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Topic: Just picked up a Rickenbacher Style B Lap Steel. 1940? |
David DeLoach
From:
Tennessee, USA
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Posted 23 Jun 2018 10:51 am |
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Just picked this guy up. Was told it was made in 1940. Can anyone validate that? S/N C2635. Pat. No. 1881229 is stamped on the body next to the bridge. This lap steel SINGS!
Also, notice in the bottom picture how the bottom screw/bolt is not in as far that the top one. Should I leave that alone, or try to tighten it up level with the top one?
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 23 Jun 2018 12:02 pm
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I doubt if it dates back as far as 1940, it has the white lines by the frets.
I might be mistaken however.
Erv |
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Bill Creller
From:
Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)
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Posted 23 Jun 2018 2:52 pm
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What Erv said about the white lines...The neck may be from a later year...
Those screws in the neck are lot factory. The neck may have been broke & repaired at some point.
Had to do one of mine that way some years ago, after the wife picked up the case/guitar with the latches open, and it fell out on the floor !!  |
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Cartwright Thompson
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Posted 24 Jun 2018 1:35 am
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The white lines started on “wartime” models, 1940 to about 1945.
It looks like it has the celluloid plates from that era as well. |
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David DeLoach
From:
Tennessee, USA
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Posted 24 Jun 2018 11:58 am
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| Cartwright Thompson wrote: |
The white lines started on “wartime†models, 1940 to about 1945.
It looks like it has the celluloid plates from that era as well. |
One of the celluloid plates is cracked (the plate with the volume and tone knobs). I suppose it's next to impossible to find a replacement part for that. Any thoughts about who could possibly create a replacement celluloid plate?? |
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David Matzenik
From:
Cairns, on the Coral Sea
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Posted 24 Jun 2018 12:44 pm
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That is one fine guitar. The inch and a half horseshoes indicate manufacture before 1946. There is some info on this page. Scroll down to Rickenbacher lapsteels.
http://www.guitarhq.com/rick.html
_________________
Don't go in the water after lunch. You'll get a cramp and drown. - Mother. |
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Wally Pfeifer
From:
Illinois, USA
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Posted 24 Jun 2018 5:40 pm
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Yeah,- OK, Bill. Blame it on Mary.
Wally  [img]
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Bill Creller
From:
Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)
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Posted 24 Jun 2018 6:07 pm
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| I did !! |
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Steve Wilson
From:
Morgan Hill, California, USA
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Posted 24 Jun 2018 6:32 pm Replacement Plates for B6
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| I got some white acrylic plates for my prewar B6 from Mr. GeorgeBoards. The ones I got needed to be contoured, but fit and look great. His real name is George Piburn. I also got a new 3D printed bridge. George is the man for Rick parts. |
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Scott Thomas
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Posted 7 Jul 2018 7:02 pm Re: Just picked up a Rickenbacher Style B Lap Steel. 1940?
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| David DeLoach wrote: |
Also, notice in the bottom picture how the bottom screw/bolt is not in as far that the top one. Should I leave that alone, or try to tighten it up level with the top one? |
It's great that you got a good sounding one. FYI in case you weren't aware, someone else put those screws in there. Probably for more neck stability? Bakelite is very fragile, so I would proceed very cautiously (or not at all).
Otherwise, it could be 1940, possibly a couple of years later. Those are features on what are known as "war time" guitars (substituting celluloid for rationed metals). |
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