Anyone able to place this console?

[Jon King]

I'm particularly interested in identifying which p'ups this has. I don't have much data to accompany the photo. Other than it being described as a 1970 Console Steel. It's a 3rd party sale & they don't know anything about it.

Any help is much appreciated.

[Mike Neer]

Rickenbacker, I forget the model name. Notice it's 8-10-8 string necks. These are nice sounding guitars. I had a slightly older one years ago.

[Michael Lee Allen]

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[Brad Bechtel]

Here's the 1957 catalog page from Rickenbacker showing a similar model 758 with two pedals. I would guess the guitar in question is earlier than 1970, but that's just a guess.

[Jon King]

Thanks Guys, I was leaning to the 508 & 718. I'm not familiar enough with these series to tell the difference btwn the 2.
Brad, I tried to search the Ricky archives & didn't find links to any other specific steel guitars. Any tips?
Thanks again.

[Bill Creller]

I don't know much about the guitar, but I still have my DeArmond volume pedal like that one

[Brad Bechtel]

Brad, I tried to search the Ricky archives & didn't find links to any other specific steel guitars. Any tips?
Thanks again.

Which specific models are you looking for? The Rickenbacker archives on their website are not complete, but give a pretty good idea of some of their earlier models.

[Jon King]

Which specific models are you looking for? The Rickenbacker archives on their website are not complete, but give a pretty good idea of some of their earlier models.

Right now just this guitar. I was able to link via what you provided on the 700 series. But I haven't found any data on the 500 series other than Gruhn's Guide. The data in George's Guide seems to fit this model being either a 718 or 508. And I'm not familiar with either one. Forum feedback doesn't mention the 500 series. So I'm curious about what distinguishes one from the other.

[Brad Bechtel]

Both the 500 series and the 700 series are relatively rare instruments. I have to think that Rickenbacker just never built that many of either line.

This Console 508 has some information about the differences:

The 500 series looks to have been introduced in 1954-55, as a triple neck, 22 1/2 inch scale console style steel guitar, following the DW (double 6 or 8) and SW (single 6 or 8) models introduced a few years earlier, which had a contoured body and tripod legs.

The 500 series was available as either three 8 string necks (508) or an 8/10/8 configuration (518). Custom configurations could also be factory ordered with combinations of 6, 8 and 10 strings.

The instrument features three horseshoe pickups, one volume and one tone control, plus on/off switches for each neck, and was available in either natural or walnut.

A double neck version became available in 1956 as the 200 series.

The 25 inch scale 700 series was introduced in 1957, which in addition to the longer scale length, added more volume/tone controls. Pedals also became available as an option that year on all console models. Another notable difference is the through body string arrangement on the 700, where the 500 strings through the bridge block.

[Jon King]

Thanks Brad, Good information there. It seems the:

notable difference is the through body string arrangement on the 700, where the 500 strings through the bridge block.

puts this one in question in the 500 series category.

[Michael Lee Allen]

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[basilh]

I'm particularly interested in identifying which p'ups this has.

With regard to the Pickups, (As you originally asked)
They are 1-1/4" (One and a quarter inch)not the more desirable 1-1/2" (One and a half inch)
But either way they are great..

[Alan Brookes]

I recently bought the 2-neck version from Ray Montee. An excellent guitar.
I hope some of the Skipper's talent rubbed off on it.

[Jon King]

Alan, Thanks for sharing photos. Looks like a really fine instrument.
I was outbid on the one I initially inquired about. It sold for about $1100.

[Alan Brookes]

That was a real bargain for whoever bought it. You should have bid more. I hope it went to a musician and not a collector.