Rickenbacker Model 460 Model Solid Body Electric Guitar (1963), made in Los Angeles, Fireglo red sunburst finish, maple body and neck, padouak fingerboard, original silver tolex hard shell case.
This beautiful Model 460 is a splendid example of the Rickenbacker company's early 1960s period solid-bodies, made in October 1963 -- just before the Beatle connection catapulted the firm into the popular legend. The 460 was the Deluxe model in the "cresting wave" body series, with two "toaster top" pickups mounted through the pickguard, a bound neck and top edge, fancy pearl "sharktooth" fingerboard inlay, and the 5-knob "blend control" circuitry. This was one of the first models to feature this unique control layout, which became standard on most Rickenbacker guitars.
The "Fireglo" red sunburst on this guitar is particularly vivid, most striking looking over the burl maple top. While not as iconic to the "British invasion" era as the company's semi-hollow 330-375 models, the solidbody 460 is a great sounding and super sharp looking guitar, with an utterly distinctive character.
Overall length is 37 1/4 in. (94.6 cm.), 13 in. (33 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 1/4 in. (3.2 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 guitar is simply superbly clean overall, with only light signs of wear -- we rarely find Rickenbackers from this period so well kept. There are no repairs (the typical headstock/fingerboard issues caused by trussrod manipulation have never beset this guitar), and the only alteration is a repro nut. The finish shows only very small wear spots on the edges and some small scratches into but not through the lacquer, and very little fade. A spectacular example of a Beatle-era Rickenbacker solid-body, complete with a super clean original silver HSC. Excellent + Condition.
