CNC MACHINE

shackleton · Post by **shackleton** » Fri Dec 29, 2006 7:23 am

Is 1985 when cnc started?

soundmasterg · Post by **soundmasterg** » Fri Dec 29, 2006 10:17 am

NC started back in the 70's or earlier as Fender had an NC machine that later came to the company I work for, Rodgers Instruments LLC. We were both owned by CBS at the time and Fender got a CNC machine and didn't need their old NC, so CBS allocated it to us. This happened in the mid 80's when Fender was making their amps in Oregon. Little did the employees here know about what stuff would be worth, but they threw out all the jigs and patterns that Fender was using! One old employee who has since retired kept a steel Strat body pattern...I should look him up and see if I can get it from him. We've since retired that old NC machine and gone with CNC too. The NC machine used punch cards instead of a computer program to tell it when and where to cut.

As far as RIC and CNC is concerned, I have no idea but would guess mid 80's is when CNC came into use.

jwilli · Post by **jwilli** » Fri Dec 29, 2006 4:14 pm

RIC had one CNC machine when I visited the factory back in '98. They have at least three now, I believe.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Fri Dec 29, 2006 5:06 pm

John, I think they have four Haas and the big Reichenbacher...

Ben'll jump in and correct me if I'm wrong, I hope.

dale_fortune · Post by **dale_fortune** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 7:05 am

Greg That's a great bit of history info. Most people had no idea that Fender and Sunn Amps were made around these neck of the woods. Have you ever heard of or worked on A.G.E. Amps made by Jim Kelley back in the late 70's early 80's in Tustin California? When I left the factory in the mid 70's, all machinery was still hand operated(pin routers and table shapers) the last visit we took of the factory showed several CNC's in use and 1 waiting to be set up and another getting ready to be replaced with an upgrade. Quite efficient and safe they are to say the least, but they take all the Mojo of hands on type work that some people like to hear about out of the 1st parts of guitar construction...

jwilli · Post by **jwilli** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 2:09 pm

The big Reichenbacher was there in '98. I stand corrected Paul. Thank you!

soundmasterg · Post by **soundmasterg** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 11:03 pm

Dale, I'd agree that most people don't have a clue what goes on up here in the northwest. I could tell people stories about Sunn too if I talked to Conrad and asked. I've never worked on any of the Jim Kelley/AGE amps, though I've heard stories about them.

There is still a lot of handwork at Rodgers with the organs we make. I work in computer stuff there, but I often talk to the people who do all the work!

When I've made guitars in the past, it was all handwork, as I'm sure is the same for you since we don't have lots of funds for CNC machines! I was taking a class in the local high school wood shop though the community college to get access to the machinery, and they had a small CNC machine there, but wouldn't let the night students use it. If only they would have I could have cranked out bodies and necks left and right! Personally, I hate sanding, but I really love shaping the neck. Its the best part of making a guitar besides the first time you plug it in and play it.

dale_fortune · Post by **dale_fortune** » Sun Dec 31, 2006 7:43 am

I have the prototype Kelley Amp, if you ever want to look into the chassis drop me a line or two and we can work something out. It's an all tube amp with 30/60 watt configuration, much like a Vox AC30 for the controls, but it has push/pull variation on the T/B/V controls for added sounds. It has a very crystal clean tone to a Tweed Deluxe at full peak with that warm harmonic distortion.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Sun Dec 31, 2006 8:14 am

My first job out of high school was in manufacturing ... they had a NC punch press there in 1972 ... it was for metal and not wood ...

soundmasterg · Post by **soundmasterg** » Sun Dec 31, 2006 2:49 pm

Dale I would love to take a look at it. Maybe after the holiday season has died down a bit? I'm free on weekends and if I remember right, you're just over in Aloha right? I'm in Hillsboro. It would be neat to compare it to my AC30.

BobKat · Post by **BobKat** » Sun Dec 31, 2006 8:13 pm

I think that you can see the changeover to CNC in the bodies of the guitars, especially the upper horn on the 360. I think in '96 or so is when Rickenbacker started using CNC for the bodies.

shackleton · Post by **shackleton** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 8:25 pm

Thanks I quess both my 96 and 98 360's are cnc machined.

BobKat · Post by **BobKat** » Sun Feb 18, 2007 4:17 pm

Are the nuts finished over on the edges? Just curious.

shackleton · Post by **shackleton** » Sun Feb 18, 2007 6:23 pm

Not sure what your question is?

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Mon Feb 19, 2007 1:04 am

Bob, although I'm not totally sure, I think the answer to your question is no. I have one 1999 Rickenbacker at present, and the factory nut is not lacquered on the sides....my '03 325 C58 doesn't either, and my new 1996 doesn't...I don't think they've done that for a while now..