A BIT OVER A YEAR IN THE MAKING...

[squid]

But there has to be some kind of solution floating around in Rickenbacker history ... somewhere! Did you ever moot this with John Hall. I know he struggled with it, too.

[squid]

I think the 760J in the bottom centre of this image is the Gretsch tailpiece under consideration? It's now available on the "Synchromatic" archtops. Sorry I haven't posted the image itself. I didn't want to get into copyright issues.

http://www.rickenbacker.com/gallery_ima ... _year=1960

[jingle_jangle]

This is one that I seriously considered. The Gretsch versions I've seen were from older instruments, and had "GRETSCH" engraved into the metal. Nothing a bit of grinding and replating wouldn't take care of.

Here it is with the simple Allparts tailpiece (raw wood, unfinished, but quite playable...

[squid]

I'm gonna get scorched for posting this, but what the heck. It's not at all simple, but I always liked it's art deco vibe. It's almost impossible to find as a replacement part, but it might pick up the laminates in the headstock nicely. Gibson uses it on the LeGrande archtop and on the Howard Roberts Fusion model ...

So how did it sound, Paul?

[tennis_nick]

With a burst finish that's dark around the edges, that would look beautiful with the allparts bridge IMO!

[jps]

This type, with an "R" instead of the "G".

[jingle_jangle]

You mean a Retsch?

[tennis_nick]

You mean a Retsch?

That sounds too gross!

the more I look at the shape, the more I think... Montezumo Brown... strange eh??

[jps]

You mean a Retsch?

Sure, a Retschbo!

[jps]

Here is another idea (a better one, perhaps!), a shape that echos the headstock, at least the curve of the top of it for the string end of the tailpiece.

[johnallg]

Of all the tailpieces I've seen here, by far for me it is the Allparts one, like the one in the pic from the RIC museum, and that includes the ones on the instruments John P. linked to the RIC site. The straight clean look is right for the overall effect. The others are way too busy and the curved one on the center instrument on the linked RIC site doesn't look right with the curves of the body.

Very nice work and wood, Paul.

[jingle_jangle]

Right now, after pondering this over the weekend, and a good night's sleep, I've come to the conclusion that there are only two ways to go.

Using what I believe to be RIC's original reasoning, stay with the Allparts simple, generic unit. It is clean-looking, and doesn't have visual ties to any specific brand (yeah, sure it was used on Gibsons and Epis in the '60s, but it's been used many, many times since, too). Only problem is that the Allparts one costs $10, and has a so-so finish...

Design and fabricate a special tailpiece to go with the special provenance and historical legacy that this guitar represents.

So, for now it's the Allparts, while I work on Plan "B".

Next: Color...

[sowhat]

Next: Color...

OliveGlo! Imho, a natural wood colour would look cool — maple or walnut, for instance... but it's just my humble opinion, especially when it comes to acoustics...

[squid]

I always liked the "Opulent Brown" option that Guild used to offer on its archtops. It's just so rich:

[sharkboy]

I'm rooting for "plan B". As nice as the Allparts part is (say that 3 times fast), I think you'll make something even better. I also really like the Guild one, but I like the idea of a "new classic" one made for this guitar.

The guitar looks spectacular and I bet the pics don't do it justice.

I hope it gets some use in the surf ditties or in your thrash metal ska punk klezmer band that you keep secretly on the side. Oh, sorry, I let the cat out of the bag.