Rare Rickys?

Steve Schell · Post by **Steve Schell** » 12 Sep 2010 3:00 pm

I've never seen this type of bakelite Rickenbacher lap steel before, but there are currently two of them on ebay, one white one blue. Can anyone comment on their rarity, period of manufacture, etc? They appear to use something other than the double horseshoe pickup; would this also be a string through design, magnetically speaking? Any info would be much appreciated. Here are links to the two auctions:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Rare-BIRD-WHITE-RIC ... 2a0a1c1895

http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-RICKENBACKE ... 2c552cac46

Richard Shatz · Post by **Richard Shatz** » 12 Sep 2010 3:43 pm

Those are both "Ace" models.
They do have the standard 1 1/4" horseshoe pickup under the integral cover.
They are string through.
Most commonly they are brown, but were also made in red, white and blue.
I think they are great instruments.

Andre Nizzari · Post by **Andre Nizzari** » 12 Sep 2010 4:11 pm

I have two of them myself. a white one scratched up i think it's a 51 and blue one i think is a 47-49 in mint condition.

These are one of the coolest types of lap steels because of there one piece body, integrated bridge and nut.

As Rick Allieo said once on the forum: "Best kept secret in lap steels!"

I bought mine wow already 6-8 years ago...dam how time flys....

These are more and more rare...academies being even more rare, the white ine is more rare becasue its the only one out of the three that have red knobs. they make a red one with cream knob too.

Academies (those are the ones with out the covers and i think have 1&1/2 horseshoe mags) are even more rare!

I love my two aces, and would never get rid of them! they sound great! I had my mags charged up by Rick.

Steve Schell · Post by **Steve Schell** » 13 Sep 2010 12:16 pm

Thanks very much, Richard and Andre!

Richard Shatz · Post by **Richard Shatz** » 13 Sep 2010 3:37 pm

Andre,
Interesting stuff. I haven't seen a postwar Rick with a 1 1/2" magnet pickup, but I have one with an ACE headstock decal that does not have the pickup cover.
I guess it's a late Academy that was labeled after they ran out of Academy decals, but had a few more of the bodies without the pickup cover.
If you can find an Academy photo with 1 1/2" pickup, please post it.
Thanks

Andre Nizzari · Post by **Andre Nizzari** » 13 Sep 2010 5:12 pm

That's real nice Rick! You must have one of the last academy bodies. I looked around for some pictures of academies and the magnets all look to me like 1 1/4. Maybe academies did not come with the 1/1/2 magnets.?? Now I wonder....Does anyone know the answer?