"Rickenbacker pedal steels arenуt as famous as the Fender models that were built down the road in Fullerton. But the business was big in the у50s, and Rickenbacker built some very handsome and distinctive models of their own."
It all comes down to the earsяtesting for correct intonation and playability.
"Always bold innovators, Rickenbacker constantly probed niche marketsяin this case the 4080-12 was built for the rare player that moved regularly between bass and 12-string."
"The 331 Light Show is among the most spectacular Rickenbackers ever built. Individual notes would trigger lights of various colors beneath the swirly, translucent top. Roger McGuinn used a 12-string version for live versions of рEight Miles Highс in the Byrdsу later years."
"This well-worn 1996 was built for export to Rickenbackerуs UK distributor Rose Morris. Itуs also just one serial number away from John Lennonуs second 325, which John Hall Sr. presented to Lennon upon the Beatlesу first visit to the States."
"A Fireglo 360-12 receives a buffing job thatуs the final phase of the finishing process. From here, this 360-12 will be dressed up with hardware."
The neck-through construction of 4003 basses necessitates clamping and gluing of the wings that comprise the upper and lower parts of the cresting wave body shape.
A line of 4003s is ready for finishing.
"Bodies for a 365-12 V/64, 325, and wings for several 4003 basses await necks to match. A stack of neck blanks is visible to the right."
"Construction of Rickenbacker semi-hollow bodies like this 330 involves gluing the back on a section of routed, solid maple, which is then shaped into a bodyяa distinctly Rickenbacker approach."
"Rickenbackerуs finishes, renowned as some of the best in the business, begin at these benches."
"A two-pickup Lemmy Kilmister prototype, a prototype 4001 from the late у60s with wide pickup spacing, and a black 4003 prototype hang in the Rickenbacker collection."
"The Rickenbacker рFrying Panс was effectively the very first electric guitar. Four versions, sans the pioneering horseshoe pickup, hang in the Rickenbacker collection thatуs maintained at the factory."
"Electronics go in a Jetglo 4003. Apart from German-built Schaller tuners and a few screws, every part that goes in a Rickenbacker is American-made."
"A fanned array is ready for finishing. Ultimately, these will end up as some of the glossiest, prettiest basses in whichever shop or collection theyуre bound for."
"Rickenbacker built some beautiful acoustics. The archtops reveal the Bavarian roots of many signature Rickenbacker styling cuesяwhich were the work of German-born Roger Rossmeisel. Rossmeisel was also responsible for the design of Rickenbackerуs signature sweeping crescent body style, embodied by the 330."
"Two 4003s, a 330, and a pair of 625s in various states of receiving non-standard finishes. Rickenbacker often experiments will new colors, though the trinity of Mapleglo, Fireglo, and Jetglo remain fixtures in the Rickenbacker line."
"These otherwise unremarkable looking triangles, will be polished and used for Rickenbackerуs signature shark tooth inlay. These are bound for 4003 basses."
A line of Mapleglo 4003s is nears completion of the Mapleglo finish process.
"Pickups, pickguards, and pots! Apart from German-built Schaller tuners and a few screws, every part that goes in a Rickenbacker is American-made. "
A 4003 gets its signature set of Schallers.
330 bodies and a 360 template wait alongside a dedicated CNC machine where the pre-routed body and back are carved into familiar Rickenbacker shapes. Rickenbacker typically dedicates a whole week of production to a given model.
This quintet of 360/12s have been finished in Midnight Blue and are ready for final assembly.
"If there was a cooler-looking amp than the late у60s Transonic, we have yet to see it."
An impressive line of 4003s await hardware and final assembly.
Rickenbacker CEO John Hall checks out an immaculately finished 4003 thatуs ready for pickups and other hardware.
"The CNC machine tackles four necks at onceяin this case 330 necks. Needless to say, the efficiency and precision gained via this method is considerable. "
A 330 body template in the CNC machine and the template up close (inset.) Rickenbacker carefully crafted a perfect Rickenbacker on which to base these templates by examining instruments in their archives.
Charles Saufley is a writer, editor, and musician from San Francisco. He has been the gear editor at Premier Guitar since 2010 and previously served as an editor at Acoustic Guitar magazine.
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