New (for me) - 1960 Rickenbacker 206

[Bob Russell]

I just picked up a Rickenbacker 206 off Reverb. It sounds great and plays nicely. I haven't been able to find much information about the model, not even on the SGF. Seems the 208 was more common. Anyone got any info/experience they might want to share?

[Mike Neer]

Ray Noren played a similar guitar, I guess the 208, in the mid-50s that was modified with knee levers by Zane Beck.

IMG_9274.png

[Bob Russell]

Yep, sure looks like a 208. I'll have to look him up!

[Tim Whitlock]

I had a 208 DW16 for a short time. I loved the sound and especially the portability. You could easily fit one in an airplane overhead compartment. I found the controls got in the way of my right hand and I couldn't work though this. Probably just needed to work harder at it but I gave up and sold it. The 206 DW12 and 208 DW16 were introduced in 1954 as Rickenbacker's answer to the Fender Dual Pro. I think they were discontinued in the very early 60s.

Edited: Corrected the model numbers per Michael Allen.

[Bob Russell]

It is extremely portable as steel guitars go. It even looks streamlined.
I put a six string version of Don Helms' "E13" tuning on the outside neck, which should help keep the controls out of my way. (You get much past the 15th fret and you're in dog-whistle range!) I have to do a lot of Hank/Don stuff so that's a good neck to park the high tuning on.

The near neck is good ol' A6. Sounds great there. The top pickup has slightly less gain than the near neck, but it's close enough. Amazing shape for a 65-year-old instrument.

[Bob Russell]

Ray Noren played a similar guitar, I guess the 208, in the mid-50s that was modified with knee levers by Zane Beck.IMG_9274.png

Yeah! That guy was a fantastic player! I found a clip of his solo on "Birmingham Bounce" that was burning! Thanks for bringing Ray to my attention.

[Michael Lee Allen]

What the original poster is showing is a D 12 or DW 12 model, depending on what catalog or price list you're looking at. A solid body with three legs. The 206 and 208 models are totally different. Hollow-box console construction with four legs.
MLA

[Bob Russell]

MLA: After a lot of scrounging around online, I think you are correct. There's very little information out there and a lot of it is conflicting or outright incorrect. The seller thought it was a 208; that was obviously wrong since it had 6 strings per neck.
I also found some links depicting the box-style bodies with conflicting model names.
But I think the D or DW designation is right. Not having an old Rick catalog to consult, I wouldn't know for sure. But I'll bet you might.

[Rick Aiello]

I have an SW 6 …. Looks like half a that DW 12 … same lines, etc