Rickenbacker Model 450/12 Solid Body Electric Guitar (1965)
LOADING IMAGES
Rickenbacker Model 450/12 Model Solid Body Electric Guitar (1965), made in Santa Ana, CA, serial # EH-451, Mapleglo natural finish, maple body and neck, paduak fingerboard, original silver tolex hard shell case.
This Model 450/12 is an early example of Rickenbacker's only 1960s solid body 12 string, a less well known creation than the classic semi-hollow 360/12 that defined an entire musical genre. This example was made in September 1965, the first full production year for the model and about 18 months after the Beatle connection first catapulted the firm's guitars into popular legend.
The 450 is the most basic Rickenbacker 12-string, offering the then much in demand Beatle/Byrds jangle sound in a less expensive solid body solid body format. It is built to the standard layout of the "cresting wave" 400 solid-body series mated with the company's ingenious half-slotted 12-string headstock. The 450/12 mounts two of Rickenbacker's classic 1960s "toaster top" pickups in its white pickguard controlled with the basic the basic 4-knob, 1 switch circuitry. Other features include a plain dot fingerboard inlay and bridge/tailpiece unit set into the body with a single piece saddle (nicknamed the "Chrome worm").
The "Mapleglo" natural finish has ambered slightly making for a very attractive instrument; this was less popular at the time than the red "Fireglo" sunburst. While not as iconic to the British invasion era as the company's semi-hollow 330/12 and 360/12 models, the solid-body 450/12 is a great-sounding and sharp-looking guitar, with its own distinctive character. The sound is very close to the hollowbody 360/12 if perhaps a bit brighter and the guitar is a very compact, easy handling instrument, an overlooked gem in Rickenbacker's crown.
Overall length is 37 in. (94 cm.), 12 11/16 in. (32.2 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 5/8 in. (4.1 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 5/8 in. (41 mm.).
This a nice example overall, remaining original with the only alteration being some extra holes drilled into the lower bridgeplate and cradle under the saddle for reasons unknown. We don't know what someone was trying to achieve there, but only the holes remain and the guitar is in its original configuration.
The all-original thin natural lacquer shows only very light general wear with superficial dings, dents and scuffs overall.
The original frets show only some very light wear. A tiny bit of chipping just abaft the nut is the only evidence of any stress there where the truss rods often cause the typical Rickenbacker fingerboard separation repairs almost ubiquitous on 1960s models; that has not occurred here. Overall this 450/12 plays and sounds exactly as it should; a classic mid-'60s Rick still in the original silver Tolex HSC. Overall Excellent - Condition.
This Model 450/12 is an early example of Rickenbacker's only 1960s solid body 12 string, a less well known creation than the classic semi-hollow 360/12 that defined an entire musical genre. This example was made in September 1965, the first full production year for the model and about 18 months after the Beatle connection first catapulted the firm's guitars into popular legend.
The 450 is the most basic Rickenbacker 12-string, offering the then much in demand Beatle/Byrds jangle sound in a less expensive solid body solid body format. It is built to the standard layout of the "cresting wave" 400 solid-body series mated with the company's ingenious half-slotted 12-string headstock. The 450/12 mounts two of Rickenbacker's classic 1960s "toaster top" pickups in its white pickguard controlled with the basic the basic 4-knob, 1 switch circuitry. Other features include a plain dot fingerboard inlay and bridge/tailpiece unit set into the body with a single piece saddle (nicknamed the "Chrome worm").
The "Mapleglo" natural finish has ambered slightly making for a very attractive instrument; this was less popular at the time than the red "Fireglo" sunburst. While not as iconic to the British invasion era as the company's semi-hollow 330/12 and 360/12 models, the solid-body 450/12 is a great-sounding and sharp-looking guitar, with its own distinctive character. The sound is very close to the hollowbody 360/12 if perhaps a bit brighter and the guitar is a very compact, easy handling instrument, an overlooked gem in Rickenbacker's crown.
Overall length is 37 in. (94 cm.), 12 11/16 in. (32.2 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 5/8 in. (4.1 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 5/8 in. (41 mm.).
This a nice example overall, remaining original with the only alteration being some extra holes drilled into the lower bridgeplate and cradle under the saddle for reasons unknown. We don't know what someone was trying to achieve there, but only the holes remain and the guitar is in its original configuration.
The all-original thin natural lacquer shows only very light general wear with superficial dings, dents and scuffs overall.
The original frets show only some very light wear. A tiny bit of chipping just abaft the nut is the only evidence of any stress there where the truss rods often cause the typical Rickenbacker fingerboard separation repairs almost ubiquitous on 1960s models; that has not occurred here. Overall this 450/12 plays and sounds exactly as it should; a classic mid-'60s Rick still in the original silver Tolex HSC. Overall Excellent - Condition.