Rickenbacker Guitar Factory Tour - Part 1/3- 09.18.09
As promised in the last post showing you the Beatles Rock Band controller versus the actual Rickenbacker 325~ here’s a peek into how Rickenbacker guitars are actually made! I had so many pictures because their whole process is so fascinating that instead of cutting TOO many of them, i’m making this a three parter… so first, come take a peek into the woodshop on the next page! Stunning how these beautiful pieces of wood get transformed into the guitars we know and love…
Rickenbacker woodshop: Model 4001c64 bass neck headstock ears being
glued
Bass headstock shaped on CNC machine
alternate view
Pearlescent inlays are glued by hand in the fretboards.
The back of the neck is uniformally sanded after the fretboards are
attached
Bass bodies shaped on the CNC machine
Rickenbacker’s glue room
Body binding is masterfully glued on by hand
Vat of glue—the “behive” holes ensure uniform application of glue in the
neck-to-body joint
Woodshop: Model 381v69 guitar body phenolic spoilboard—Quick demo of
toolpath process on the CNC machines
Gasket/vacuum channel detail of 381 body spoilboard
330 body interior after being routed out on the CNC machines
The Rickenbacker Factory Series:
1. The Beatles Rock Band controller versus the actual Rickenbacker 325
2. peek into the woodshop
3. Painting and electronic components and finishing
4. A look at the museum - incredible design details from vintage pieces, limited editions, and concepts that never made it to market…
Tags: factory - gifts - guitar - music - shopping - technology
I own a 1957 prototype Ricky almost like the combo 850. It has beautiful all natural maple wood. The body has these great grooves that match it’s shape.
They would have been hand done in 1957, no CNC stuff, I wonder how they did them. The first picture shows grooves around edge of body mine are on top of the body.
----- Toby 26.11.11 01:03