and was playing on of my old Supros to pass the time when a someone walked in and said "hey, that's a steel guitar" and then proceeded to tell me he'd come in posession of a doubleneck Ric that someone was just going to take to the dump. He's a fiddler and not too inclined to learn another instrument at the moment. Anyway he's lent it to me for a few days and mentioned wanting $300-400 for it.

At that price I'm tempted to go for it.

The body is cast aluminium and the necks are bakelite, one volume and one tone(tone pot works a intermittently), no switching, one and a half inch pickups. Rickenbacher spelled with an "H".

Any info on the age and appropriateness of the price (I think it's a good deal, but I could be wrong) would be appreciated.

Cheers,

Richard
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John Bechtel · Post by **John Bechtel** » 28 Jun 2008 7:33 pm

If it's a Double–8, Buy-It-Now and think about it later!

Don Kona Woods · Post by **Don Kona Woods** » 28 Jun 2008 8:22 pm

If it's a Double–8, Buy-It-Now and think about it later!

Ditto!!

And offer him $300 reluctantly, since he said he wants between $300-$400.

Aloha,

Don

George Keoki Lake · Post by **George Keoki Lake** » 28 Jun 2008 9:34 pm

My Gawd! Don't let it go to the dump ! Grab it and pay the $300.00 You cannot and will not lose.

Rick Alexander · Post by **Rick Alexander** » 28 Jun 2008 10:06 pm

Better listen to these guys Richard - they know what they're talking about.
Buy it and run!!!

The "h" means pre-war (ie WW2)

John Bechtel · Post by **John Bechtel** » 28 Jun 2008 11:15 pm

Sorry! You're too late! I already bought it! _ _ _ Just kidding! Go get it!!!

George Keoki Lake · Post by **George Keoki Lake** » 29 Jun 2008 12:22 am

Hey John...Tell you what: I'll have you a race as to see who gets to Salmon Arm, BC first to get that guitar from the grip of Richard. You live in far off Nashville, I'm in Edmonton...not too distant from Salmon Arm. I'll give you a head start. Leave right now, I'll leave in the morning and beat you to Richard's home with the $300.00 in my hot grimey hands !

John Bechtel · Post by **John Bechtel** » 29 Jun 2008 8:08 am

OK Keoki, my fat~butt is on the way! Do you think Richard will take the hint and make the purchase before either of us get there?

Ron Whitfield · Post by **Ron Whitfield** » 29 Jun 2008 8:15 am

I was just checking one of these out at a local shop yeaterday, it had issues, but was still going for 1K to the general public.

Some sound great and some are just OK, but even the OK ones can be made to sound better with an EQ.

Richard Sevigny · Post by **Richard Sevigny** » 29 Jun 2008 9:03 am

George, John... I get the hint...

Thanks for the replies so far.

I thought the "h" was associated with pre WWII models but I guess I'm still in shock that something like this would land in my lap. I also don't want to open it up and check the pot codes until I own it (which I guess will be sooner than later...

)

I guess I better go rob the bank before the guy change his mind. $:\$

Don Kona Woods · Post by **Don Kona Woods** » 29 Jun 2008 9:16 am

I guess I better go rob the bank before the guy change his mind.

Yeah, and after you go to jail, think of how much practice time you could get on your D-8 Rickenbacher.

On the other hand I would suggest that you borrow the money from all of your friends. Then you can see what kind of friends you have.

Aloha,

Don

George Keoki Lake · Post by **George Keoki Lake** » 29 Jun 2008 9:49 am

I still find it difficult to understand why anyone in their right mind would even consider sending it to the dump...surely the idiot must have realized it is a musical instrument ? No accounting for some people.

Anyway Richard, since you will acquire it, no point for Big John or myself to go racing to Salmon Arm. Have fun and enjoy a relic !

Richard Sevigny · Post by **Richard Sevigny** » 30 Jun 2008 9:11 am

...and the drama continues.

Talked to the guy yesterday. He'd had a chance to do a little research on the 'net and found out the true value of his instrument. He sees an opportunity to upgrade his fiddle. Can't say I'm surprised. $:\$

Can't say I blame him either

We're still talking and the Ric is still on loan to me for another day or so. I can't afford the full price and have told him so.

Keep ya's posted...

John Bechtel · Post by **John Bechtel** » 30 Jun 2008 9:18 am

Remember my first Post? “If it's a Double-8, Buy-It-Now and think about it later”? Maybe next time! Well, at least you still have a Friend! Maybe that's worth more than the Instrument!

Bill Wynne · Post by **Bill Wynne** » 30 Jun 2008 10:04 am

I concur with all of the above.

I got mine on eBay for exactly $400. I was the only bidder and there was no reserve. The seller was incredulous that he got no action on such a beauty. After it was delivered, I informed him that he did not spell "Rickenbacker" by any of the known conventions of spelling that word. I found it by accident.

Phill Martin · Post by **Phill Martin** » 1 Jul 2008 12:07 am

Richard, I will kick in the first $20 to help close the gap between what you have and what this guy wants for the d-16. Are there any others out there to pledge so Rick can get a Ricky?

Richard Sevigny · Post by **Richard Sevigny** » 1 Sep 2008 3:12 pm

...finally!

The seller was having no luck finding a fiddle in his price range (all the fiddles he wanted were over 2Gs) so we shook hands on a price we both could live with (and I'd found some money in the meantime...)

Here's some pics...

...and my question: is it or is it not a pre-war rick??

Ian McLatchie · Post by **Ian McLatchie** » 1 Sep 2008 4:02 pm

1-1/4" pickup + tailpiece + T-bar logo = Post-war.

John Bechtel · Post by **John Bechtel** » 1 Sep 2008 5:13 pm

The difference with my DW~16 is that my guitar is one solid constructed body, similar to the Fender Dual~Pro. Your tailpieces have 8-slots, but; mine have only 7-slots. For 8-string models, my strings come up through the body just behind the bridge, and with my body construction, my guitar has Tuning-Wells resembling the Fender Stringmaster!

Phill Martin · Post by **Phill Martin** » 1 Sep 2008 7:04 pm

John your d-8 sounds like my d-6. Which is older the ones with the string wells or this one that Richard has pictured here?
thanks

John Bechtel · Post by **John Bechtel** » 1 Sep 2008 7:21 pm

I don't know for sure, but; my best guess is that the one pictured above is the older of the two models. The Tuning-Wells on my guitar are also designed to accept a variation of either 6, 7 or 8 strings. I think mine was designed to be able to use up all parts, before those models were discontinued!!!! My model-design can be of any combination of 6,7or 8 strings!
D–6/6, D–6/7, D–6/8, D–7/7, D–7/8 or D–8/8. I think I have a close-out model! But, I like it!

John Dahms · Post by **John Dahms** » 2 Sep 2008 3:27 am

It looks to me to be a between '46-'49 model. It's only 60 years old now, maybe it will sound good when it ages some.
(Nice find, congrats).

Michael Lee Allen · Post by **Michael Lee Allen** » 2 Sep 2008 8:24 am

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Michael Lee Allen · Post by **Michael Lee Allen** » 2 Sep 2008 8:25 am

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Michael Lee Allen · Post by **Michael Lee Allen** » 2 Sep 2008 8:26 am

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The Steel Guitar Forum

Rickenbacher D16

Rickenbacher D16

CLOSE THE GAP GUY AND GALS!!!!!!!!!!

So I bought it...

Which is older?