I don't think that many of us would worry about changing pickguards, pick-ups or other non destructive mods....but what about invasive modification?
Is it OK to add a third pick up to a modern gtr, but not a vintage one (bearing in mind that modern gtrs will become vintage one day). Would this include ltd edition gtrs & when is the vintage cut off point? Is it OK to fit a Bigsby, or a humbucker that needs extra routing?
What are your views on this? Does the factory have a view?
For instance, if I did this to my Carl Wilson, would it be modding a gtr to work for you, or just vandalism? If it is vandalism, would it be any less so if it were not a ltd edition?
'Rickenbacker'...what a name! After all these years, it still thrills me.
A most interesting topic of discussion Tony. In part, I think you have to consider whether you are a player or a collector to some extent. As a player, I would make any modification that was necessary to achieve the sound or playability of an instrument. I am fascinated by Rickenbackers but I am not a dyed-in-the-wool collector.
For limited editions, if you make modifications there is certainly going to be a downside should your goal be to attain the highest price at sale. Also, is there any benefit to have the modifications, reversible or not, done by the factory? I suspect that most would reply with a resounding yes.
I consider that vandalism would be too harsh a characterization for adding a third pickup to a Carl Wilson, however, it will never fetch what the original in the same shape would, unless the modification was done by or for a famous player.
Life, as with music, often requires one to let go of the melody and listen to the rhythm
I think Peter hit it on the head with respect to limited editions... With respect to "vintage" models or standard models... I think you need to consider the volume of production.
Example, I have an early '90's JetGlo 360. Great guitar, but I would have no problem moddifying it with a Bigsby or something invasive... (Don't care to do that, but if I did, no hesitation).
Why? They make them all the time. Great guitar, but not a "rare" one. I paid $800.00 for mine, brand new in '90. Even if it were solid mint (and it is not), I'd get right around that if I sold it. Look at the prices of 70's and 80's Ricks on common models... Same thing... They are not out of sight on the higher production models/colors. (Even some 60's models are very reasonable).
I think Peter is right about considering whether you are a player or collector.
Finally (don't want to step on any toes here) but I think a lot of Rick players put a little too much emphasis on preserving what they perceive as the Holy Grail, and not simply playing and enjoying the guitar. With a few exceptions, Ricks were meant to be played and enjoyed... Not polished with cotton diaper and kept under lock/key in the perfect climated controlled vault somewhere.
I always kinda chuckle when I see the eBay ads with perfect or near perfect Ricks (bearing the USA sticker on the pickguard) and the seller bragging about how little he used the instrument. More often than not, these garage queens are: 330's, 360's, 660's, 620's...
Sorry for the rant... Now, on to something less controversial... Like Truss Rod Covers.
Several years ago I purchased a 1971 Gibson SG with a factory installed Bigsby style tremelo. I loved the guitar, it played like a dream and sounded amazing. But it wouldn't stay in tune and was a pain to string. I thought about selling it, then finding the exact same guitar without the Bigsby. I was so afraid to "ruin" the guitar by making it non-original. Then it hit me, I love this guitar, will never ever sell it, so who cares what it's worth to anyone else. I had a fixed bridge put on seven years ago and haven't had any regrets.
The guitar is a great player, everyone that plays it thinks so, and one day it will belong to my children (let's hope they don't like "dance music"!)
I won't repeat what Jim and Peter stated better than I would have.
I agree with the exception that even if it is rare and you are hurting the value modifying it....who cares?....it is yours and if it increases your enjoyment/use of it then go for it.
That being said, I did sell a 4003SPC Tuxedo because it was in great condition and for me to get enjoyment from it I would have had to modify it some and felt it would be better off to sell it and modify a more common 4003.
I recently received my 4004LK which is pretty rare and has already increased considerably in value and I play it every chance I get and it will see regular gig usage......it is my new #1. It is a great player as is but if it needed some mods to make me use it more or get more enjoyment from it I would do it (right after getting it my opinion was different but now it is just another workhorse).
I appreciate the work and craft that goes into making thousands of Rickenbackers every year, partly by computer-controlled machines, largely by hand, so that each item is really unique. I am in awe that this has been done for years and years, always improving methods and materials, and still the guitars are lovely to look at, hold, and play.
It takes me X number of hours of hard work at my profession to earn the disposable income to buy a Rickenbacker guitar.
It is out of respect for these two lucky circumstances that I "polish [my] guitar with a cotton diaper". It still gets played daily.
I also polish my cars with cotton diapers, too. It's the best way to treat nice finishes.
(He says defensively.)
Put that in your pipe, Creasy!
“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
Does this qualify? It's a '58 Fenton-Weil, which I barely rescued from the East End. It will play again!
This sort of thing is the reason why the Brit groups bought American when they could and German when they couldn't, during the embargo of the '50s and early '60s.
Yes, it's plywood. The position markers are stick-on blue tape thingies.
“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
“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
Dane, you may think I used paint stripper on that thang, but in fact, it was Pabst. Urp.
My secret weapon.
“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
Technically, if you paid for it, you can do anything you damn well want with it, vintage, collectable or otherwise. All destroying one of these instruments does is increase the value and rarity of the unmolested versions.
Just because I cringe at every posting of a certain forum member's modifications doesn't mean they aren't well within their rights to irreversably modify the guitars.
Jeff, I'm down wit dat. That's the freedom of ownership. When we get into issues of taste, well, that's when I stop preachin' and walk away.
Irreversible mods...that's a mare's nest of issues.
“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
