Good luck with the auction, Scoobster - if it's what you want then GO FOR IT!!
The addition of the Gibson HB no doubt will give you the sound that you're looking for but in my eyes (for what they're worth) it's just not aesthetically pleasing.
I bought my two Rics for what they are, not what I want them to be or what they could be. But then again I'm a bit of a purist and won't change.
Hope you win and have a great time with it!!
Oh man......
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adam_swapp
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Some of us are a little judgmental, aren't we? 
As was pointed out earlier, the most famous Rick players in the world (Lennon, McCartney, McGuinn, etc.) modified their guitars from stock. So, what's wrong with this guy doing the same? Why hold him to a higher standard? In 40 years, there might be a cottage industry built around his mods.
It's not what I would have done, and it's probably detrimental to the resale value of the guitar, but it's his guitar - and it's only a guitar, and not a rare one at that. One might argue that it's ill-advised from a practical sense, but it falls far short of sacrilege or desecration.
And Paul, it seems that your objection to stripping the Casino, J160E, and 325 is based on the quality of the work rather than the concept. Remember, those guitars probably wouldn't even be considered iconic or particularly desirable if not for John Lennon. And I dare say those mods have made a boatload of money for RIC and Gibson. They don't seem to have any trouble tempering their indignation for fun and profit.
BTW, I did contact the seller about the new pickup rout. He has no pictures of the new cavity, nor does he know the dimensions. In short, you might be able to cover it with a RIC pupif you were so inclined - but I wouldn't bet on it.
So Benjamin, my suggestion to you (which is worth what you're paying for it), is to think twice about this guitar. If you can pick it up cheap, go for it, but if it gets anywhere near the price of an unmolested instrument I'd opt for a stock model. There are a lot of pickups available these days, and it's quite likely that you can get the sound you're looking for in a package that allows you to reinstall the original toaster with no lasting evidence of your experiment.
As was pointed out earlier, the most famous Rick players in the world (Lennon, McCartney, McGuinn, etc.) modified their guitars from stock. So, what's wrong with this guy doing the same? Why hold him to a higher standard? In 40 years, there might be a cottage industry built around his mods.
It's not what I would have done, and it's probably detrimental to the resale value of the guitar, but it's his guitar - and it's only a guitar, and not a rare one at that. One might argue that it's ill-advised from a practical sense, but it falls far short of sacrilege or desecration.
And Paul, it seems that your objection to stripping the Casino, J160E, and 325 is based on the quality of the work rather than the concept. Remember, those guitars probably wouldn't even be considered iconic or particularly desirable if not for John Lennon. And I dare say those mods have made a boatload of money for RIC and Gibson. They don't seem to have any trouble tempering their indignation for fun and profit.
BTW, I did contact the seller about the new pickup rout. He has no pictures of the new cavity, nor does he know the dimensions. In short, you might be able to cover it with a RIC pupif you were so inclined - but I wouldn't bet on it.
So Benjamin, my suggestion to you (which is worth what you're paying for it), is to think twice about this guitar. If you can pick it up cheap, go for it, but if it gets anywhere near the price of an unmolested instrument I'd opt for a stock model. There are a lot of pickups available these days, and it's quite likely that you can get the sound you're looking for in a package that allows you to reinstall the original toaster with no lasting evidence of your experiment.
You want to put that where?
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scoobster28
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Right, my cap is $800, and I have rarely seen a 350 go for under that. I am confident I will not be taking this one home, but if I were to pay around 1,000-1,200, I would rather do the work myself (i.e. get my techie to do it!). And, not to pick on you Paul, but I have seen pictures of Lennon's "modified" V81 with the knobs falling off and while I wouldn't be offended, to some people that might be rediculis looking. Could be John just wore the thing to pieces, most likely, but also most likely if he had stuck with Rick knobs he wouldn't have them constantly falling off.
"Here he is, come to pay homage to the Rickenbacker display!" (Said to me by owner Bruce at the "Great House of Guitars" in Rochester, NY)
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jingle_jangle
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Scoob, if anything, I'm guilty of picking on you, although it's nothing personal and beauty in this case is in the eye of the purchaser!
Scoob, Lennon's 325 came originally with the good old "oven" knobs that we can still purchase through any number of sources, which are still being made by the same folks who made them in '58. From what I understand, the "oven" knobs (and their origiinal use WAS as an OEM part for stoves) were too close together for John's liking with the original spacing of the pickguard. They were removed and replaced with two different styles of knobs--one the "chrome" knobs from Curry's (actually spun and knurled aluminum) and also the plastic Hofner knobs.
Although Andy Babiuk cites a source commenting that the oven knobs were constantly falling off, These things would have had to have been tinkered with, in my opinion. In any case, I'd be willing to bet that eventually a setscrew was lost. These could not have been easy to find back then for a musician not frequenting hardware factors. Besides, they are Allen set screws, confusing to the uninitiated. The knobs he replaced them with had slotted setcrews, but I'd doubt that the Beatles travelled with either Allen wrenches or jewelers' screwdrivers in those early days. There are photos in existence of John playing at the Star club with not only a knob missing, but an entire pot having fallen inside the control cavity, probably because its hex retaining nut fell off. These are not exactly available at the corner candy store.
To me it is much more likely that fiddling caused these fall-offs, since Rick had the tools at the factory to install knobs and torque them properly.
At any rate, the knobs falling off were not intentional, but accidental and although a bit shabby looking, lend a real "workingman's axe" mystique to the guitar in those days. The hummer on the guitar we're going on about, was someone's deliberate irreversible modification to that guitar.
Scoob, Lennon's 325 came originally with the good old "oven" knobs that we can still purchase through any number of sources, which are still being made by the same folks who made them in '58. From what I understand, the "oven" knobs (and their origiinal use WAS as an OEM part for stoves) were too close together for John's liking with the original spacing of the pickguard. They were removed and replaced with two different styles of knobs--one the "chrome" knobs from Curry's (actually spun and knurled aluminum) and also the plastic Hofner knobs.
Although Andy Babiuk cites a source commenting that the oven knobs were constantly falling off, These things would have had to have been tinkered with, in my opinion. In any case, I'd be willing to bet that eventually a setscrew was lost. These could not have been easy to find back then for a musician not frequenting hardware factors. Besides, they are Allen set screws, confusing to the uninitiated. The knobs he replaced them with had slotted setcrews, but I'd doubt that the Beatles travelled with either Allen wrenches or jewelers' screwdrivers in those early days. There are photos in existence of John playing at the Star club with not only a knob missing, but an entire pot having fallen inside the control cavity, probably because its hex retaining nut fell off. These are not exactly available at the corner candy store.
To me it is much more likely that fiddling caused these fall-offs, since Rick had the tools at the factory to install knobs and torque them properly.
At any rate, the knobs falling off were not intentional, but accidental and although a bit shabby looking, lend a real "workingman's axe" mystique to the guitar in those days. The hummer on the guitar we're going on about, was someone's deliberate irreversible modification to that guitar.
“I say in speeches that a plausible mission of artists is to make people appreciate being alive at least a little bit. I am then asked if I know of any artists who pulled that off. I reply, 'The Beatles did.”
― Kurt Vonnegut
― Kurt Vonnegut
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leftyguitars
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Yes, It is back! But this is the winner of the re-listed auction selling it now! He didn't keep it for long did he? Obviously there is more to this guitar than first meets the eye!
"If only quilted maple grew on trees!"
http://www.leftyguitars.co.uk
http://www.leftyguitars.co.uk
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jingle_jangle
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jingle_jangle
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He includes the original pickup, too. Maybe a can of Plastic Wood is in there as well.
“I say in speeches that a plausible mission of artists is to make people appreciate being alive at least a little bit. I am then asked if I know of any artists who pulled that off. I reply, 'The Beatles did.”
― Kurt Vonnegut
― Kurt Vonnegut
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leftyguitars
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He paid $895 for it two weeks ago and is now asking $1398 BIN. Gulp!!! I wish I could make profits like that! Mind you he hasn't sold it yet!
"If only quilted maple grew on trees!"
http://www.leftyguitars.co.uk
http://www.leftyguitars.co.uk
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jingle_jangle
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scoobster28
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How do you know he paid $895 for it? It didn't sell, as the reserve was not met. Maybe he is just ambitious. Anyways, I think I would much prefer a Jetglo (a.k.a. Hoffs) or a Fireglo (CCR... my real reason for wanting one. The mapleglo is nice, but on this guitar is just seems to make the guitar look smaller. I won't pay what he wants for it, though.
"Here he is, come to pay homage to the Rickenbacker display!" (Said to me by owner Bruce at the "Great House of Guitars" in Rochester, NY)
If you look at the auction and click on relisted you will see where it sold for $895.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7307827881
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7307827881