A *CLEAN* Ric non-pedal

Curt Langston · Post by **Curt Langston** » 29 Nov 2006 3:11 pm

Right here!
I never saw one in such good shape. What is the average value of one like this?[This message was edited by Curt Langston on 29 November 2006 at 03:12 PM.]

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 29 Nov 2006 3:48 pm

Pretty beefy-looks like you'd need to load that into your vehicle with a forklift!

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Mark

Mark White · Post by **Mark White** » 29 Nov 2006 4:31 pm

I've played this guitar, whoever ends up with it will be VERY happy.

Gary Lynch · Post by **Gary Lynch** » 29 Nov 2006 5:49 pm

I hope you are right, becasue that would be ME! It was too sweet to pass up.

Thank you.

Billy Wilson · Post by **Billy Wilson** » 29 Nov 2006 5:59 pm

I have one just like it. Played it for years. Great sounding steel. I found it at Tall Toad Music in Petaluma. I was just by there the ohter day and I think I counted four steels in the display window!!

Gary Lynch · Post by **Gary Lynch** » 29 Nov 2006 6:06 pm

I have never seen one. The price was right. Fenders are really expensive and the horseshoes may be a great change in sound. I can always find a Fender but not a Ric. I'm STOKED!

Edward Meisse · Post by **Edward Meisse** » 29 Nov 2006 6:06 pm

Tall Toad always has several. I haven't been by there in awhile. It must be time.

Gary Lynch · Post by **Gary Lynch** » 29 Nov 2006 6:41 pm

Go for it. All the clean ones are being snatched up as I type.

Mark White · Post by **Mark White** » 29 Nov 2006 7:25 pm

Gary,
This is a beautiful guitar with great, rich tone. I'm sure you'll love it. Joe is a great guy to deal with. I wish I was bringing it home! No worries, you're going to have a very Merry Christmas

Edited to say: Congratulations![This message was edited by Mark White on 29 November 2006 at 07:32 PM.]

Robbie Daniels · Post by **Robbie Daniels** » 30 Nov 2006 8:08 am

I have a 1956 just like it, but is a darker shade of brown. I play it regularly and love it. The scale is 22.5" and is easy to make slants and has a great tone. I love it and wouldn't sell for anything.

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Carter D12, MSA D12, 1956 Rickenbacker D8, Evans FET 500LV, Evans SE200

Gary Lynch · Post by **Gary Lynch** » 30 Nov 2006 8:45 am

Robbie,

Have you seen any literature on these? And also, how can it be dated?

Is this one a 50's or 60's

Thanks,
Gary

Update; I found one that looks just like it listed in their 1968 catalog but they show up starting in 1956 and keep changing until 1968. I would assume this one was built sometime in the 60's. Rickenbacker's online site has a great history section link where you can view their old catalogs.[This message was edited by Gary Lynch on 30 November 2006 at 09:20 AM.]

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 30 Nov 2006 9:18 am

Rickenbacker has lots of literature on their web site under the History link.
I see no reason to doubt that this was made in the 1960s as advertised, but you could contact Rickenbacker directly if you're not sure.

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Brad's Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 30 Nov 2006 10:59 am

That guitar is from the 60's. I have one just like it. It is not that heavy, it is sort of hollowed out on the bottom side. I also believe, that unlike the earlier models, the pickups are not the TRUE horshoe pickups. If you look closely at the various Richenbacker pictures, you can see the difference in the models (and I'm not talking about the girls either). Irregardless, however, it is a nice guitar.

Gary Lynch · Post by **Gary Lynch** » 30 Nov 2006 11:02 am

I am aware the the pre-war pickup had a larger magnet. What would not be 'true' about these except for a smaller magnet?

I examined all the images on their web page but cannot see any difference in the pickup from those photos? The mount looks the same. What looks different? Brad would know I bet.[This message was edited by Gary Lynch on 30 November 2006 at 11:07 AM.][This message was edited by Gary Lynch on 30 November 2006 at 11:08 AM.]

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 30 Nov 2006 11:27 am

Gary,
From what I can tell, the horshoe part is just a dummy over the pickup. I doubt if it is even magnetized. It is very similiar to the Frypan made by Jerry Byrd and Shot Jackson. That guitar didn't have a "real" horshoe pickup on it either.

Gary Lynch · Post by **Gary Lynch** » 30 Nov 2006 11:31 am

Well, I guess it would make a good handrest. It would be easy to tell if it is magnetized or not. Also, would a new horseshoe built by a few different people now, fit right into that housing?

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 30 Nov 2006 11:40 am

I've never seen a Rick box-console (Model 200?) without any trim on the edges? Any chance this is a new body someone has made?

Anyhow, I always liked the DW model (contoured) styling better...

<[This message was edited by Donny Hinson on 30 November 2006 at 11:45 AM.]

Gary Lynch · Post by **Gary Lynch** » 30 Nov 2006 11:44 am

Here you go, from their 1968 catalog. By this time they were looking more like a pedal steel which was becoming very popular.
http://www.rickenbacker.com/catalog_poster_piece.asp?poster_piece=cf68-8.jpg

Gary Lynch · Post by **Gary Lynch** » 30 Nov 2006 11:46 am

This page shows a steel more like yours.
http://www.rickenbacker.com/catalog_poster_piece.asp?poster_piece=cf57-10.jpg

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 30 Nov 2006 11:50 am

Hmm...well, that answers the trim thing. But the one Curt pictured has no angle on the legs?

I guess that like Fender, Rickenbacker had many, many little changes through the years!

Gary Lynch · Post by **Gary Lynch** » 30 Nov 2006 11:51 am

I have an email out to the man who runs the Rickenbacker Forum. I figure he will know, or know someone, who is an expert on the pickups. From my experience, most quality 1960's pickups sound great. I just bought a Melobar lap steel from the 70's and it's sounds real good to me.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 30 Nov 2006 12:00 pm

Donny,
The model with the trim around the cabinet is from the 50's. The model we are discussing shows up in the 1968 catalog.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 30 Nov 2006 12:09 pm

I had a Triple 8 just like yours. The magnets were for real. I'm certain yours is the real deal and not a faux magnet.[This message was edited by Mike Neer on 30 November 2006 at 12:20 PM.]

Gary Lynch · Post by **Gary Lynch** » 30 Nov 2006 12:51 pm

I am amazed how many non pedal steels were built during the time of the Rock N Roll era. By 1954, Rock and Rockabilly was really starting to go and we all know what happened after that. Besides the tune 'Sleepwalk' I never heard any steel playing on the radio in California yet only a few miles from my birth town of La Habra, Fender was pumping out non pedals at a fairly brisk pace. The guitar was the big deal yet non pedals were going somewhere?. I am amazed at the number of builders who were making them in the quantity we now find showing up.

Gary Lynch · Post by **Gary Lynch** » 30 Nov 2006 2:06 pm

If anyone is interested, I have found this information. It appears the 1 1/4" horseshoe was used on the steels up until 1971. Then was replaced by the TOASTER style that does not look anything like the horseshoe.

General Rickenbacker Specs.

Pickups
1932 to 1943: Horseshoe pickup, 1 1/2" wide, magnet wraps over strings.
1946 to 1971: Horseshoe pickup, 1 1/4" wide, magnet wraps over strings. Discontinued on most models in 1957 and replaced by the Toaster pickup. But some lapsteels still used the Horseshoe pickup until 1971.
1957 to 1970: "Toaster" pickup, looks like the top of a bread toaster. The classic Rickenbacker pickup that produces sound most associated with Rickenbackers.

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A CLEAN Ric non-pedal

A CLEAN Ric non-pedal