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Topic: My tin rick |
c c johnson
From:
killeen,tx usa * R.I.P.
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Posted 23 Apr 2004 12:08 pm |
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| In 1957 I was in a hock shop looking for a set of Brittanicas and I spotted what appeared to be a small steel guitar on a back shelf. It was a tin rick which had been painted pea green, the magnet aluminum, and the strgs were coated with rust. The clerk said that a Ft Hood soldier had hocked it in 1942 before going overseas and had never came back for it. He wanted $40 for it but we arrived at $25. I removed the green paint and exposed the beautiful dark gray with the light gray sunburst on the front and back. The sound left alot to be desired and finally I heard of Rick Aiello on the forum. Rick thought this was a POST war SN. I located the orig owner of the hock shop a few days ago and he remembered the soldier. He hocked this in 1947 on his way to occupation duty in Germany. I sent the guts to Rick and he refurbished all for me. I received them today, installed, strung it up to B11 and hit "Sand" and this baby growled at me all the way. You Rick owners know what I mean by the GROWL. I now have a fine little tin Rick thanks to Rick and his craftmanship. Best little $25 guitar I've ever had. |
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Bill Leff
From:
Santa Cruz, CA, USA
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Posted 23 Apr 2004 12:32 pm
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Congratulations on your new/old Ric!
My she growl (and moan) for many years to come.  |
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Rick Aiello
From:
Berryville, VA USA
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Rick Aiello
From:
Berryville, VA USA
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Posted 1 May 2004 8:36 am
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CC, how 'bout this one ...
I don't know the story behind these "Siamese Twins" ... but I couldn't resist.
I figure its probably a "student model" D6 NS that never took off ????
Doesn't seem to be an aftermarket "cut/paste" job ... the grey sunburst enamel is too continous ... ???
Anyway, still tryin' to "perfect" the badge/logo .. got all the detail ... just working on the color scheme. I'll send you one when I'm happy with 'em.
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Russ Young
From:
Seattle, Washington, USA
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Posted 1 May 2004 8:47 am
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Rick -- Gruhn's lists an "NS style" doubleneck ("stamped body, metal necks") that was introduced in 1942 and discontinued by 1953.
It looks as if you have the first one I've seen ... |
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Rick Aiello
From:
Berryville, VA USA
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Posted 1 May 2004 8:52 am
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I saw one once on ebay ... but, I think this might be that same one.
I just got it from forum member Steve Stallings ... 
I'm very excited about it ... it hasn't arrived yet.
I love the hollow bodied Rickys ... |
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c c johnson
From:
killeen,tx usa * R.I.P.
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Posted 1 May 2004 10:43 am
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| Rick, I saw one of these in 1945 in the window of St Louis Music co on Grand Ave. Too broke to buy it. I also wanted the bell brass dobro in the window but I did not have the $118 to buy it. I should have been born rich instead of so good lookin. The tin Rick is still moanin and groanin. Reminds me of this gal----Ah forget it. cc |
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George Keoki Lake
From:
Edmonton, AB., Canada
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Posted 8 May 2004 8:25 am
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| Gee, CC...please tell us about THAT girl ! Ya got us all excited now ! |
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Chuck McGill
From:
An hour from Memphis and 2 from Nashville, R.I.P.
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Posted 8 May 2004 11:10 am
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What is bakalite worth in good shape with case?
Thanks |
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Russ Young
From:
Seattle, Washington, USA
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Posted 8 May 2004 11:13 am
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Chuck -- That can vary widely, depending on the number of strings (7-strings tend to command a premium price) and whether it is "pre-war" or "post-war."
Are you asking about a specific guitar?[This message was edited by Russ Young on 08 May 2004 at 12:14 PM.] |
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c c johnson
From:
killeen,tx usa * R.I.P.
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Posted 8 May 2004 11:48 am
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| Sorry Keoki, this is a family forum. My only comment is she loved F#m. CC |
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Chuck McGill
From:
An hour from Memphis and 2 from Nashville, R.I.P.
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Posted 10 May 2004 5:21 am
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You know I think this body is metal. It's
black with white on the front and a small
rick logo on the headstock. Where would you
look for a serial no? It's a 6 str.[This message was edited by Chuck McGill on 10 May 2004 at 06:23 AM.] |
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Russ Young
From:
Seattle, Washington, USA
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Posted 10 May 2004 6:01 am
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Chuck: As far as I know, Rickenbacher/Rickenbacker did not have a serial number system for lap steels. (Rick A., correct me if I'm wrong!)
Does it look like this? That's metal ...
Or this? That's Bakelite. A magnet will easily tell you the difference between the two, but keep it away from the pickup!
Also, visit Rick's "museum." You'll find a wealth of information about a wide variety of Rick(enb) lap steels.
[This message was edited by Russ Young on 10 May 2004 at 07:03 AM.] |
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Chuck McGill
From:
An hour from Memphis and 2 from Nashville, R.I.P.
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Posted 10 May 2004 8:42 am
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Russ
Thanks for the info. This is all new to me.
Seems I have a pre war bakelite with case. |
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Russ Young
From:
Seattle, Washington, USA
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Posted 10 May 2004 6:06 pm
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Well then, Chuck -- I guess I should be the first to say, "you lucky dog!"
One or two knobs? If two, are they on opposite sides of the body? |
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Chuck McGill
From:
An hour from Memphis and 2 from Nashville, R.I.P.
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Posted 11 May 2004 2:56 am
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Russ. What you said about the knobs made me
look again and I believe its a Wartime in the 40's. What value? |
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Bill Creller
From:
Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)
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Posted 11 May 2004 2:48 pm
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Rick is DA MAN who knows. The only Rickenbachers I have seen with s/n are old frypans (mine is 124) The numbers don't seem to be continous, and I have heard they may be just numbers in a particular production run (????) I fixed up some frypans,some were post war, and only one post-war had a serial number. Some guy by the name of Richard Choy assembled some post-war frypans, but how many etc. I don't know. Some people assume that all post-war frypans were "choy", but the Ric catalog from 1956 shows an A22 with a black plastic fretboard, along with their D8 models etc.
Bill |
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Rick Aiello
From:
Berryville, VA USA
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Posted 11 May 2004 3:39 pm
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Here's a good Serial Number thread.
Its alot more reliable to use "features" of bakelite models to get close to their "Birth Days" ... since every couple years they changed something up 
As far as "Wartimes" prices ... I heard of one goin' for about $1K ... right Andy
In good shape, anything under $800 or so would be a good find.
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www.horseshoemagnets.com |
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Rick Aiello
From:
Berryville, VA USA
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Posted 12 May 2004 2:44 pm
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CC & Russ, the "Siamese Twins" came today ...
The most bizarre steel guitar I've ever seen.
"June 10, 1946" The Bulletin ... Huntington Park, CA 
Ain't nobody been inside that rascal since then.
No neck selector ... thats gonna change at the expense of the tone control (some kinda rotating switch ) ...
The "half moon" mounting plates sit on top of each other at the joint ... gonna fashion something abit more stable ...
All in all ... Freakish ... but really cool
Thanks Steve S. ... The magnets charged up very well
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www.horseshoemagnets.com |
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Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Posted 12 May 2004 3:45 pm
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| Yep, 1K. Sniff. |
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Michael Brebes
From:
Northridge CA
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Posted 13 May 2004 6:55 am
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Rick, if you want to keep the tone control, then replace one of the pots with a pot that has a pull switch on it. Pull the knob up- it's one neck. Push the knob down- it's the other. You can get the pots with the pull switch from www.stewmac.com
That way you can "have your cake and eat it too"! |
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Rick Aiello
From:
Berryville, VA USA
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Posted 13 May 2004 7:16 am
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I do like cake
Thanks for the tip |
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