Bob Gets a Bear (New Vintage Guitar Day)

[Bob Womack]

I've been stalking one of these on-and-off for years and years to use in the studio. Through the kindness and help of a couple of new friends from the forum here, my day finally came. The guitar is a Wartime (Gen 2, 1940-1944) Rickenbacher Model B that has all of the characteristics I've wanted: 1.5" pickup, improved Bakelite formula, strengthened neck, and tone control. So, without further ado, pics: (click horizontal pics for larger versions)


A fantastic bomb-proof package protected the old guitar: heavy cardboard, luan sheets, bubble wrap, and strapping tape!


The original tweed hard case coming out of the box after fifteen minutes of work.


More excellent wrapping protects this classic.


With the "gloves" off: The guitar arrived tuned to open D.


Overhead


Body


Neck, neck boxes, spare tuning keys, string sets.



I immediately tuned up, plugged in to a Princeton Reverb, and took it for a spin. The guitar has that coveted Rick sound - a gentle attack, long sustain, and a full midrange. You can hear it acoustically, even before it is plugged in. Ricks are hard to date beyond an era but the best guess I've been offered is that this was built somewhere between 1940 and 1942.

Thanks to the kindness of a couple of new friends and to my lovely wife, Ruth, for the final nudge.

Bob

[Bill Groner]

She's a beaut! The Rick and the Ruth!

[Jim Graham]

Very cool!

[Allan Revich]

Very nice, congratulations!

[Scott Thomas]

I'd guess that is a real early Wartime! Great find and beautiful "panda bear".

[Bob Watson]

Congratulations Bob! That's a beautiful Panda you got there!

[Bob Womack]

Thanks, folks!

Bob

[David Ball]

Nice catch, Bob! I've had a lot of Ricks through the years, and hope you enjoy yours as much as I have enjoyed mine.

Dave

[Don Barnhill]

Congratulations on the very cool Rick! Thanks for showing us.

[Mark Eaton]

Looks great! How is the tuning stability?

[Bob Womack]

Looks great! How is the tuning stability?

So far it seems reasonably stable. In the first little period after you put it on your lap it changes a bit from the heat but then it settles down. I'm used to that sort of thing with other electric guitars.

Bob

[Mark Helm]

...strengthened neck

What do you mean, "strengthened neck"?

PS) LOVE these guitars, but my absolute faves are the 7 strings... the string spacing is JUST right, plus you get a bit extra w/ that extra low string (the 8-string Pandas have a string spacing that's a bit too crowded for my liking).

Congrats on your guitar!!!

Now, check out some of the finest 6-string Panda technique you'll ever see from my pal and teacher, Jeff Kearns (on your exact guitar!) "Moon of Manakoora" steel guitar arrangement for HSGA newsletter spring 2017:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFGDATs2TyA&t=33s

ENJOY!

[Bob Womack]

...strengthened neck

What do you mean, "strengthened neck"?

Somewhere around 1939 they reshaped the neck reinforcement spars. Up to that time, the reinforcement spars had a somewhat rounded heel shape like a Spanish guitar and the neck was thinner. Around 1940, for what we call the second generation, the neck spars were reshaped so that they formed a straight line from neck joint to nut, thickening the profile of the neck. Early one is on the left in the pic from Rick's site, below:

Congrats on your guitar!!!

Thank you!

Now, check out some of the finest 6-string Panda technique you'll ever see from my pal and teacher, Jeff Kearns (on your exact guitar!) "Moon of Manakoora" steel guitar arrangement for HSGA newsletter spring 2017:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFGDATs2TyA&t=33s

ENJOY!

That is some fine playing! Thanks a bunch!

Bob

[Jon Zimmerman]

Ditto the above, drooling approvals, Bob. Musical soundscapes seem to open wider when a major change is at “hand(s)”..with positive reinforcements like your spouse, far horizons are unlimited! Carry on and persevere, just don’t let it slip after wiping hands with sanitizer!!

[Glenn Wilde]

Beautiful, congrats. I hope to get a vintage Ric again someday, I've had three before, a panda B6, blackplate B6 and a 59. Wish i woulda kept one!

[Gary S. Lynch]

Bob,
Glad it went to good home!
How long did it take you to remove all the packing tape and luan board
liner? I had fun packing that one.

Best Regards!
Gary

[Bob Womack]

Thank you, Gary! I am tickled to death with the guitar. It was certainly well-packed - tight as a drum, rigid, solid, with nothing, and I mean NOTHING rattling around. It took me about fifteen minutes to unwrap it! I'm really loving the guitar and I'm writing up a page for my website about the Pandas. I'm trying to get the history right. I enjoyed our time on the phone as well.



Bob