Good Project? Need Advice

leesh · Post by **leesh** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 6:15 am

Check this out...it ends pretty quick...What do you guys think:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7408262905

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 7:39 am

Looks OK, but you're gonna pay through the schnozzola for a jackplate...

randyz · Post by **randyz** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 7:58 am

Yes, the missing tailpiece plate will be hard to replace.

leesh · Post by **leesh** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 8:01 am

But is it dooable? I'd not do it for a financial gain..just a really good project.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 8:27 am

Alisha, it is easily doable, provided you are not seeking absolute period originality. You can get it looking very, very close on a Fender budget, doing it yourself. You picked a good example of a great entry-level project. Now, the challenge is to get it at a reasonable price. It's right on the edge of silly money for a good stripped body. Many of us have paid less than this for fully functional original vintage Ricks!

leesh · Post by **leesh** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 8:34 am

Paul. Thanks for the info. That was the one drawback....$400 for not so much, no matter the potential. Where do you even begin to look for those lonely Ric's? What are some of your experiences?

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 9:33 am

I've been very lucky for a short-timer. I found an '83 Electro ES-16 (student model short-scale) "under the bed" with what seemed like the original strings, even, in dusty but absolute mint condition, for $400.00 at a swap meet. We stopped into a very busy but out-of-our way meet one Sunday morning to look for CDs and luggage. It was sitting in the guy's trunk in the parking lot before we even got into the meet!

I got it home and spent 3 or 4 hours cleaning it. It's back under the bed, looking like the day it was minted.

I bought a '76 (I think) 430 (have to recheck the bridge again) from eBay on a "Best Offer". The seller wanted $599.00; it had just been listed. I jumped in with $329 to get negotiations started and to my surprise my offer was accepted. I only paid $25.00 shipping as it was less than 100 miles away. Came with a nice B5 Bigsby, too.

Those were my two "under $400.00" Ricks in the last year.

leesh · Post by **leesh** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 9:42 am

Wow...that's very cool. I'm getting too anxious I guess. I'm new to Seattle, so I don't know that much around here and I've been surfing the net a little bit and haven't found anything within a decent price range.

ozover50 · Post by **ozover50** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 9:59 am

I keep looking too, Alisha - in the vain hope that........

They almost always go beyond what I consider a reasonable price - not necessarily a bargain one. I've been looking for a refin project (a Paul special, that is) for about a year now, with no luck. You have one serious advantage over me - you're in the US, so your chances are increased heavily over mine. I can't offer you any more than the best of luck in your search. I suspect that there are hundreds stored under beds, in wardrobes and on garage shelves just waiting for someone like you (sounds like a song!) to bring it back to life.

BTW - give my regards to Seattle! I was there in '02 for about 10 days and really loved the place. Great people and even better bars!!

I have my Seattle coffee mug and Frazier t-shirt in view as I type..........

teb · Post by **teb** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 12:08 pm

Geez, if you're looking at spending that kind of money for a lifeless hunk of wood and then hunt up a pile of expensive parts just to make it work, buy my Jetglo 250. It's a real, living, breathing guitar (that will kick some serious butt when you plug it in). You'd have to beat on it for a while with something heavy if you really want to start with a true basket case, but it has some stuff that could use attention and could be a great and relatively rare project to restore to showroom glory. I'm about to list it on eBay, but would rather sell it to somebody here.
http://webpages.charter.net/tbradshaw/250mst%20002.jpg

leesh · Post by **leesh** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 12:11 pm

Todd! Perfect! Email me (listed in my profile) and let's talk