What Rickenbacker model is this?

Noah Miller · Post by **Noah Miller** » 26 Jun 2011 8:54 am

I just purchased this console, and I should get it early next week. The seller described it as a '54-'61 DW, but it doesn't look like any DW I've ever seen. For that matter, it doesn't match any Rick model I've been able to find either in photos, Gruhn's Guide or old catalogs. I'm guessing from the case that it's from the early '50s. Could it be a 208 without the steel trim and a different control plate? Maybe a prototype?

Dave Mayes · Post by **Dave Mayes** » 26 Jun 2011 9:25 am

Hey Noah,
From a quick google "images" search you'll find a 208 that was built without the metal trim. Yours might be a very early model as it has the strings-through the body feature. I'm just guessing. Could be a winner!

S.M. Johnson · Post by **S.M. Johnson** » 26 Jun 2011 10:15 am

That double neck model is similar in detailing to JERRY BYRD's (model) single, stand-alone model, with the burlap or whatever extending across the front lower part of the panel. Just like the one he played for several years on the Bobby Lord television series and on his "Memories of Maria" album.
An acquaintance of mine had a dark wood, LONG SCALE of the same model that he sold to one of our SGF Members down in the SFO area. He claims it was a great instrument with all of the Ric pluses.
Is yours LONG or SHORT SCALE?

Noah Miller · Post by **Noah Miller** » 26 Jun 2011 10:23 am

I saw that pic of the 208, but I wasn't sure if it was the same model because the control plate and talipiece is different. Did they change it at some point?

Mine is the short 22.5" scale. I specifically went for a short-scale steel because I'm used to playing a 23" Valco.

Mark Durante · Post by **Mark Durante** » 28 Jun 2011 2:59 am

It is not a DW. A serial number might help date it. They started using tuner covers like yours in 1955. Does it have a name plate/logo on it?
Rickenbacker variations from that era are common, they were a small operation back then.

Noah Miller · Post by **Noah Miller** » 28 Jun 2011 4:46 am

This is the only photo I have, but I'll post more when it arrives to answer your questions. (I got a detailed description over the phone of all the important features, so it's not like I'm going into this blind).

Robbie Daniels · Post by **Robbie Daniels** » 29 Jun 2011 11:00 am

I used to have a Rickenbacker that looked just like the one shown and mine was a 1956 D8 non-pedal Rickenbacker. Great tone.

Noah Miller · Post by **Noah Miller** » 5 Jul 2011 5:33 pm

The steel arrived today, and it sounds fantastic. However, after looking it over, I'm now less sure as to its identity. I've noticed a series of features suggesting that this might be a very early 208 or even a prototype; unfortunately, the pot codes are nearly unreadable due to solder and oxidation. I'm not very knowledgeable about Rics, so please do correct me if any of these are actually mundane.

First of all, there is no serial number anywhere. Second, there is barely 1/4" difference in height between the two necks, which appears to be less than the difference on any other Ric steel I've seen. Also, there is no bevel on the edge of the upper neck; this, too, seems to be unique for Ric steels without metal trim. Third, the steel has a factory setup for either three or four legs (it came with four, which appear to be original). Fourth, it appears that no nameplate was ever attached to the instrument, and there's no evidence of paint or a decal either. Finally, while I've noticed a variety of bridge/tailpiece combinations over the '50s and '60s, I've never seen another wood-body Ric console with strings that go through the body.

Can anyone make better sense of this?

Steve Ahola · Post by **Steve Ahola** » 8 Jul 2011 12:56 am

My guess (completely uneducated) is that someone built it using Ric parts- perhaps salvaged from a double neck model that the body was all screwed up? Or possibly a prototype made by Rickenbacker.

Steve Ahola

Noah Miller · Post by **Noah Miller** » 8 Jul 2011 5:48 am

Steve Ahola wrote:My guess (completely uneducated) is that someone built it using Ric parts- perhaps salvaged from a double neck model that the body was all screwed up? Or possibly a prototype made by Rickenbacker.

I raised the issue on the Rickenbacker forum, and both these possibilities came up. No definitive answers, though. I'm leaning towards a prototype because of the lack of a serial number and the extra leg socket, and because I don't know why anyone would spend so much money on parts and not just buy a production instrument. I'm satisfied either way, though, because even if it is a homemade affair, it still has the classic Rick sound.

Tom Pettingill · Post by **Tom Pettingill** » 8 Jul 2011 7:15 am

Interesting that it has a setup for either 3 or 4 legs. That requires an extra bracket and probably not a feature that your average home shop craftsman would go to the trouble of adding.

Steve Ahola · Post by **Steve Ahola** » 8 Jul 2011 10:55 pm

Tom Pettingill wrote:Interesting that it has a setup for either 3 or 4 legs. That requires an extra bracket and probably not a feature that your average home shop craftsman would go to the trouble of adding.

Unless he tried it out with 3 legs first and then decided it really needed 4.
But I agree that it is probably a prototype from the factory. Actually if it was a home builder how would he have found a double leg bracket that just happened to match the single leg bracket? And found an extra leg which just happened to match the others (or a set of 4 with the correct thread)? I do believe that the double leg bracket was added as an afterthought, judging by the rougher chisel marks around it.

The Steel Guitar Forum

What Rickenbacker model is this?

What Rickenbacker model is this?

Just a tho't.................

More questions