So what do you think?

[melibreits]

Ah, so it is real.... people's responses here are confusing me!

[dswp]

She is real. Ron has been sending me progress photo's during the entire process.

Quite the looker she is!!!

[ozover50]

Oh it's real, alright..... unless Ron's been having a lend of me. In which case I'm gonna punch his lights out next time I see him!!

[winston]

I just got off the phone with Howard. Yes ladies and gents that beautiful guitar is real. Congrats Ron. Can you send her over with Howard when he comes to visit us in August. I wouldn't mind placing a couple of picks under the strings when I am finished playing it.

[Scastles]

I wanted to wait until the dust settled, and I have to say it beats anything I've seen. The question remains where and who did this? Or did I miss out on this as well with the other cryptic notes.

Great Rick, Ron.

[jingle_jangle]

Congrats, Ron...details when you get a chance, please!

[harvey49]

Well, I had no idea that this would generate so much discussion.

Thanks to Howard, Dave, Brian and Darren, for speaking up - they know full well this guitar exists.

Having put out feelers on the forum for an Azure Glo 360 WB last year, which I know was a tall order, I decided that maybe having a 330 customised might be a more realistic approach to reaching my goal, and probably less expensive as well.

The project started in October last year,after discussions with John Koelling about getting a referral to Larry Davis, who is the man responsible for this wonderful guitar. I received the guitar from Larry last Thursday and it's everything I was hoping for. I won't bore you will details but suffice to say there was quite a bit done. But it's all that binding that I think works really well with the colour.

As for pics of me Paul, I don't think the forum could handle my ugly moosh being displayed, bound to cause a melt down, besides it would detract from the guitar. If you'd like to see more pics I'm happy to oblidge, I'll add one of the headstock which had quite a bit done to it besides the binding.

BTW: Brian, although you assured me that your special picks would work, in being able to acquire some nice guitars when you were over here last year, no one wanted to play the game then - so you've got no hope with this one!!!!!! If, and when you make it back over hear again, you're welcome to play it, but with my picks only! (In joke folks sorry)

[wmthor]

I bet it sounds as great as it looks!

[jingle_jangle]

Nitro clearcoat, Ron?

[paologregorio]

Well, I had no idea that this would generate so much discussion.

Thanks to Howard, Dave, Brian and Darren, for speaking up - they know full well this guitar exists.

Having put out feelers on the forum for an Azure Glo 360 WB last year, which I know was a tall order, I decided that maybe having a 330 customised might be a more realistic approach to reaching my goal, and probably less expensive as well.

The project started in October last year,after discussions with John Koelling about getting a referral to Larry Davis, who is the man responsible for this wonderful guitar. I received the guitar from Larry last Thursday and it's everything I was hoping for. I won't bore you will details but suffice to say there was quite a bit done. But it's all that binding that I think works really well with the colour.

As for pics of me Paul, I don't think the forum could handle my ugly moosh being displayed, bound to cause a melt down, besides it would detract from the guitar. If you'd like to see more pics I'm happy to oblidge, I'll add one of the headstock which had quite a bit done to it besides the binding.

KER_4433.jpg

BTW: Brian, although you assured me that your special picks would work, in being able to acquire some nice guitars when you were over here last year, no one wanted to play the game then - so you've got no hope with this one!!!!!! If, and when you make it back over hear again, you're welcome to play it, but with my picks only! (In joke folks sorry)

Everyone loves this guitar because, in addition to being absolutely gorgeous, it's been transformed into the WB model that a lot of us wish was still available. The addition of headstock binding and a first fret inlay are extra "icing on the cake" touches that make the guitar all the more stunning. All of the body and neck binding, in addition to the FWI, transform the pleasant 330 body shape into a visual stunner.

WRT to your headstock comment about more being done that binding, fill us in on the details; I notice a vintage headstock profile, Vintage Sta-tite style tuners, and a vintage TRC. Did I miss anything?

Also, did you have the guitar rewired for ROS?

[arbiter]

Everyone loves this guitar because, in addition to being absolutely gorgeous, it's been transformed into the WB model that a lot of us wish was still available. The addition of headstock binding and a first fret inlay are extra "icing on the cake" touches that make the guitar all the more stunning. All of the body and neck binding, in addition to the FWI, transform the pleasant 330 body shape into a visual stunner.

WRT to your headstock comment about more being done that binding, fill us in on the details; I notice a vintage headstock profile, Vintage Sta-tite style tuners, and a vintage TRC. Did I miss anything?

Also, did you have the guitar rewired for ROS?

Has it truly been transformed into the WB model though? Is the 360 WB body the same as a 330's?

[paologregorio]

Everyone loves this guitar because, in addition to being absolutely gorgeous, it's been transformed into the WB model that a lot of us wish was still available. The addition of headstock binding and a first fret inlay are extra "icing on the cake" touches that make the guitar all the more stunning. All of the body and neck binding, in addition to the FWI, transform the pleasant 330 body shape into a visual stunner.

WRT to your headstock comment about more being done that binding, fill us in on the details; I notice a vintage headstock profile, Vintage Sta-tite style tuners, and a vintage TRC. Did I miss anything?

Also, did you have the guitar rewired for ROS?

Has it truly been transformed into the WB model though? Is the 360 WB body the same as a 330's?

Yes, it's the same body shape and dimensions. The differences between a WB and a 330 are:
double bound body
bound soundhole
neck binding
triangle inlays
dual input jacks; one for standard and one for Rick O Sound

[arbiter]

Ah, i never knew. I guess i was just hoping the body would be different so that it'd seem more special (if that makes sense). Still pretty sweet

[harvey49]

To Paul who asked about the headstock and ROS, the headstock had the wings removed, trimmed up and new wings added, (curly claro walnut), then re shaped from the original boat paddle look and then the binding.

Re wiring, all that's been modified here is the 5th knob is now a dedicated volume for the middle pickup, I didn't even consider ROS, there were some many other options to consider at the time.

I wouldn't bet my house on it but I think there is a subtle difference in the body shape, (curves of the cutaways and the horns), of the new 330's compared to the 330WB. But it was going to be a cheaper proposition to use a standard 330 to customise rather than trying to find a WB for the project. In the end I've got all the things I would've wanted from a range of Ric guitars in one, so I'm pretty pleased as you can imagine.

Howard suggested posting a pic of the guitar when it was near completion from Larry Davis's workshop, rather than the ones that he supplies with the guitar from the professional photo shoot he has done of the guitar on completion, (for the doubters if they still exist.)

[paologregorio]

Ah, i never knew. I guess i was just hoping the body would be different so that it'd seem more special (if that makes sense). Still pretty sweet

I don't know how much more special and unique the guitar could be, even using the same body blank that a WB would use.

WBs haven't been made in awhile, but when they were, they were made from the same basic body blank as a 330.

I have an early 90s WB in MG that I am seriously considering having refinished in a more exciting color, as well as given the FWI, vintage headstock profile, and Kluson tuner treatment. I'm getting tired of looking at plain old mapleglo. The only Rick I have in a flashy color is a WB in AZ Blue with a Gumby headstock.