Introduction to Rickenbacker

Rickenbacker was the first company to successfully market electric guitars. Pre-WWII lapsteels and pre-WWII spanish models are collectible, but really more for historic reasons than for playing. Post-WWII lapsteels are interesting, but not to the extent of the pre-WWII models.

The most interesting Rickenbackers are the hollowbody models. In particular, the 1958 to pre-June 1964 models with the old style (squared edge) body shape, "stove" or "TV" knobs, and gold pickguard are the most interesting to me personally. The marketplace has a different idea though - The newer 1964 and later hollowbody models with checked binding and sparkle fingerboard inlays are collectible, because of their association with the Beatles, Byrds, and other 1960's super groups (though personally I don't really enjoy these newer models). The "export" models are also collectible.

For the most part, solidbody Rickenbacker guitars are pretty low on the social guitar ladder. They don't really have a "sound", and haven't played a big part in electric musically history. Therefore their values are pretty low.

Always make sure the "neck set" on any Rickenbacker is good. That is, with the playing action set LOW, there should still be at least 1/16" to 1/4" left for the bridge to go lower. If the bridge is down all the way, or the top was routed to recess the bridge (to make it go lower), avoid that Rick! There is no "easy" way to fix this problem; the whole back of the guitar will need to be removed to reset the neck angle. No cheap or easy task (the cost of the repair could be more than the cost of the guitar!). The 1958 Rick 345 pictured here has about 1/8" left to go down, which is fine. Note the "toaster" style pickup.

Here's the inside of a 330/340/360/370 series Rick. The body is a solid piece of wood routed out from the back. Then a separate back is glued on. This is why a neck set is so expensive on these guitars; you must remove the back to reset the neck. So if the bridge has no more downward room, the Rick is essentially trash (the cost of a neck set is often more than the value of the guitar). Rickenbacker painted their rosewood fingerboards with clear lacquer (much like Fender did to their maple fingerboards). Because of this, they can wear much like a Fender fingerboard. But the wear is much less noticable because of the dark rosewood. This guitar is a 1960's Rick 330.

General Rickenbacker Specs

Pickups
o 1932 to 1943: Horseshoe pickup, 1 1/2" wide, magnet wraps over strings.
o 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.
o 1957 to 1970: "Toaster" pickup, looks like the top of a bread toaster. The classic Rickenbacker pickup that produces sound most associated with Rickenbackers.
o 1968 to 1990s: Hi-Gain pickups. Hi-Gain pickups were first introduced on the 381 model in 1968, when the 381 was reintroduced (though some early 1968 model 381 guitars did have Toaster pickups). Other models phased in these pickups in 1969 and 1970. By 1970 most models had Hi-Gain pickups.
o 1960 to present: "Rick-O-Sound" stereo (extra jack) on deluxe models (used Toaster or Hi-Gain pickups, depending on the model/year).

Pickguards.
o 1956 to 1963: Gold back-painted clear Lucite.
o 1964 to present: Thick white plastic.
o 1958 to present: Split level pickguards on hollowbody models.

Knobs.
o 1956 to 1963: "TV" or "Stove" knobs, large diamond gold knobs with raised black thin center section.
o 1964 to present: Black knobs with edge indents.

Trim and Fingerboard Inlays.
o Standard Trim: dot fingerboard inlays, no fingerboard binding.
o 1957 to 1970 Deluxe Trim: Triangle inlay goes completely across fingerboard.
o 1964 to 1970 Deluxe Trim: Sparkle crushed pearl fingerboard inlays.
o 1970 to present Deluxe Trim: Triangle inlay does not extend completely across fingerboard, non-sparkle inlay material.

Logo.
o 1934 to 1949: "Rickenbacher" is spelled with an "h", not "k" in the "bacher" portion of the name.
o 1950 to present: "Rickenbacker" spelled with a "k".

Rickenbacker pre-WW2 Horseshoe pickup.

Finishes.
o 1956 to 1959: Yellow to brown sunburst finish.
o 1960 to present: "Fireglo" sunburst yellow to red.
o 1960 to 1980: "Autumnglo" sunburst red to brown.
o 1958 to present: "Mapleglo" natural finish.

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