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Post new topic 50s-60s Rickenbacker Help
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Author Topic:  50s-60s Rickenbacker Help
Tyler Herrington

 

From:
Kansas, USA
Post  Posted 5 Jun 2019 9:54 am    
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I recently acquired this guitar and i'm having a hard time finding out what exactly it is. From what I have read, this is likely a late 50s-early 60s Rick 100? Does that seem right? The fretboard has fallen off and needs re-attached, any recommendations on what kind of glue to use? Lastly, are these the models that had bridge/intonation issues?
Thanks



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Jack Hanson


From:
San Luis Valley, USA
Post  Posted 5 Jun 2019 4:02 pm    
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First, I would attempt to remove as much of the goop from both the body and the back of the fretboard as possible. Naptha (Ronsonol) should work okay, and shouldn't harm the finish. I would reattach the fretboard with double-stick tape.

Measure the distance from the back end of the nut to the top of the bridge. It's likely in the neighborhood of 22-1/2 inches. Make a small mark on the body on one edge of where the fretboard will sit exactly half the distance between the nut and bridge (likely about 11-1/4 inches. Carefully line up the half-way mark with the center of the 12th fret on the fretboard and reattach.

Good luck!
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Tom Snook

 

From:
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, USA
Post  Posted 6 Jun 2019 5:35 am    
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Of course me being a lazy s0b I would just slap a little contact cement on a couple spots on the steel and a couple on the fretboard and butt it against the nut then just clean off the old glue you can see.itl take 10 min then start playin'that sucker.
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Bill Creller

 

From:
Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)
Post  Posted 7 Jun 2019 10:01 am    
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That fret board is the same as the ones used by the late Elva West, on the guitars he built...Tradewind brand. I have one here, a D-8. Not sure where the fret boards originated..
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Bill Sinclair


From:
Waynesboro, PA, USA
Post  Posted 7 Jun 2019 11:00 am    
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Bill Creller wrote:
That fret board is the same as the ones used by the late Elva West, on the guitars he built...Tradewind brand. I have one here, a D-8. Not sure where the fret boards originated..


Looks like the original Rickenbacker fretboard to me. Maybe that's where Elva got them (or the idea)?

Tyler,
The horseshoe pickup version of this guitar (which is what you have) is generally a well-regarded 6-string. I'm not aware of any intonation problems.
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Ashley Hayes

 

From:
North Carolina, USA
Post  Posted 24 Jun 2019 6:28 am    
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I've got the same Rick with the same problem (following a short trip off the piano to the floor...) That glue is super old and brittle so no surprise. I spent about 10min with a palm sander taking it off the fretboard. Going to use contact cement to put it back on when I get around to it. Let us know if you find out more about yours. I've been having trouble figuring out what model it is. Thanks!
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Bill Sinclair


From:
Waynesboro, PA, USA
Post  Posted 24 Jun 2019 3:48 pm     Re: 50s-60s Rickenbacker Help
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Tyler Herrington wrote:
I recently acquired this guitar and i'm having a hard time finding out what exactly it is. From what I have read, this is likely a late 50s-early 60s Rick 100? Does that seem right?


Yep, a model 100. Here's a thread that I think confirms it:
https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=343690&highlight=rickenbacker+red

Some of them have a metal "Rickenbacker" tag on the front and some have a tag that says "Electro". Some have a slotted headstock (like yours) and some have a solid headstock. Some have a horseshoe pickup and some later ones have a non-horseshoe. Hard to beat the horseshoe in the eighty some years it's been around.
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