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Author
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Topic: Strange Rick tailpiece....
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Eric Stumpf
Member From: Newbury, NH 03255
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posted 28 February 2002 05:18 PM
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Look at this D-6 Rick and tell me what's up with the tailpiece. You'll notice that it's notched out for 7 strings and yet the bridge saddle is for 6 strings (that don't even go into the notches)...instead, they go through the body pre-war style. Was this original? http://www.elderly.com/vintage/items/185U-129.htm |
Brad Bechtel
Moderator From: San Francisco, CA
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posted 28 February 2002 05:26 PM
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That's a weird one, all right. I'd guess that Rickenbacker had an excess inventory of seven string tailpieces and came up with a way to use them.
Nice looking guitar otherwise. ------------------
Brad's Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars |
Ray Montee
Member From: Portland, OR, USA
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posted 28 February 2002 10:05 PM
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I just double checked my own dbl-8 which is identical to the overall model shown. Mine of course has the 8 string unit bolted next to the pickup. I too, have never seen the attachment that is shown in the photo's.
Interesting..... |
Jeff Watson
Member From: Palos Verdes, CA, USA
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posted 28 February 2002 10:14 PM
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I,ve got one of these and think of it as a cross between a bakelite Rick and a Fender console. The horseshoe pickups were modified from the bakelite design. If it was just the windings or more I don't know, maybe Jason could answer? Rickenbacher wanted to get a brighter tone and thats what you get. Between the wood console and I suppose to some extent the metal bridge and nut, these things sustain forever. They also stay in tune. I,ve seen them for less but thats not a bad price and you don't see many of them. |
Jason Lollar
Member From: Seattle area
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posted 01 March 2002 08:40 AM
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I have had those period pickups in. You can see a brass lug in the bobbin if you look at the space between the magnets. Thats where the end of the coil is soldered to the lead wire. Not much difference in the pickups as far as the size of the bobbin but that period used a smaller gauge wire with more turns than the earlier stuff. Those are pretty good sounding pickups, I have a set, not too crazy about the orange finish though! |
Brandin
Member From: Newport Beach CA. USA
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posted 01 March 2002 09:07 AM
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I also have a D-8 wood Ric. They do have a nice fat tone, and as Jeff said; "These things sustain forever". I'd like to find a S-10 version of this guitar. |
chas smith
Member From: Encino, CA, USA
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posted 01 March 2002 12:37 PM
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Gary, I have one, but its covered with autographs. |
Gerald Ross
Member From: Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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posted 02 March 2002 03:15 PM
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Well guys and gals... I just bought this guitar. I went to Elderly this morning and picked it up. It's awesome. Yes it sustains forever. Both pickups put out more ummphhh than my Bakelite (time to ship my Bakelite to Jason Lollar). My initial gut feeling about the tone is that it's a cross between a Bakelite and a Stringmaster, leaning more towards a Bakelite with it's fat bottom end. The design of the body is definitely Stringmaster inspired. Sometimes when I play a 2 or 3 note chord I get almost a chorus effect (is this the elusive Rickenbacker "moan"?) The guitar is in remarkably good shape for being a 1957 vintage. No major dings or scratches. A few very very minor scratches that may easily be covered by a toned polish. No it's not orange. It's more of a cherry or rosewood finish, very attractive. Thanks to Gary Brandin and Jeff Watson for your emails convincing me to buy this guitar. Now I've got to get a stand-up Hawaiian gig. ------------------
Gerald Ross
Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website
[This message was edited by Gerald Ross on 02 March 2002 at 03:16 PM.] |
Brad Bechtel
Moderator From: San Francisco, CA
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posted 02 March 2002 04:57 PM
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Congratulations on the purchase! I hope you'll be very happy with it. |
Andy Volk
Member From: Boston, MA
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posted 02 March 2002 06:02 PM
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Looks like a cool steel, Gerald. Enjoy it!
I've never seen another one other than in the old catalogs. You usually only see the single-neck Jerry Byrd models turn up. |
Michael Brebes
Member From: Northridge CA
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posted 04 March 2002 08:43 AM
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I've got an S8, same vintage as the guitar in question. The "string-thru" sure looks like a modification done by someone other than Rickenbacker. The holes are not lined up perfectly in line and it looks like the bottom was cut away to clear for the holes. Mine strings through the plate on the end of the body and, like has been mentioned, is very warm and sustains forever. I've got a 40's metal body that sounds like a tin can compared to this thing. |
Gerald Ross
Member From: Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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posted 04 March 2002 09:02 AM
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I don't think the string-thru is an after market mod. Look at this link:
http://www.rickenbacker.com/images/cf57-10.jpg Enlarge the picture, you can see holes for the strings. Also, Elderly's picture angle skewed the location of the holes a bit. In reality they are perfectly placed and accurately drilled. I think it's all original. I don't really care either way but the workmanship doesn't look like a home job. ------------------
Gerald Ross
Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website
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Bill Leff
Member From: Santa Cruz, CA, USA
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posted 04 March 2002 09:39 AM
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Nice score Gerald. Now I want (make mine an 8-string please). With the price of Stringmasters these days, I'll be able to sell my (Stringmaster) and buy 2. |
Michael Brebes
Member From: Northridge CA
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posted 05 March 2002 08:51 AM
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The picture definitely shows you're right. The EC picture definitely did give the impression that they weren't exactly straight. It's got me thinking about doing some aftermarket drilling on mine, to get that extra through-the-body feel. The SW 8 looks like mine except that mine has the plate over the back, like the DW 8, where the strings string thru, but I don't have any holes. If I want to do it, I'll have to make my own. Mine is a nice blond color. |
Sage
Member From: Boulder, Colorado
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posted 05 March 2002 07:45 PM
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Very nice instrument, Gerald!
About 12 years ago I spotted a triple neck version of the same thing in a pawn shop in Loveland CO. My teacher (the late Joe Byers) ended up buying it. So I know that there were triples made in that series.
Sage Harmos |
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