The Steel Guitar Forum

I'm sure we've all heard of Bakelite Rickenbackers being referred to as "Pandas".

To me they look like Penguins.

Let's not get into Zebras.

Sorry... bored at work today.

They also look like those two toned shoes that were popular in the 1920's - 30's.

They also look like those two toned shoes that were popular in the 1920's - 30's.

My Bake in full glory and perfect working order thanks to Rick Aiello's wiring diagrams and adjustment suggestions.

I never cared for "The Panda" designation ... sorry if that offends any of you Marsupial fans.

Now Penguins ...





They are some rough characters ...

For some weird reason I kind of like the turdmuckle tan of the Bronson/Rick.

Definitely a chimp.

Jude Reinhardt wrote:For some weird reason I kind of like the turdmuckle tan of the Bronson/Rick.

Definitely a chimp. (Gerald Ross)

Ross, I love it...I just bought this one & was wondering what to call it since "Panda" did not seem to fit..."The Chimp" is perfect...Thanks...Terry V.

I like the analogy to two-tone shoes. In the UK these were called correspondent shoes, on the principle that only a cad would wear them. So maybe we should be calling them Rick Correspondents.

I agree it looks more like a penguin. I sawed the neck off my 1940 Bakelite where it joins the body. I then drilled a hole in the same area and it holds a bird of paradise flower nicely. I'm in no way a craftsman but more than one person has commented that it really does look like a penguin when displayed upright on my livingroom table. Not to worry, the neck did not go to waste. I took its shavings to the pro shop in my town, which donates repaired balls to beginning junior bowlers.

Speaking of repaired balls, yer gonna need some if you sawed on a bakelite

The limited edition Wes Craven “B6 ghoul plates” always struck me as a rather unusual - if not disturbing - option for an otherwise uplifting instrument.

The body may be black and white, but they sure produce some colorful tone..........

But Gary, truthfully, can't you play just as beautiful music on your old brown Melobar?
Jude

Jude, now that ear has developed I only use the Melobar for tunings I am experimenting with. Easy to have it already tuned and pick up to play. The tonal quality of the Ric's I own, which have had their magnets recharged and pickups adjusted, are so pleasing to my ear, their upper octaves so clean resonating with almost a magical quality, I prefer to use them exclusively.

The Melobar is a fun instrument and can be an alternative to high priced lap steels. Mine has the original older style early 1970's pickup which to me is classic.

Due to arrive next week is a lap steel that I am anticipating will knock my Ric's down a notch to second choice when I sit down to play. I'll let you know who built it and it's history after I put several hours on it. My search for the ultimate lap steel may soon be over.

One of mine that is not black and white....

How did you manage to find that "strings thro' the body" black & white? That should be nice to hear.

Thanks for sharing.......and that brown one would be a joy to hear.

Ray,

Ric stated building the string throughs again in about 1953. I do not know for how long but they can be seen in their 1953 brochure. From my understanding, all the bakelite bodies were built before WWII. After the war Ric was grinding off the bakelite bridge and using their all metal non string through set up. The molds were sacrificed for the war effort. Rickenbacker still has some original vintage bodies but they will not let them out right now.

See this link;

http://www.rickenbacker.com/catalog_pos ... cf53-5.jpg

Does anyone know if they also kept making the B models with the all metal bridge after they reintroduced the string thru design in 1953? Or did they use the string thru, screw-on bridge design exclusively until the end of production? This could help date some models.

GERALD,

You opened a can of worms here. Why? Just because you
were bored. Anyone can call their guitar anything they want to.

I call my Gretsch "Synchromatic" lap steel guitar, which was made in Korea, "GUMBY."

"Does anyone know if they also kept making the B models with the all metal bridge after they reintroduced the string thru design in 1953?"

I do not know. Someone else out there may know. In 1957 they were still selling string through bodies as shown in this brochure.

http://www.rickenbacker.com/catalog_pos ... f57-10.jpg

Gary Lynch wrote:They also look like those two toned shoes that were popular in the 1920's - 30's.

actually those were spats worn over shoes. the two-toned shoes replaced that look for the look's sake. spats were part about fashion and part about keeping shoes clean. especially for people who only owned one pair.

"actually those were spats worn over shoes. the two-toned shoes replaced that look for the look's sake. spats were part about fashion and part about keeping shoes clean. especially for people who only owned one pair."

Ok then, my Bake will be named, 'Spats'. Sounds cool to me. Maybe even Rickenbacher (may he rest in peace) is sporting a smile over that name.