My 1985 v59
Moderators: rickenbrother, ajish4
My 1985 v59
In 1985 I purchased a 325v59 new for 800 bucks. In 1984 this was as close as it got to John Lennon’s early guitar. The guitar I received had missing filler at the top heel of the neck. I phoned RIC and they said “send it back” so I did. 4 weeks later this V59 arrived –with the same serial number as the previous guitar on the jack plate. Puzzled because I knew it was a new guitar, I called Ric and Mr. Hall himself talked to me. He told me, “the previous guitar, with bad routing, does not exist, (destroyed by factory?) this guitar is now #XJ0893.” So I unscrewed the pick guard and noticed the old serial number roughly hand painted in black directly over the original number!
This guitar like the previous one -that never existed, also had, imitation Klusons except that one of them had the the word “Gibson” on it! So I called Ric and Mr. Hall exclaimed “Da-@#$ Da---! I told those guys! Pause -I’ll send you a new one.” The tuner they sent was a modern round Kluson, no way would it fit and no where close to the vintage rep ones. Anyway I still think it’s a great and funny Ric factory story. It makes this v59 special so I modified this guitar to my liking.
-The Ric logo is burned into real glass with lemon gold-leaf backing.
-The Tuners are Gold plated Grovers. The original fake Klusons (including the Gibson which I still have) were replaced because they were to clunky to turn.
-The toasters are now wired like a ®strat with a 5 way switch so I can grab in betweens.
-The Pick Guard is clear Lucite, custom cut with Lemon Gold-Leaf backing.
-The Bridge is a Bigsby, machined to fit. Now it stays in tune with any gauge strings! Before it was impossible to keep in tune.
-And of course it has the Bigsby only in Gold.
It was signed by John Fogarty at a centerfield concert in Cincy, Sept 86. Back stage pass is still in the case.
I know these v59’s aren’t worth much because of the new JL’s but this beautiful guitar steals the show where ever it goes. The “ Ric 325” is the most beautiful cut of any guitar ever made.
This guitar like the previous one -that never existed, also had, imitation Klusons except that one of them had the the word “Gibson” on it! So I called Ric and Mr. Hall exclaimed “Da-@#$ Da---! I told those guys! Pause -I’ll send you a new one.” The tuner they sent was a modern round Kluson, no way would it fit and no where close to the vintage rep ones. Anyway I still think it’s a great and funny Ric factory story. It makes this v59 special so I modified this guitar to my liking.
-The Ric logo is burned into real glass with lemon gold-leaf backing.
-The Tuners are Gold plated Grovers. The original fake Klusons (including the Gibson which I still have) were replaced because they were to clunky to turn.
-The toasters are now wired like a ®strat with a 5 way switch so I can grab in betweens.
-The Pick Guard is clear Lucite, custom cut with Lemon Gold-Leaf backing.
-The Bridge is a Bigsby, machined to fit. Now it stays in tune with any gauge strings! Before it was impossible to keep in tune.
-And of course it has the Bigsby only in Gold.
It was signed by John Fogarty at a centerfield concert in Cincy, Sept 86. Back stage pass is still in the case.
I know these v59’s aren’t worth much because of the new JL’s but this beautiful guitar steals the show where ever it goes. The “ Ric 325” is the most beautiful cut of any guitar ever made.
- jingle_jangle
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What your guitar is worth is secondary to the pleasure it brings to you and others, Clark. And it sounds quite unique. To describe it in such detail and not post pictures is...
Welcome, and POST PICS!
Welcome, and POST PICS!
“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
- jingle_jangle
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We FEED on pictures...
MUST have PICTURES!!!!
PICTURES!!! PICTURES!!!
(snort, snort, snort...)
MUST have PICTURES!!!!
PICTURES!!! PICTURES!!!
(snort, snort, snort...)
“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
- melibreits
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Let's hope we'll see... sometimes people are just way too busy to spend time at the forums... when you're "hooked", you feel the need to connect & see what happens every day, and when you're not yet...
Welcome from me too, Clark!..
...but i wanna see pictures, too!!!!!!!!
Welcome from me too, Clark!..
...but i wanna see pictures, too!!!!!!!!
Nothing will get you dead quicker than being deadly serious about yourself.
- jingle_jangle
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- Joined: Wed Dec 22, 2004 6:00 am
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- jingle_jangle
- RRF Moderator
- Posts: 22679
- Joined: Wed Dec 22, 2004 6:00 am
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