Why do people do this? This is just way wrong.

[ric330]

Not right:


http://cgi.ebay.com/1966-Rickenbacker-3 ... dZViewItem

[TheFountainHead]

I think it's kinda cool - definitely a player and not a collector's piece. The neck's 'stripped' color is different, but i think it looks pretty sweet. Can't say i'm a huge fan of the B/W color pickguard though..

[mfb]

It wasn't "right" either for Pete Townshend to smash "a perfectly good guitar", but there you go. Come to think of it, John Fogerty did the same thing one night as he walked behind the back of the stage, smashed it to pieces.

Bet the person that did that felt like they had something unique, and it appears it can be reversed.

Better than smashing it altogether.

[doctorwho]

At least the seller did not set some wacko price on it ... I've seen such modded items for what one might pay for an absolutely near mint one.

[admin]

This guitar sets the stage for a great discusssion of the functional versus the aesthetic.

While this may be a wonderful player and rock the house, those who are committed to the traditional will have a hard time accepting the modification. I confess, from where I am sitting it is not a pretty look.

At the same time I am reminded of modifications to the traditional Rickenbacker that we have embraced without a second thought. The most classic example is the use of the Bigsby. Before Lennon this was not a look that was readily accepted. Now it has appeal. To that end, we are only one famous guitar away from a new mod at any given point in time. If John Forgety signs on, will we accept a non-traditional bridge pickup.

Does the fame of the player completely change out view of the traditional look? In a heartbeat, I would argue. Having said that, it is going to take someone awfully famous to change my view of the instrument here.

[wj350]

This guitar sets the stage for a great discusssion of the functional versus the aesthetic.

While this may be a wonderful player and rock the house, those who are committed to the traditional will have a hard time accepting the modification. I confess, from where I am sitting it is not a pretty look.

At the same time I am reminded of modifications to the traditional Rickenbacker that we have embraced without a second thought. The most classic example is the use of the Bigsby. Before Lennon this was not a look that was readily accepted. Now it has appeal. To that end, we are only one famous guitar away from a new mod at any given point in time. If John Forgety signs on, will we accept a non-traditional bridge pickup.

Does the fame of the player completely change out view of the traditional look? In a heartbeat, I would argue. Having said that, it is going to take someone awfully famous to change my view of the instrument here.

Oh I'd definitely agree Peter. Kurt Kobain did the same thing with the Jag and Mustang, JL not only with the Ric, but with the Casino and LP Jr as well, and I'm sure there are numerous examples out there of artists who have mod'd a standard and we readily accept it.

The only thing that really looks a bit whack on this guitar to me is that black P/G piece.

Bill

[paologregorio]

What is that teardrop shape in place of the three way switch? The black PG is the ugliest part. I deon't understand stripping the finish off. I think the lacquered fretboard is awesome on a Rick , I have rosewood and ebony fretboards, and they're fine, but I think they're more difficult to keep clean than any lacquered neck, be it rosewood or maple.

[eatswodo]

What is that teardrop shape in place of the three way switch?

I'd guess that it's a knob attached to a rotary selector switch......

[scotty]

As Peter has stated its ok to mod a guitar with traditional features and accept it.As for the guitar above this looks like a instrument that has had no thought into the modification.Regarding the playability of the instrument thats for the owner to decide but for the pure aesthetic look Its a mish mash of uncertainty.For goodness sake a twotone scratplate that looks like your grannies idea!

[admin]

Bullseye, Scotty. I certainly join with your appraisal of this instrument.

[ric330]

The Black PG piece w/ white guard below - Black tuners - a bit strange to me.
The different switch and pickups aren't as bad. It does look like it could be brought back to pretty original if the buyer chose to.
If it sells at a reasonable price it could be pretty cool.
That black guard and black tuners just ruin the guitar for me but everybody has their own opinion.

[red_rob]

I'm with you Kevin - that picture hurts my eyes and makes me want to break something.

[BobKat]

That guitar has loads of potential. The mini humbuckers and the bridge, and even the tuners, can be brought back to stock. The head repair looks like a decent job too.

[goofyfoot]

Uuhhh-errr.......is that pickguard about to morph into a ying-yang thing?

[grazioso]

i do wonder what is under those pickups. the repair looks ok but realy new neck would have been probably better. think about what they did, they cut off the piece of the neck
in an angle, they made new piece and epoxy glued it together. the headstock and big chunk of the neck is new. it would have been much more sensible just to take the back off and make the whole new neck properly instead of this sort of repair.
they put almost same amount of work into something rather questionable. it is load of work there or as bob put it lot of "potential"..

- dismantle the poor thing ???
- new neck ???,
- refret ???
- finish ???
- parts - ???

at the rates the parts are going now for is it even worth it? i can still see sometimes 365 in much better condition for reasonable money. i am afraid that the main potential of this auction is for some low life - to part it out.