Electric banjoline
Date1968
Place MadeSanta Ana, California, United States, North America
ModelRickenbacker / 6006 D[eluxe] Fireglo
Serial No.HL 1765
SignedPrinted in black ink on clear plastic truss rod cover: Rickenbacker / Banjoline Created by EDDIE PEABODY / [on lower end of truss rod cover: MADE IN U.S.A.]MarkingsTone knobs printed on face in black ink: [BASS / VOLUME] / [TREBLE / VOLUME] / [BASS / TONE] / [TREBLE / TONE]
Stamped on tuners: KLUSON / DELUXE
DescriptionEddie Peabody's last collaboration with a manufacturer resulted in two versions of Rickenbacker electric banjoline, the 6005 Standard, and the fancier 6006 Deluxe. Rickenbacker banjolines were based on the company's Model 360 guitar and were the only hollow-body electric banjolines made. Other high profile musicians, including George Harrison of the Beatles, experimented with banjolines, but the instrument was difficult to learn for guitarists not used to the plectrum banjo tuning of the instrument. This limited its widespread adoption.
Stringing: six steel strings
Pickups: two humbucking pickups chrome-plated steel plates, volume and tone potentiometers with black knobs with aluminum faces labeled in black ink, and three-way switch with black plastic toggle
Top: two-piece maple with contoured arching; white plexiglass body cavity cover secured to top with one nickel-plated steel domed philips’ head screw
Sides: solid maple
Back: two-piece maple
Head: five-piece alternating maple and walnut; clear celluloid truss rod cover painted white with black text on back, secured to head face with three domed, chrome-plated steel slot-head screws
Neck: three-piece alternating maple and walnut; integral with head
Binding: ivory celluloid with ivory and black checkerboard celluloid trim
Fretboard: rosewood half-bound in ivory celluloid with 24 nickel-silver frets; trapezoidal opalescent crushed glass fret markers and black plastic side dots behind, 3rd, 5th, 7th,10th, 12th, 15th, 17th, and 19thfrets [double side dots behind 12th fret]
Nut: bone
Bridge: chrome-plated steel with individually adjustable saddles
Tailpiece: nickel-plated steel with vibrato arm
Tuners: six individual Kluson chrome-plated steel covered worm-gear tuners with chrome-plated steel heads
Pickguard: white plexiglass secured to top with four nickel-plated steel domed philips’ head screw; raised over body cavity cover with black silicone washers
Strap buttons: chrome-plated steel, the heads designed to be hand-screws
Finish: Fireglo [orange to red sunburst]
DimensionsTotal guitar length: 979 mm
Back length: 413 mm
Upper bout width: 298 mm
Waist width: 260 mm
Lower bout width: 368 mm
Side height (including edging) at heel: 30 mm
Side height, at center: 30 mm
Side height, at end: 30 mm
Head length: 195 mm
Head width, top: 69 mm
Head width, bottom: 74 mm
Neck length (nut to body): 461 mm
Neck width, nut: 33 mm
Neck width, body joint: 40 mm
Vibrating string length (nut to bridge edge): 630 mm
ProvenanceEddie Peabody, original owner
Gift of George Peabody,Tucson, Arizona, 2012
Credit LineEddie Peabody Collection. Gift of George Peabody, 2012
Object number14659
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