Where's Mark?

rick12dr · Post by **rick12dr** » Thu Apr 03, 2003 12:27 pm

Oh, oh ! you know what they say about "ticking sounds."....handle with care..

sir_andrew_of_left_coast · Thu Apr 03, 2003 1:15 pm

I've got a 1-year anniversary coming up, Don... do you know something that I should?

rick12dr · Post by **rick12dr** » Thu Apr 03, 2003 4:37 pm

Uhhh, no, actually this was an insider joke when I worked at the P.O."Hey, boss, do you hear ticking inside this box"? "No, shut up and get back to work; these things are just an occupational hazard, deal with it".

sir_andrew_of_left_coast · Thu Apr 03, 2003 5:20 pm

Oh, OK then... I'll just go back to watching the time go by. Tick...tick...tick...tick...

headbanger · Post by **headbanger** » Fri Apr 04, 2003 2:35 am

Has any of you guys actually heard from Mark or has he completly dissapeared into the ether?

sir_andrew_of_left_coast · Fri Apr 04, 2003 5:07 am

For some, it's apparently an effortless task to speak with or receive correspondence from the honorable luthier... for others, it's an impossibility.

rickplayer · Post by **rickplayer** » Fri Apr 04, 2003 6:44 am

Well,
I recently went to Marks house and had him install abr1 bridge on my 6120. I know he has lost interest in lurking and feels most questions can be answered in the arcives. I have seen him chime in when a new question comes up. I have also seen some of the projects he is working on. The 4005 he is restoring has one of the most beautiful necks. I sure would like to see that bass go fire-glo, but whatever. Again, alive and well.

sir_andrew_of_left_coast · Fri Apr 04, 2003 8:52 am

"I have seen him chime in when a new question comes up."

You have? Care to direct me to that (recent) example of his "chiming-in"? Or is this a purposely deceptive statement; i.e., there really haven't been any "new questions" to speak of...

rickplayer · Post by **rickplayer** » Fri Apr 04, 2003 11:11 am

Ow! Now I see why he doesn't answer. I'm not going to bother looking it up. It may have been on vox talks I am not sure. I should have checked before I made that statement. Mark doesn't get paid for doing this forum. He did just to help. I feel the fun of this discussion is gone. Luckily I can contact Mark directly and he helps me with my guitars. Good luck guys!

anonymous · Post by **anonymous** » Fri Apr 04, 2003 11:50 am

"Luckily I can contact Mark directly and he helps me with my guitars."

Rub it in, Jon... rub it in.

anonymous · Post by **anonymous** » Fri Apr 04, 2003 4:56 pm

Pete,

Isn't it true that Mark agreed to be an "expert" for the Rickenbacker Forum?

I appreciate all the time he spent, but if Mark cannot spare the time anymore, then I think it's time to officially "de-source" him as an expert...

Thanks.

anonymous · Post by **anonymous** » Fri Apr 04, 2003 5:01 pm

It says: "Ask A Rickenbacker Luthier",
not, "Ask Mark Arnquist"

anonymous · Post by **anonymous** » Fri Apr 04, 2003 5:06 pm

Jon, The people that are posting about this aren't aggravated about him not being available to answer advice questions on a webboard.

I know from experience that when you're busy, you just can't make time for everyone's questions about minutia and in those cases, places like the archives are great wealths of knowledge. In those cases, I certainly agree.

HOWEVER, that being said, the people that have been trying to get a hold of him are actually people owning guitars he is working on and he has had them for many many months in some cases with no contact whatsoever. I know that a 4005 bass(perhaps the one you were looking at) has been in his possesion for a long time already and the person that is getting it restored is understandably eager to get it back and hasn't been able to make contact with Mark.

We all know about Mark's excellent work which is why the situations are all that more frustrating I'm sure, because they have been looking forward to enjoying that work.

Perhaps, if you are indeed able to get a hold of him like you say, you could pass along a short list of these people and have Mark make time to get in contact with them so that they might at least know the status of their items and could alleviate some of the concerns.

anonymous · Post by **anonymous** » Fri Apr 04, 2003 5:09 pm

There's some real appreciation for you.
Try looking at the archives and reviewing what has been shared. Most problems big and small given careful consideration. Mark's still contributing every day.
Things happen and priorities change but Mark is still the Rickenbacker Luthier as far as I'm concerned.
List another board where this information and experience is available.
Russ

anonymous · Post by **anonymous** » Fri Apr 04, 2003 8:39 pm

Can I chime in on the subject of "titles"? I asked Mark if He came up with the "Ask a Rick Luthier" thing.I personally did not think this is what he would have picked. He confirmed that this was Not His choice.Personally, I think something like, "Rick Techie Corner" would be better suited.Even before Mark came aboard, there was getting to be a lot of valuable info exchanged, regarding various problems, how to set up, different adjustments, hardware issues,whatever.
Regardless of Who has posted on a given subject/problem, there are enough comments on many subjects that at some point all end up coming to a same end conclusion,though each writer may express it different.If you look through the archives, I think you can pretty much see that just about every scenario anyone has ever routinely run into regarding a Rick has been addressed.There may be a slight "twist" to a given proble,. but think in terms of the basic categories of components that make up a Rick[or any guitar ,really]. What do you have? from top to bottom; tuners,nut, truss rod adjusting, truss rods themselves, frets[loose, worn, etc.] pickups,
wiring, bridges,tailpieces.Other than wood/structural/finish issues,everything else is covered.I say this cause some guys are not tech heads and are intimidated by problems. Sometimes this is OK, as some people shouldn't"try this at home"; seek a good repair person.I should also bring up that, if you are the owner of a New Rick, with warranty still effective, if you have a problem,Contact Rick rather than a repairman.
If there is a structural problem, or finish problem or whatever, perhaps change of climate from California to end destination has adversely affected the instrument.Or maybe somehow, despite the companies best efforts, you got a bad PU or bad pots or something. This is where the company
comes in to your aid. After the warranty is up, then you are on your own.Alot of times, just reading the manual can help you out. But when that fails,for whatever reason, a good repairman is the ticket.Unfortunately, good repairmen are not always easily found. Or, there may be a good local guy, but!, if your town is like my former residence was, for whatever reason, Ricks were a "dirty word" in local repair circles.I should add that most of that was due to them not understanding the Rick truss rod system in the old days.Or worse, that the owners attempted to adjust, having No Clue what was proper procedure, thereby screwing up a guitar that now scares the repairman.That's why the guys here that have had Mark do Rick work for them have been so happy; Mark understands them.