Replacement tuners for Rickenbacher B7

Ian McLatchie · Post by **Ian McLatchie** » 12 Aug 2004 11:21 am

Much as I value keeping vintage instruments in their original condition, the tuners on my seven-string bakelite are so loose that I have to start giving serious thought to replacing them. I'm on vacation in the wilds of British Columbia at present and so haven't had the chance to check out possible replacements, but at a glance the four tuners on the treble side look too closely spaced to be replaced with Klusons or other standard tuners. Suggestions, anyone?

Jaime Miller · Post by **Jaime Miller** » 12 Aug 2004 1:12 pm

Ian,

I was searching for some tuners for my B6 and ran across this site.
http://www.mirabellaguitars.com/new_page_9.htm

They have a picture of restored Rick tuners. I e-mailed and after a couple of days they quoted around $325 to have my tuners restored. I chose to go with a set of Martin tuners, but it may be worthwhile for you to have them restored.

Jaime

Ian McLatchie · Post by **Ian McLatchie** » 12 Aug 2004 9:33 pm

Thanks for the suggestion, Jaime. At $325 a pop, I'm not sure it's one I'll act on, but it's certainly worth looking into, at least.

C Dixon · Post by **C Dixon** » 13 Aug 2004 10:25 am

Ian,

I agree with the high costs. I sincerely hope you find a solution, but I must tell you that my experience does not make it look too promising.

I had searched for years for a B7 Ricky. Lo and behold I found one in very good condition. Good, except 2 keys. Both broken off. One the butterfly was gone; the other one, the gears would strip out as you tried to tighten the string. To make matters worse one of them was on the 3 side and the other on the 4 side. And this particular B7 uses the orginal 3 and 4 strip type keys.

So I thought this should not be too difficult. So I have several friends who own music stores. Would you believe both of them including another music store let me go thru literally barrels of keys. I spent hours and days turned into weeks.

I found every conceivable key strip ever built I do believe. Some of them looked like they may have come over on the santa maria with Columbus

NOT one would fit. NOT one. I called every where. The problem was a unique one.

1. Would you believe the spacing is NOT uniform on the 4 side strip? Well believe it!

2. The height of the peg and the diameter is so unique, I was not able to find a key in any style that would fit. NOT one.

Apparently my Rick was made with spur of the moment parts is the only rational I can come up with.

So I simply gave up. Until Wayne Tanner (Mr Jerry Byrd clone) sent me two strips that I could would work. They were pretty well warn and there is mucho backlash, but I am greatful to Wayne.

Apparently Rick was not that concerned about keys

The ONLY way I know of and it scares me to even think about it; is to use screwless PSG type grovers (like Emmons) with the short pegs and then have a very dedicated machinist VERY carefully mill about 1/8; off the thickness of the bakelite keyhead stock. Plus drilling the holes large enough to accomadate these keys.

IF this could be done without breaking the keyhead, it would not only be beautiful but allow any of the keys to be replaced easily.

But I simply cannot bring myself to let anyone do it. Ya jes don git a second chance on Ricks. So I live with it.

Now in your case you already use individual keys so at least that is one up for you. I wish you much success.

May Jesus bless you in your quests,

carl

Ian McLatchie · Post by **Ian McLatchie** » 14 Aug 2004 9:44 am

Thanks for an extremely helpful reponse, Carl. The notion that the spacing between tuners on the treble (strip) side may be uneven (I don't have the instrument with me to check, at the moment) makes the prospect of coming up with a suitable replacement even more daunting. These tuners are at least functional, and stay reasonably in tune with new strings, so I guess for now I'll just stick with what I've got, and use the tuner-replaced B6 when more precise tuning's an issue. In the long run, $300-plus for rebuilding the original tuners is probably a very worthwhile investment (thanks again for the lead on that, Jaime).

Ray Montee · Post by **Ray Montee** » 14 Aug 2004 2:41 pm

Did RICK......the mountain type foundry guy, once say that Mandolin keys from "....." worked really perfect? No holes to drill, etc.

Rick Aiello · Post by **Rick Aiello** » 14 Aug 2004 4:13 pm

Nope ... actually that was a report from you, Ray ...
http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum2/HTML/002971.html

...along with an email address for Wayne Tanner.

Upon contacting Mr. Tanner ... and explaining my B6 situation ... he politely informed me that in order to bring these babies back to their functional state ... with todays avaliable equipment ... some modifications HAD TO BE MADE.

Taking his advice ... I enlarged the peg holes of my B6 with a small round file ... and used Martin Vintage Butterbeans (as suggested by forumite Harry Sheppard ... here ... http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum2/HTML/001190.html

Moral of the story ... do whatever it takes to get it back up and running ...

Since then I've had the pleasure to discuss stuff like this with Bill Creller ... The only man I know who has successfully converted a 6 string postwar T-Logo B6... into a 7 string , strings thru the body design ... B7.

Give Bill a holler about mods needed on any bakelite ... he's THE MAN !!!

I'm a firm believer in giving credit where credit is due !!!

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HorseshoeMagnets

[This message was edited by Rick Aiello on 14 August 2004 at 05:29 PM.]

Robert Salomone · Post by **Robert Salomone** » 18 Aug 2004 12:01 am

Before StewMac took over Waverly, I sent a couple sets of old Rickenbacher tuners to Waverly for restoration. They did a great job, new gears and tapered posts. If remember the cost was around $35. I guess if you really need the part you'll pay the fare. It's ashame that with all the options no one has made correct replacements. The same goes for old National Reso guitar tuners.

Ray Montee · Post by **Ray Montee** » 19 Aug 2004 8:26 am

Hey Rick! Great response. I knew I'd read those words by some kind of authority and naturally tho't first of YOU! So it was really me???
AND, you mentioned "giving credit where credit is due"? Does this mean all of us Forumites can start buying from you with an open line? What is the high limit?

Gerald Ross · Post by **Gerald Ross** » 19 Aug 2004 8:37 am

Regarding Bill Creller's Bakelite mods:

I am constantly amazed whenever I look at a Bill Creller Rickenbacker Bakelite modification/enhancement. His work is precise, clean and aesthetically pleasing. The results always look like factory standard equipment (and many times even better). Nothing looks like an afterthought.

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Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'

Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website