Mark Arnquist for President!

karl_teten · Post by **karl_teten** » Sun Jun 12, 2005 2:27 pm

Larry,

You would agree that Mark deserves 'mucho' attention if you played my guitar.

I have had guitarists do double takes after playing it! You know, the players that go on about how Ricks are only rhythm guitars!

Mark stripped the guitar and had to do some binding work first. This was a 1995 guitar with the first stages of binding rot!

Mark refretted the guitar with the same factory size frets it originally had. Mark then gently crowned the frets leaving all the 'meat' on without filing half the frets away like you find on factory guitars. They are same size factory fret but now feels twice as large! Mark also did some repair tweek mods to my truss rods.

I had Mark make new bridge saddles and nut with his string spread technique. With this new spacing along with the meaty frets, the guitar now plays like a million dollars!!! It equally stands up next to any other make of guitar I own.

I had Mark install several original vinatge parts to the guitar that I had sent to him including an early pre-cast 'solid' R tail and real 60's toasters.

Mark made me new pickguards with material he has that is exact in look and feel to the original 60's material Rickenbacker used to use. He made the guards just like 'old school' with the hand beveled edges and tape behind the control pots.

I had Mark custom wire the guitar like a McGuinn model with three slave volumes, one master volume and one master tone. It is a non-active circuit. The dual mono-inputs are wired now with one having a 60's cap, the other input is 'open' for modern sound.

Finally, Mark gave me a new black finish that mirrors a Stienway grand piano.

The string spread and frets together along with all the tonal variations I can get with the custom wiring and dual inputs makes this guitar an absolute Rickenbacker dream!

I don't know how many Rick's you own or have played Larry but I have owned over 20.

This is now by far the best Rickenbacker I have ever played!

bill_yantz · Post by **bill_yantz** » Mon Jun 13, 2005 2:01 am

Karl, excellent description. interresting that Mark widened the nut on a 6-string - very cool. I have often thought that would be a good Ric mod but never heard about anyone who has ever done it. Can you post a closeup of the nut?

BTW, can you describe the sound difference between the modified and standard jack outputs? I've often wondered if one of the mono outputs could be modified to be stereo?

rick12dr · Post by **rick12dr** » Mon Jun 13, 2005 5:22 am

Guys, take a vote here; if you want to see any more Arnquist postings here. RIC Intl wants him banned from this site.Don't believe me? email Peter, or Ric headquarters.I will say no more.
Last I looked, this is America and free speech prevails....

admin · Post by **admin** » Mon Jun 13, 2005 5:54 am

Don: I am responsible for suspending the Mondello account. A requirement here is that people post under their real name. When they are not who they say they are it leads to many problems, a few of which we have seen before.

We are all entitled to free speech but as has been said before, this does not mean that we can say anything we want or post under a name that is not genuine.

To pass this off as a request of RIC is not accurate. It was my decision and I apologize if I have offended you or others.

steverok · Post by **steverok** » Mon Jun 13, 2005 9:25 am

That's a shame, M.A. definitely knows a world about Rickenbackers, and guitars in general, and really cares about the product. Maybe he knows too much for this forum, I suppose ...

loverickbass · Post by **loverickbass** » Mon Jun 13, 2005 9:38 am

All I know is that my guitar was just unplayable before the mods. The guitar was unmodified,just as it left Rickenbacker. The high E's were real close to the edge. The low E's weren't. I think that's a little backwards IMO. The bridge needed moving back away from the neck because it couldn't be tuned correctly without it. The neck would bow with the half stainless steel truss rod bar.That would later on cause the fretboard to pop off. Now it plays like a dream with no reverse bowing neck and in tune even with the 6 saddle bridge.You be the judge.

Cole

johnhall · Post by **johnhall** » Mon Jun 13, 2005 9:40 am

Don, your facts are not correct.

I've told Peter from the outset, as I have many others, that I and RIC will not participate in any group in which primarily commercial interest posts were allowed, such as Mark Arnquist's.

We have chosen as a matter of policy to not support any unofficial group utilizing our brand trademarks if we are not the exclusive provider of Rickenbacker oriented services or products.

It's entirely the choice of the site owner how they wish to operate their site, just as it is our choice to decide which sites or board we choose to support.

Finally, I find it quite sad when we can't distinguish who are real people posting their genuine opinions as opposed to fictitious people with some personal agenda.

jsm610 · Post by **jsm610** » Mon Jun 13, 2005 5:58 pm

Someone called for a vote? My vote is no.

sir_andrew_of_left_coast · Tue Jun 14, 2005 8:38 pm

loverickbass · Post by **loverickbass** » Wed Jun 15, 2005 2:16 am

Power to the people

bill_yantz · Post by **bill_yantz** » Wed Jun 15, 2005 3:19 am

I have "no idea" where all the "hard-feelings" have come from. Here's what I know about it: 1) I appreciative of Mark's posts in the technical section. He spent a great amount of time answering a multitude of questions with knowledge, experience & expertise in such a way that I understood it and learned a lot in the process. I am grateful for his contributions and I miss that.

Mark was gracious enough to help me with information and instructions to do some minor modifications to my 12-string to make it play better - and this is how he makes his living! Try asking any consultant for their methodologies and intellectual properties. You've got to pay to get it and rightfully so. But, in Mark's case he offered it up freely, without hesitation and for me, I thank him - period.

patrickkelly · Post by **patrickkelly** » Wed Jun 15, 2005 3:54 am

OK, so here's my question:

There are plenty of folks who post on this forum who offer guitar repair services for monetary compensation--the so-called "commercial interest posts." One of these people has even been recommended by John Hall (from January 12, 2005):

"Guys, I wouldn't write off [edited name of luthier]'s insight. He's one of the best finish and repair guys in the country, if not the world. He also really was right here in Orange County during the thick of things with both Rickenbacker and Fender (much more so that the other guy that regularly uses you guys to advertise for him)."

So, I ask in the interest of fair play, why has Arnquist been singled out?

(This is, to me, a separate issue from his using an assumed name, which is BS, as I have said publicly on another forum.)

rick12dr · Post by **rick12dr** » Wed Jun 15, 2005 5:26 am

Patrick,send Mark an email; he'll tell you all about it.

admin · Post by **admin** » Wed Jun 15, 2005 5:32 am

One and all: John Hall's comments above are clear and were articulated from the beginning. The heart of the matter is here.

I've told Peter from the outset, as I have many others, that I and RIC will not participate in any group in which primarily commercial interest posts were allowed, such as Mark Arnquist's.

We have chosen as a matter of policy to not support any unofficial group utilizing our brand trademarks if we are not the exclusive provider of Rickenbacker oriented services or products.

It's entirely the choice of the site owner how they wish to operate their site, just as it is our choice to decide which sites or board we choose to support.

As this is the Rickenbacker Forum it would be highly desirable, at least in my view, to have RIC and its employees contribute.

Every one of the posts here has had and continues to have an impact on the extent to which RIC is likely to contribute. We have lost Mr. Hall before as a result of people who have posted twice and thought once. I really hope we don't have to have a repeat this history.

I would like to ask each one of us to do our level best to comment in a way that allows RIC and Mr. Hall to feel welcome and to participate. I am asking that we put personal issues aside with the view of allowing all of those who visit here to benefit from John Hall's posts.

Life is not perfect. I am responsible for making decisions with regard to who visits here. As I am responsible, please feel free to let me know directly how you feel. [email protected]

I promise you, there is no joy in Mudville ...

bill_yantz · Post by **bill_yantz** » Wed Jun 15, 2005 5:53 am

Very well said Peter and I agree and understand more fully. I am delighted that this forum has so many great, knowledgeable people who regularly post here, especially John Hall.

However, I do stand by my post regarding what I considered a very nice gesture. Thanks.