Wow..All the parts look right. The neck looks right and even the routes in the body look right. The butcher block construction of the body is really the only weird thing about this guitar. If it's the real deal, it's worth a lot more than $800.00 though. The truss rod cover alone is worth $300.00. AFAIK there were no fakes nor a market for them yet in the 60's. I think it's either a repaired Rick or a real one that was just built a different way for some reason.

I tried to post this a couple days ago, but I got an error message. I think it's real. There are just too many details that are too hard to fake: the precise joinery of the neck to the body; the shape of the pickup rout; the footprint of the tuners; the similarity of the contouring to a "known" 850, etc.

The late '50's were transitional years as the models progressed to keep up with the changing and developing techniques of electric guitar players.

I'd contact RIC directly with really good clear pictures to help verify what it actually is.

Hey, I appreciate the eyes. Shes had a rough life, but most of it's been with me. It would be hard to sleep at night if she wasn't under my bed. Been there since latter part of 69 into early 70's. Thanks again, Oh I have pictures that I sent to factory and am waiting for a reply it's been almost a week, I guess they are just doing research or something. All these years I never really attempted to find out anything. Bjorn looked at it some years back and decided it was probably custom made for Pepper, the guy that owned it from new to when I bought it. I guess she was a good investment, but how do you put value on something that kind of is a part of you like a hand or something. I am far from being a great talent, but we had some good and bad years in the places we played. The time our manager booked us into a country club and all we knew were like three country songs. I thought we were going to get killed, long hair and a bunch of rock songs, didn't set well there, HA!

Looks good to me but I am no expert either. But if it is genuine which I believe it is, I agree it is worth more than $800. The parts alone are worth it. The pick ups, the truss rod cover etc. If its within your means I would fix her refinish her and keep her. Love and cherish her until the day you die. Then pass her along to one of your grandchidren who will hopefully pick up where you left off and carry on your song, while creating new ones of their own. I agree with blue angel turquoise would look stunning. Best of luck whatever you do.

Indeed. Two standard colors for all of the combo models during this period were an off-white (or it could have been bright white and just aged to a patina) and a turquoise, so either one of those, as well as the standard Mapleglo would be fine.

HOWEVER, if the guitar is still fairly good to go otherwise, refinishing may or may not be a good idea. The current conventional wisdom is that unless there is deterioration of the wood that a spot touchup can't solve, to leave the original finish intact. The reason is that all refinishing involves at least some sanding. And so since your guitar has a nice contouring on the front, the sanding can dull that contouring.

Indeed. Two standard colors for all of the combo models during this period were an off-white (or it could have been bright white and just aged to a patina) and a turquoise, so either one of those, as well as the standard Mapleglo would be fine.

HOWEVER, if the guitar is still fairly good to go otherwise, refinishing may or may not be a good idea. The current conventional wisdom is that unless there is deterioration of the wood that a spot touchup can't solve, to leave the original finish intact. The reason is that all refinishing involves at least some sanding. And so since your guitar has a nice contouring on the front, the sanding can dull that contouring.

Ah, but it's had the original finish removed and the body lightly sanded already. Given this, and the crack in the headstock that needs to be repaired, a solid color refinish would make a much nicer job of it - in my opinion, of course.

Hey Guys, I have been busy reading more in the other forums, There is enough information on here to blow the mind. In one forum I was reading about the unique tone qualities of the hollow bodies cut in a single piece of wood. I agree there is nothing quite like it. I do have to chime in on the solid body. I have good ears where most of the guy's that played with me are near deaf. I always stood a little off side of the amps so as not being pounded with the sound.

Man we used some heavy duty stuff. Some may remember the casino stacks. They could be combined to produce 10,000 watts, (no Lie). It took a wall of speakers probably twenty five feet long, by seven eight feet high. We were not quite that heavy duty but way overpowered for most venues.

The greatness of my Ric is it's crystal clear sound even on low wattage there is almost no hum from the electronics on the guitar. I am talking acoustic volume. That is some fantastic matching of parts. When in treble position it is so bright it will send the dogs running. You can clearly hear every note. Even on solid state amps of the yester years. I actually think that out of every amp it's been plugged into the best was the Fender Twin Reverb. That amp showcased all three toggle settings in a way she was like a totally different instrument with each setting.

I have never played a solid body that sounded so perfectly tight. I like the sound of the hollows, but I wish I could show you the scream of the treble on this baby. I may be able to when she's done. I have never been able to use new recording tools. the old stuff couldn't start to capture it.

Anyway If any of you want to give away a nice twelve string hollow body contact me. I will probably buy one anyway. My solid 20lb. lady is one of a kind. It's hard because her multi wood body was made for natural finish. Clear or MG will allow some of the crack to be visable. I am assured the crack is so unadvanced it can be easily repaired with 0 effect on the play-ability. It is a battle wound and men show off their scars, why not Abby?

I am undecided and in no hurry, well some,HA! Thanks and keep commenting I enjoy the awesome power of the years and even days of those in here. It almost makes you want to go build instruments. It is amazing in our modern machine driven society to still have something with handmade pride and a waiting list, WOW!

{Paragraphs added by moderator. My eyes, my eyes!}

Some people don't know their Rickenbacker history but it certainly don't prevent them from answering wrongly with words like "fake" etc...

BUT: Your guitar is a ca. 1957 850 Combo. And it NOT a fake at all.

In Richard R. Smiths book, "Rickenbacker" on page 146 you can see one with it's caracteristic horse shoe pickup (like the basses). One truss rod is correct and so are the rest.

They were the first Rickenbackers to feature the "extreme cutaway" and the neck was glued into the body.

It's rare and probably expensive...

If you haven't got the book you can se it here:
http://www.artfarm.co.jp/TatadoHeaven/i ... bo850s.jpg

The headstocks are slightly different - but not on the picture in the ric-book I mentioned.

A know-it-all-Newbie, yawn!