New member and NGD 1967 360. Needs some input
Posted: Sun Jul 14, 2019 1:27 pm
Hi everyone, nice to be here. I'm really a Les Paul and Tele guy, but I've just purchased my second Ric 360. I sold the previous one, as the neck never suited me. I just picked up this particular one out on a craigslist hunt. 1967 360/6. A bit of a basketcase, but I don't mind. I do a lot of my own guitar work, and the things I can't I have a trusted luthier who has not let me down yet, with several big projects under his belt for me.
Here's the rundown currently:
- horribly bowed neck and separating fretboard. It had some piano gauge strings on it, and a way over tightened truss rod.
- Electronics on it were absolutely a mess. I'll be starting over with a completely new harness for this one. The pots and caps do look original, minus the blend knob. - The stereo jack was completely non existent. I haven't decided if I'll bother with the ric-o-sound jack, or just drop a dummy in there for aesthetics.
- Original pick guard is gone, and the replacement is a knockoff that does not fit. Thankfully no additional holes were drilled.
- A piece of the body binding on the lower bout has been broken off. Not the checkerboard layer, but the solid cream layer is gone. Should be replaceable.
- After dissembling to clean, I discovered a route under the bridge pickup for a Strat shaped pickup. Fortunately that is fully covered by the pickup.
While disassembling and trying to discern what pickups were on it (legit toasters or replacements), I *think* I found the neck pickup is a BASS guitar toaster pickup?!?!
- *looks* like a strip and natural re-fin. I would have sworn it was a jetglo to begin with given the black pore filler (or remnants in the pores given the maple construction) and black in the truss cavity, BUT when I took off the jack cover there was a huge bright red splotch. Former Fireglo? To top it off, my buddy who is a bit of a guitar junkie himself swears is a dirtied up 52 year old original mapleglo. Thoughts?
The good:
- No cracks or breaks or repairs of such damage
- Original tuners
- Original case with all components working. OK overall shape.
- Original tuners, truss rod cover, "R" tailpiece, bridge, and original neck toaster pick up
- Frets are actually in decent shape. I imagine it's from being unplayable for who knows how long. Fretboard is in fantastic shape. No missing inlays, divots in the wood, etc...
- The one pickup that did work (not sure yet which one it was), actually sounds really great. Very fun with dirt/OD through a little Champ clone.
- Once I removed the strings, the neck actually went right back to flat... Maybe there's hope yet for it... The truss rods do move and adjust.
In early August it'll be off to my luthier (I live in NC, but the guy I trust when I can't do the job myself is in North FL) for a neck inspection and repair. Even if it's a full reset, fretboard plane, and truss replacement worst-case-scenario, I'll still be way ahead on value compared to what I payed for it. This one is going to be fun to bring back to life!
I love any opinions. Certainly looking for insight on the weirdo pickup, recommendations to source a proper pick guard and pick up, and thoughts on the original finish.
Of course and guitar nerd banter is always fun.
Cheers, thank you.
Here's the rundown currently:
- horribly bowed neck and separating fretboard. It had some piano gauge strings on it, and a way over tightened truss rod.
- Electronics on it were absolutely a mess. I'll be starting over with a completely new harness for this one. The pots and caps do look original, minus the blend knob. - The stereo jack was completely non existent. I haven't decided if I'll bother with the ric-o-sound jack, or just drop a dummy in there for aesthetics.
- Original pick guard is gone, and the replacement is a knockoff that does not fit. Thankfully no additional holes were drilled.
- A piece of the body binding on the lower bout has been broken off. Not the checkerboard layer, but the solid cream layer is gone. Should be replaceable.
- After dissembling to clean, I discovered a route under the bridge pickup for a Strat shaped pickup. Fortunately that is fully covered by the pickup.
While disassembling and trying to discern what pickups were on it (legit toasters or replacements), I *think* I found the neck pickup is a BASS guitar toaster pickup?!?!
- *looks* like a strip and natural re-fin. I would have sworn it was a jetglo to begin with given the black pore filler (or remnants in the pores given the maple construction) and black in the truss cavity, BUT when I took off the jack cover there was a huge bright red splotch. Former Fireglo? To top it off, my buddy who is a bit of a guitar junkie himself swears is a dirtied up 52 year old original mapleglo. Thoughts?
The good:
- No cracks or breaks or repairs of such damage
- Original tuners
- Original case with all components working. OK overall shape.
- Original tuners, truss rod cover, "R" tailpiece, bridge, and original neck toaster pick up
- Frets are actually in decent shape. I imagine it's from being unplayable for who knows how long. Fretboard is in fantastic shape. No missing inlays, divots in the wood, etc...
- The one pickup that did work (not sure yet which one it was), actually sounds really great. Very fun with dirt/OD through a little Champ clone.
- Once I removed the strings, the neck actually went right back to flat... Maybe there's hope yet for it... The truss rods do move and adjust.
In early August it'll be off to my luthier (I live in NC, but the guy I trust when I can't do the job myself is in North FL) for a neck inspection and repair. Even if it's a full reset, fretboard plane, and truss replacement worst-case-scenario, I'll still be way ahead on value compared to what I payed for it. This one is going to be fun to bring back to life!
I love any opinions. Certainly looking for insight on the weirdo pickup, recommendations to source a proper pick guard and pick up, and thoughts on the original finish.
Of course and guitar nerd banter is always fun.
Cheers, thank you.