Private Tour of the Rickenbacker Factory

Dave W · May 20, 2019, 11:30:00 PM

Saw this shared to a friend's timeline on FB. You should be able to see the photos even if you're not on FB.

Rickenbacker photo tour

ilan · May 21, 2019, 04:17:51 AM

This one is interesting. F holes, fishtail headstock, weird double dot inlays, all hardware removed, no holes in the body for pots.

This one too - Dumpster Bass 4th from left; 2nd from right a Tele-shaped bass, Fender headstock with 3+1 Musicman-ish tuners, tailpiece without the mute section. Weird and beautiful.

doombass · May 21, 2019, 04:31:31 AM

Wow, I've never seen any pics of those museum pieces before.

gearHed289 · May 21, 2019, 09:46:36 AM

The 3 + 1 headstock (actually the whole bass) was presented to FC Hall by Forrest White - formerly of Fender, later with MusicMan. Apparently his response was something like "That will NEVER be on a Rickenbacker!"

ilan · May 21, 2019, 09:54:10 AM

Quote from: gearHed289 on May 21, 2019, 09:46:36 AM
The 3 + 1 headstock (actually the whole bass) was presented to FC Hall by Forrest White - formerly of Fender, later with MusicMan. Apparently his response was something like "That will NEVER be on a Rickenbacker!"

Very interesting. So what's the story with this 660 bass with P pickup (5th from left)?

Jeff Scott · May 21, 2019, 01:26:23 PM

Cool to see a "defrocked" 4003AC there. too.

Rob · May 21, 2019, 01:31:52 PM

This is a great post.
I wonder how many of these were protos.

Jeff Scott · May 21, 2019, 08:07:19 PM

There are quite a few prototypes and experiments in the museum.

Dave W · May 21, 2019, 11:06:17 PM

I remember the Forrest White story being discussed years ago at the RRF.

gearHed289 · May 22, 2019, 08:41:41 AM

There was a factory tour story in Bass Player magazine maybe 10 years ago where some of these were discussed. I'll try to find it. I remember the 660 in a photo, but I don't remember it being mentioned. That would be a great body style for a short scale!

Jeff, what's a 4003AC?

ilan · May 22, 2019, 11:48:53 AM

Quote from: gearHed289 on May 22, 2019, 08:41:41 AM
what's a 4003AC?

This hideous bass

4stringer77 · May 22, 2019, 12:35:38 PM

He's also an effective posterboy to warn against smoking too much of the devil's lettuce. A grown man like that should know better.

Rob · May 22, 2019, 03:57:05 PM

Quote from: ilan on May 22, 2019, 11:48:53 AM
This hideous bass

I just knew this would become a meme

gearHed289 · May 23, 2019, 08:39:59 AM

Quote from: ilan on May 22, 2019, 11:48:53 AMThis hideous bass

Oh yeah, THAT disaster. Sweet Rush shirt bro, but your bass is ugly as f#&k.

Dave W · May 23, 2019, 10:21:06 PM

I had no idea who AC is. Searched and listened. Now I'm sorry I did.