Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

So this may not be the easiest way to get one's dream 350 but I'm going to make it happen. I've wanted a 24 fret FIreglo 350 bound with checkerboard purfling since I was 13 and this guitar was brand new. I bought what you see from Len earlier in the week and was lucky enough to buy some checkerboard & binding just yesterday. No turning back now, the expensive flammable celluloid is on the way. I'll be using 2 fiber top HiGains from my '88WB and an HB-1 at the bridge. I've done various guitar mods, rebuilds, rewires, a couple refinishes & even built my own guitar but never something as in depth and detailed as I intend to do with this project.

It requires (obviously) a neck transplant. I recently traded Kenny my 1992 trans purple 330/12 for a 1991 JG 330. The JG 330 plays perfectly well but needs a refin. Seeing a 350 body from the same year up for grabs I knew what had to happen. The JG 330 will donate its neck. How could I desecrate a 330 like that? What to do? It took no time to figure that out. Time to also build a 30" scale bass neck for the 330. I have never been able to play full size basses all night without fatigue. So yes, this is not one major project but two. And yes, I am probably insane. More on that 330 bass project later.

Step 1 is stripping the 350's body with aircraft remover this week. Once the aircraft have all been ousted. I will decide if Amber Fireglo is in my future or I have to go solid, possibly turquoise like my other 330. Next is removing the back with a careful application of heat to soften the glue. Then I have to reglue the back together with titebond as it has split down the centerline. Same with the front between the pickup routes. Once this is all repaired I will make the stairstep on the front for the checkerboard purfling & binding. No rear binding, f hole or slash but I may have enough CB for the headstock. Progress will not be swift as this is going to take time to get right but I will update as I progress. Cheers for now!

That sounds great, Dom. Do keep us posted.

Thanks, Dom. I can't wait to see it as it progresses.

Cool project. Looking forward.

Great looking project Dom...looking forward to seeing plenty of pictures along the way!!

Cool project(s) you have going there, Dom !!
Looking forward to seeing step-by-step pictures

Also interested in the 330B project! Make sure you post about that one when it's turn comes up.

Yes looking forward to seeing the pics also interested in the 330 bass !

scotty wrote:Yes looking forward to seeing the pics also interested in the 330 bass !

We need a popcorn emoticon on the RRF.

Eat this!:

Paint comes off Thursday! Nom mom nom!

What color will the 350 end up with?

johnallg wrote:What color will the 350 end up with?

If the wood looks good then amber fireglo since I've never seen one that way with checkerboard. I want it to have a nice gradual burst rather than a defined line. I see "Mglo" written on the inside of the control cavity which is a good sign. If not then I'm leaning towards turquoise. I also decided to keep the R tailpiece rather than a vibrato since I use the controls a bunch & want nothing in the way...they're a heck of a lot more close to the strings than the 330/370's I'm used to.

Speaking of controls the 3 way will work the neck & mid & the bridge HB will be on a dedicated vol since that needs a 500k value. The neck & mid will both share a volume knob,.022 cap and tone knob and be on the blend. If I like how the phase switching goes on the 370wb I may add that on two push pulls. I may have the volumes up top as I can roll the neck/mid off & the bridge on with the side of my palm in one motion. This gives me 7 pickup combos plus 2 OOPs & tap.

Mglo points to nice wood, but the black might be in the grain and make the AFG not possible. Turquoise is always nice.