Official Luthiers Forum!
http://mowrystrings.luthiersforum.com/forum/

1966 Rickenbacker restoration--pics
http://mowrystrings.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10102&t=13894		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  John Elshaw [ Thu Oct 04, 2007 7:39 am ]
Post subject: 
Well, after 5 months of mostly sitting around in the basement, my first restoration project is complete. I have to give props to all the guys here that helped me from painting around bindings, to lacquer schedules, to buffing arbor setup, to proper use of hide glue for repairing cracks.

As you'll see in the pics, the main reason I had to change the color was to cover up the damage left behind by Dr. Frankenstein from a previous neck reset. This time it was done without the help of bolts, and lucky for me jetglo black was a standard color in 1966.

I also have to give credit to StewMac for all the supplies I received from them. This entire job was done using their rattle cans of lacquer along with their buffing arbor and compounds. I can't say enough good things about how easy it was to use their compounds to get a great looking finish. BTW this was my first lacquer job ever. I also must say that the garage worked great for a spray booth. I always thought I needed a big fancy spray booth to get good results, but I wouldn't hesitate at all to spray more guitars out there.















Author:  Steve Walden [ Thu Oct 04, 2007 8:02 am ]
Post subject: 

Wonderful job!!!!!


(Using Hesh's system of # of )


How did you extend the fret board?  Did you have to replace it?
Author:  WaddyThomson [ Thu Oct 04, 2007 8:18 am ]
Post subject: 
That is just an amazing recovery.  Wonderful job.   
Author:  csmonty [ Thu Oct 04, 2007 8:24 am ]
Post subject: 

[QUOTE=WaldenWorx]

How did you extend the fret board?  Did you have to replace it?

[/QUOTE]

It looks more like the pickup was moved up towards the neck (notice it's position in relation to the pickguard before and after).

Beautiful finish job, btw.  I love natural finishes and bursts, but black is a major weak spot for me - love it.
Author:  John Elshaw [ Thu Oct 04, 2007 8:26 am ]
Post subject: 
[QUOTE=WaldenWorx] How did you extend the fret board?  Did you have to replace it?

[/QUOTE]

Actually, I was lucky and didn't need to extend the fretboard. The original "artist" moved the neck pickup back about 1 inch to make room for his modification. Once I removed the bolts, I reset and glued the neck, moved the pickup forward to its original location against the end of the neck, and then had to patch all the damage left behind from the extra routing and holes he put in the guitar. It's really hard to explain what a hack job the first guy did.
Author:  csmonty [ Thu Oct 04, 2007 8:28 am ]
Post subject: 
Err, wait... is that a whole new pickguard?
Author:  John Elshaw [ Thu Oct 04, 2007 8:32 am ]
Post subject: 
[QUOTE=csmonty] Err, wait... is that a whole new pickguard?
[/QUOTE]

Good eye, actually, only the top portion of the pickguard is new since the old original was cut up to make room for the pickup after it was moved back. Luckily this is one of the parts Rickenbacker still sells. They will not sell a truss rod cover or the "R" for the bridge support (to cut down on forgeries).
Author:  csmonty [ Thu Oct 04, 2007 8:36 am ]
Post subject: 
That second picture is what tipped me off.  The pickguard looks a little hacked up there, then nice, perfect, and pearly white in the bottom pics. 

But again, awesome job!
Author:  Steve Walden [ Thu Oct 04, 2007 8:44 am ]
Post subject: 
The case looks like an original Rick box.  Great finish job.
Author:  PaulB [ Thu Oct 04, 2007 1:18 pm ]
Post subject: 
Wow, that's quite a change. Looks fantastic, bet you're feeling pretty good about yourself right about now, justifiably too. Beautifully done
Author:  Dave Anderson [ Thu Oct 04, 2007 2:17 pm ]
Post subject: 
Great job John !
I really like the old red sunburst Ricks. but your black
paint job looks fantastic! Good job repairing Frankensteens
hack-work! Do you have any pics of the neck when you had
it apart?? I'm interested in the neck joint.
Author:  Dave White [ Thu Oct 04, 2007 5:40 pm ]
Post subject: 
Cool
Author:  Colin S [ Thu Oct 04, 2007 8:30 pm ]
Post subject: 
An iconic guitar back to it's former glory, well it's new glory. Great job.

Colin
Author:  Bruce Dickey [ Fri Oct 05, 2007 12:45 am ]
Post subject: 
The Transformation is really nice John.

Enjoy this fine guitar and the fact you did it.

Author:  LanceK [ Fri Oct 05, 2007 5:27 am ]
Post subject: 
Fantastic job John!
Author:  Don Williams [ Fri Oct 05, 2007 6:13 am ]
Post subject: 
Aww man.... I liked the bolts. Why'd you get rid of them?



Nice looking job...
Author:  Brad Way [ Fri Oct 05, 2007 9:43 am ]
Post subject: 
Great job!
Author:  John Elshaw [ Fri Oct 05, 2007 10:18 am ]
Post subject: 
[QUOTE=Don Williams] Aww man.... I liked the bolts. Why'd you get rid of them?



Nice looking job...[/QUOTE]

I didn't get rid of them, I still have them on my workbench. I'm wondering what I should do with them? This entire project takes the bolt-on neck to an entire new level. Anybody else using a bolt-on method like the one in the pic?
Page 1 of 1 All times are UTC - 5 hours
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group
http://www.phpbb.com/