Building a rickenbacker style guitar

[NathanPollard]

Alright, um… first of all, I know this is a telecaster forum and I, posting a rickenbacker style build , but I wanted to post it somewhere so here we are. This is my 3rd guitar, sort of (it’s complicated) But it’s going to be a fairly simple thing because I’m still a newby at this sort of thing. So here goes nothing:

 

[NathanPollard]

so The materials I’m using are just cheap naffy nu-nu. Im 17 and am still on the budget side, so I’ve got some simple £5 wood from B&Q. A couple of planks of that stuff with some mahogany from the rafters in the garage. The hardware was bought fairly cheaply on Amazon. I’ll start to invest more money in guitar building once I improve a little more

 

[old soul]

Cool project

 

[NathanPollard]

Thank you

 

[bgmacaw]

Looks good.

Expect to hear from Rickenbacker, the law firm masquerading as a guitar company, soon.

 

[NathanPollard]

Hmm… I think they only track down on ones which are being sold. I’m not selling this thing. I haven’t purchased rickenbacker toasters or hi-gains or even replicas. Just 2 Höfner style humbuckers. The only thing similar pretty much is the shape. To be honest, 1/3 of my constructions turn out well . I don’t have high hopes for it, so I shouldn’t worry.

Looks good.

Expect to hear from Rickenbacker, the law firm masquerading as a guitar company, soon.

 

[trancedental]

There are some previous builds on the Tele Home Depot, complete with information.

Good Luck Nathan, any advice you need just ask here.

 

[NathanPollard]

There are some previous builds on the Tele Home Depot, complete with information.

Good Luck Nathan, any advice you need just ask here.

Thank you, I very much appreciate that

 

[Jim_in_PA]

That's going to be an interesting build. And if you look through this particular forum discussion area, you'll find that while there are a lot of tele-like-things folks build, there's, perhaps, a lot more of non-tele-like-things that get built. Some of them quite esoteric and unique.

 

[NathanPollard]

I’ve had a look at some of the builds on here, which is why I decided to post it up. Also, I was going to do it on luthiertalk, but upon registration, my account was rejected for some reason. Not sure what to do about it.

 

[Telenator]

I built a couple of 360 style Rics a few years back. Big project to get it right. One sounds heavenly. The other is a complete dud.

Ya never know what it's going to sound like until it's done!

 

[NathanPollard]

I built a couple of 360 style Rics a few years back. Big project to get it right. One sounds heavenly. The other is a complete dud.

Ya never know what it's going to sound like until it's done!

They both look awesome. I know what you mean. the circuitry in my last guitars were fairly simplistic, but I tried at least 4 different wiring diagrams until I managed to get them correct. I hope I can ameliorate the ineptitude I’ve got going here so I can churn out something as good as those two you’ve made there.

 

[Telenator]

They both look awesome. I know what you mean. the circuitry in my last guitars were fairly simplistic, but I tried at least 4 different wiring diagrams until I managed to get them correct. I hope I can ameliorate the ineptitude I’ve got going here so I can churn out something as good as those two you’ve made there.

For what it's worth, I dramatically simplified the wiring in mine. In my opinion, the Rickenbacker wiring is far too complex to use on stage or live performance.

 

[RetiredUnit1]

For what it's worth, I dramatically simplified the wiring in mine. In my opinion, the Rickenbacker wiring is far too complex to use on stage or live performance.

You mean, like this unknown performer? ;-)

 

[Steve Holt]

Just don't let the folks over at Rickenbacker find out! They're a litigious bunch.

 

[NathanPollard]

As long as one doesn’t sell a homemade one or something made to emulate a rickenbacker, you’re as safe as can be. They can only take action if it is an unlicensed counterfeit being sold. But they certainly do track down on those though. Many of the stories I heard about lawsuits. Even rickenbacker style kits are now being banned from being sold in the USA, although some are out for purchase in China.

 

[NathanPollard]

For what it's worth, I dramatically simplified the wiring in mine. In my opinion, the Rickenbacker wiring is far too complex to use on stage or live performance.

Not as complex as some of the wiring on my dream guitar I’ve been designing recently:

On here, I have: 3 push/ pull coil split volume controls for each pickup; a master volume; two dial up mutes like on various vintage Gretsch guitars; 3 tone switches, again like on some Gretsch models, but for each pickup; 2 phase switches, one for the neck and bridge, the other for the middle and bridge, a 3 way selector switch, up for neck, middle for middle, down for bridge; a switch below it to activate the bridge pickup (so on each setting, such as the neck or middle, you could have the bridge with it.) possible combinations are: neck, neck and bridge, middle, middle and bridge, bridge. I won’t go into detail about the vibrato system unless people are really interested.

 

[ahiddentableau]

Looking forward to seeing this build. Good luck with your project.

Also: I have no idea what "nappy nu nu" is, but I bet it's gonna be the next big thing in tonewoods.

 

[mjr428]

so The materials I’m using are just cheap naffy nu-nu. Im 17 and am still on the budget side, so I’ve got some simple £5 wood from B&Q. A couple of planks of that stuff with some mahogany from the rafters in the garage. The hardware was bought fairly cheaply on Amazon. I’ll start to invest more money in guitar building once I improve a little more

I'm still using cheap naffy nu-nu materials after something like 10 builds now...

 

[Telenator]

You mean, like this unknown performer? ;-)

View attachment 1017721

You can count the number of people who actually play Rics live on one had. The rest of the people who buy Rics are cork sniffing freaks who keep their guitars under the bed and rarely take them out to play. These guitars are handled so infrequently the owners are still able to waft the scent of the original buffing compound as they sit on the edge of the bed in their silk pajamas dreaming of Roger McGuinn, John Kay, Pete Townsend or Tom Petty. That pretty much covers it, right? LOL.
I love the shape and look of the Ric 360, but the guitar is near unplayable as delivered from Rickenbacker. Looks so cool though, I had to build my own.
And btw, John Hall did contact me when he saw I was building a pair of them. He wasn't happy. I told him he could have them when I die but he never got back to me.