Is this a "Ricky"

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 6 Mar 2005 3:43 am

I think it's a late 30's import to the UK ..

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7305645082

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Steel players do it without fretting

http://www.waikiki-islanders.com

[This message was edited by basilh on 06 March 2005 at 04:08 AM.]

Rockne Riddlebarger · Post by **Rockne Riddlebarger** » 6 Mar 2005 4:58 am

I bet if it's not a Ric then Ric made them stop making it!

Rick Aiello · Post by **Rick Aiello** » 6 Mar 2005 4:58 am

Yes ... its a "Spanish" style B6.

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Aiello's House of Gauss


My wife and I don't think alike. She donates money to the homeless and I donate money to the topless! ... R. Dangerfield

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 6 Mar 2005 5:10 am

Will it work as well and sound as good as a NORMAL Hawaiian Rick ?
Baz

Rick Aiello · Post by **Rick Aiello** » 6 Mar 2005 5:18 am

I've never had the opportunity to play one ...

I usta think they were longer scale ... just by seein' pictures ... but someone said on the forum that there was one at an HSGA convention and they compared a B6 to the Spanish one ...

Same 22.5" scale ...

I have read that the necks warp sometimes ... something to check out.

Ron Whitfield · Post by **Ron Whitfield** » 6 Mar 2005 6:48 pm

It looks as tho a suitable nut has been placed/fashioned to accomodate the Hawaiian style. Possibly fortunate for the buyer if that's what they are after. Contact the seller and ask what's up at the nut. Maybe you can remove it to play as intended, if the frets are still good.

The scale is the same as the B6 because the bridge is more forward on the Spanish than at the end as with the Hawaiians.

Don't be suprised if it sounds better than a NORMAL Hawaiian Rick.

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 7 Mar 2005 4:15 am

Can Rick or any other "Guru" estimate the date ?

Russ Tkac · Post by **Russ Tkac** » 7 Mar 2005 5:17 am

I had one in the 70's and it played very bad as a guitar. I traded it for two regular Ricks and still have my three Ricks. Can't beat them! When I showed a picture of all my Ricks to David Lindley after a Jackson Browne concert in 1980 he asked if I still had the Spanish one? When I told him I had traded it he called me a bad name!

Russ

Rick Aiello · Post by **Rick Aiello** » 7 Mar 2005 6:08 am

The only "clue" I can see is the "octagonal" knobs.

On B6 steels ... one octagonal volume knob was on the audience side ... on '35 and '36 specimens.

On early spanish B6s ... the one octagonal volume knob is on the player's side .

They put tones on steels ... around '37 ... opposite sides ... "Arrow knobs" though.

Another clue that the seller could check is the stamp on the "half moon" mounting plate (under thumb/knurl height adjustment nut).

If it says "patent pending" its pre-August '37

If it has the "serial number" its post-August '37.

I'd guess ... early 1937 ... cause of the octagonals on opposite sides ...

Just a guess ... best I can do.

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Aiello's House of Gauss


My wife and I don't think alike. She donates money to the homeless and I donate money to the topless! ... R. Dangerfield

Colin Brooks · Post by **Colin Brooks** » 16 Mar 2005 7:38 am

Some good Premiervox pictures and info. here. http://www.northcoastguitars.com.au/premvox.html
It sold but I don't know how much they got, and remember those are Aussie $$$.

Richard Couch · Post by **Richard Couch** » 16 Mar 2005 9:55 am

Hey Rick, do you mean Chicken Head type knobs like the photo below? Many thanks, --richard

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>
Rick Aiello

They put tones on steels ... around '37 ... opposite sides ... "Arrow knobs" though.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

[This message was edited by Richard Couch on 16 March 2005 at 09:56 AM.]

Rick Aiello · Post by **Rick Aiello** » 16 Mar 2005 10:26 am

Sorry ... those "Chicken Heads" are aftermarket.

Here's a Ricky arrow knob ...

They didn't use them long ...

They replaced the octagonals ... but were quickly replaced by the "Flying Saucers".

Who knows the story there ... ???

I do know ... after watching Bobby Ingano and Jeff Au Hoy do that "Pinky Thang" ...

That the "Flying Saucers" sure looked the best for that maneuver.

I'm gonna cast some aluminum "Saucers" ... as an option for my steels ... just for that purpose.

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Aiello's House of Gauss


My wife and I don't think alike. She donates money to the homeless and I donate money to the topless! ... R. Dangerfield

[This message was edited by Rick Aiello on 16 March 2005 at 10:27 AM.]

Richard Couch · Post by **Richard Couch** » 16 Mar 2005 10:34 am

Many thanks Rick! I didn't think the Chicken Heads looked right.