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Topic: Transition model Bakelites, ?s. |
Ron Whitfield
From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
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Posted 8 Oct 2004 10:53 am |
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I recently got to enjoy the new purchase of an 8 string Ricky Bakelite by Hawaii's most notorious seven string player.
Having traits of the early and later models, brings the question of, when exactly did Rickenbacher make the change over in body styles?
This particular example may help narrow the field.
A 1938, with strings thru, metal bridge(?!, looks factory), 2nd issue PU(still wide, but thinner, no bracket), 2nd style body(straight neck rails, smaller upper bout, screw on bridge), silver 5 side headstock badge, early tuners, white plastic plates(NAMM?), serial # stamped at end of headstock-C2954, V/T knobs B&W w/opposing B&W indicators on tops.
One of the most unique Rix I've seen, and it sounds as good as it looks.
Secondary question; the vol. pot was changed with one(probably not original) from a fry pan that came on slow and smooth as would a normal 'audio taper', but came on sharp at the start and then graduated nicely. How come? |
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Ray Montee
From:
Portland, Oregon (deceased)
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Posted 8 Oct 2004 12:35 pm
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Was this the same lil' beauty you showed Sally and me a couple of weeks ago?
WE have a Forum member in Montana that has an 8 string offering both thro' the body and tail piece, etc. He might have some facts to share. |
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Ron Whitfield
From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
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Posted 8 Oct 2004 12:50 pm
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No Ray, this one doesn't belong to me (BWAAAAA!), but you know the new owner.
It's in real nice condition, and gotten at a price YOU would certainly appreciate. |
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Ray Montee
From:
Portland, Oregon (deceased)
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Posted 8 Oct 2004 2:01 pm
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"FREEEEEEEE"!!!
That's great. Lucky someone I know. |
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Ron Whitfield
From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
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Posted 8 Oct 2004 2:10 pm
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| Not quite, but free is closer to it's cost than what it's worth. Good deals DO still happen! |
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Jeff Au Hoy
From:
Honolulu, Hawai'i
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Posted 8 Oct 2004 2:38 pm
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...
Last edited by Jeff Au Hoy on 13 Sep 2019 3:14 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Ron Whitfield
From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
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Posted 8 Oct 2004 2:54 pm
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| No, that was my old natural instinct pedal! |
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Rick Aiello
From:
Berryville, VA USA
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Posted 8 Oct 2004 2:54 pm
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Metal bridge ... sounds "10 string-ish".
White celluloid plates ... "Wartime" feature ... ala '40 ... Same with white/black saucer knobs ...
That sounds like a real "Treasure Item" there 
As far as the potentiometer ... you description "smells" of a linear taper pot.
I read some intersting stuff on a pup forum ... a pretty big argument between the majority and a tech who works at Elderly Instruments.
He held his own ... champion-ing the linear pots ... describing them EXACTLY as you stated ...
Quick come-on at about 3 ... then a very nice gradual increase throught the rest of the sweep.
I was intriqued enough to buy some 1 meg linears ... to test against 1 meg logs.
I like 'em ...
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Ron Whitfield
From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
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Posted 8 Oct 2004 3:03 pm
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Thanx for your input Prof. Rick, this is an odd piece!
Where is that PU forum?
I found it strange that the replacement pot had an even flow from the start in the 'pan', but in the Bakelite it did what you described, and don't have an answer for why.
Is a 'no load' pot the same as an 'audio taper'?
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Rick Aiello
From:
Berryville, VA USA
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Posted 8 Oct 2004 3:41 pm
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Nope .. a "No Load" pot is a "Tricked out Thing"
The "No Load" pot is designed ... so that when you dial up to 10 ... it removes the load of the pot. Making it like you are wired straight to the jack.
You gain more high end, a bit more "gutsy" tone and slightly more output
These are very cool ...
I like a happy medium ... thats why I've gone 1 meg ... everywhere.
The forum ... if I remember correctly (it was awhile ago) ... is Jason's "hangout" ...
Ampage
I just read ... they talk magnets (interesting) sometimes ... but mostly its coils, bobbins, etc ...
As far as why the pot reacted differently in the pan vs. B8 ... betcha the pan had weaker magnets ... and therefore puttin' out less juice ...
Less of a preceivable bump at 3 ... making it appear more "audio" ... ???
Just a guess ???
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Ron Whitfield
From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
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Posted 8 Oct 2004 6:37 pm
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Bingo on the guess. You da man!
I really appreciate the 'no load' info. This must be what's on my very versitile Wurlitzer 'Gemini', and are indeed VERY cool.
Please get lots of recorded examples of those lucky to play your "Dustpans", especially Jeff and Bobby. This Joliet convention will be a momentious occassion, and truly one for the books. |
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Mike Fried
From:
Nashville, TN, USA
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Posted 8 Oct 2004 9:55 pm
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| Re. the "no load" volume pot: many earlier steels (my Bronson is one) have the pot wired as a variable resistor across the output jaok rather than as the more "modern" voltage divider from the pickup. This gives the fast-on taper favored by "pinky-swellers", using a standard audio-taper 250K pot. At the second half of the rotation, there's more top-end "edge" increase than volume increase. Any standard volume control can be rewired pretty easily to this type. |
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