OK, 10K...

[jingle_jangle]

...And it's time for me to announce that I've met my personal challenge, and am retiring from all things Rickenbacker, to move on to...

...a Fender Relic Andy Summers Telecaster.

NOT.

Seriously, folks...after four decades of messin' with music and the things that make them, I finally am in a place that's the most fun I've ever had!

Everyone here has made me feel welcome. It's been an education for me, not only in guitar stuff, but in the good things about human nature, and I hope I've held up my end by sharing myself and my experiences with anyone with a need to know or a problem to solve.

As for my opinions, well...I've got 'em.

Thanks for being friends, for being human and for being here! I've got to hand it to Peter, too, for establishing and watching over the best darned virtual community on the Net.

Oh, the winner of the "Over The Hump" contest?

Ray Christensen, for:

"If you could convince John Hall to produce just one of the extinct RIC models, and you had the final say between leave it as it was back in the day, or modernize it as you see fit; what model would you choose, and would you decide to keep it as close as possible to the originals or make substantial changes to the basic design?"

...which I thought embodied what I was trying to get at with this "contest": a completely hypothetical, but fun fantasy.

My answer? I'd love to see an old horseshoe-pickup Combo 800 from '57 or so brought back to life, for the benefit of those of us who've never played one, but who've heard about their greatness.

And I would only change one thing.

I know, odd to say--it's a guitar that does not quite scream "Rickenbacker" in shape or any other visual feature save the nameplate out there at the tip of the neck, but it does, to me, at least, represent an intriguing break from later history and all of Rossmeisl's classic shapes.

And I would not change a thing on it EXCEPT possibly to make it available in some nifty colors beyond Natural, JG, Cloverfield Green, and White.

Ray, write to me at the email in my profile, and give me your string choice and address, and they will be winging their way to you pronto!

Second best question: Fat Freddy's Cat, only because I know the answer: "Scat", as in "Fast Freddy Scat".

Let's see: John Galt, "Atlas Shrugged". I read everything she wrote, but for the life of me can't imagine reading "AS" more than once. And I think I mixed it on this very Forum with someone re: Objectivism, and possibly lost, or at least withdrew.

Jerry, your guitar is a gleam in my eye, but getting gleamier.

Aitch, the Miata has joined the SAAB, so we're a two-convertible family again. It's my economical commute car.

Kris: The only way I can categorize restoration jobs is as ones that are lovely to do, and ones that fight me every step of the way. I don't send any out that don't make me happy in the end. I guess I'm proudest of my own '60 Capri and the 700C/12 I put together for Kantner at RIC75, under tight deadlines with little to go on in terms of his personal preferences, except that if I'm a curmudgeon, he's my patron saint.

Both turned out just fine.

David, I'd never work for Fender...too big a company and I think the politics--and my own level of frustration--would be hellish.

Dean, there will be no changes made by me to the unique bracing pattern of the tops of the Rick flat-tops. If anything, I'm learning about just why they sound so good!

Sheena, I think there a very few 390 owners on record. I do know someone who has a 760J apart from the factory museum.

Alvaro, I have no experience with the "Dead Zone", as I am primarily a foofer guitarist and neither of my Rick basses suffers from this malady. However, allow me to say that I can hardly wait...

Jason, your question about past vs. future is an intriguing one, but would take a book to do it justice. So, for now, let's just say I'm conflicted.

Brian C., I believe the question posed by one George Clinton (who amazed Juliana when she sat on his lap back when she was 2 years old..you never saw such big eyes!) was, "You Want Fries With That Shake?"

Brian T.: The materials I'm using now are a dream come true from the old days. The paint companies are doing fabulous things for cars and wooden furniture, and we are benefiting while, hopefully, doing less damage to our planet.

Joe P.: The C63 has a feel that I have felt on no other Rick. It's a combination of factors. Compared to one, the 330/12 reminds me of a cigar box, and it is an excellent guitar in its own right! Closest I come in my own buncha Ricks is the 360/12WB I recently acquired from Kevin. Someday I'll have a C, too. Then it'll be really splitting hairs.

Could I quit my job and do refins for a living? Probably, if I tripled my prices; kinda defeats the purpose and kills the fun. But I do foresee a time when my refinishing work will take a backseat to acoustic production and some other Rickenbacker projects that I'm contemplating.

Last, I still have my [in]sanity.

Thanks to all for your tolerance and humor.

[wmthor]

Paul, congratulations on reaching 10K!

[elysrand]

Careful how you talk about my Gramma, and Poppa Frank too! What's wrong with Objectivism anyway? It is not such a bad cult. Look at that Massachusetts guy! Cults abound these days...

Happy 10,000 Paul!!!!

Elys

[leftybass]

Congrats Paul. I had to think for a minute what the thread was about, LOL!!!

As a customer, a friend, and fellow Forumite, I'm glad to say that it's very cool you found this place. Hope we can hang out again sometime, you might as well come east to the MARF!!!!

[leesh]

Congrats Paul!

[Scastles]

Wow, 10K!! And it only seemed like yesterday you were at 5K. Wait, maybe you were

Tip 'O the Hat for the knowledge and expertise you've added for all here!!

[doctorwho]

A heartfelt congratulations, Paul, and thanks for sharing your knowledge, wisdom, and wit with us here!

[sloop_john_b]

Paul, you're the best! Congrats!

[bitzerguy]

10K! Well done and congratulations. I agree 100% with you Paul about the Combo 800. That one or the Combo 900 would be my choice as well.

Thanks for the humour, wisdom, knowledge and camaraderie. I very much hope we get to meet one day.

And a big congratulations to Ray for a great question! You definitely deserve the strings for that one!

...Dean

[melibreits]

Rock on, Paul.... Dittos to everything everyone else has already said. This Forum wouldn't be the same without you and your wisdom and expertise, not to mention your sense of humor!

[4003]

Congratulations....now get back to sanding and painting and sanding and painting and sanding....

I have learned volumes from you and others here these last couple of years! Looking forward to seeing the exceptional quality of your work first-hand very soon. With the recent Colts victory - BLUE IS IN!

[sharkboy]

Congrats, dude. I didn't have anything with which to stump you. I think you would be able to answer physics questions about luthiery approaching light speeds faster than I could make up answers.

[beatlefreak]

Congratulations from me too, Paul - Happy 10,000th!!! How's that for making you feel old?

BTW - The question about Fat Freddie's cat was sort of a trick one - He never did have a name. He was always known as just Fat Freddie's Cat. Although Scat would have fit him, as he was always sh*tting everywhere.

[winston]

Congrats on reaching 10,000 posts Paul. I am sorry to say that I can't add anything new, since it has already been said by the rest of the gang here.

[lars]

Congrats Paul, thanks for all your interesting posts, both on Rickenbackers and life in general. As a European, I find that this forum increases my knowledge on USA and its people, language, and (not least) diversity. I wish I could contribute more myself, but my lack of skills in the english language sometimes keep me from joining discussion of more complex issues...

Thank you all, and Paul in particular!