What is WRONG with people?! - Part Neuf

[rickaddict]

Some of the most musically creative people I know are only slightly aware of what kind of guitar they play let alone care what it looks like.

+1

[kiramdear]

Some of the most musically creative people I know are only slightly aware of what kind of guitar they play let alone care what it looks like.

Some of the most creative people I know are barely aware what planet they're on

[rickaddict]

Welcome to the forum, Daniel. We're looking forward to more boring participation from you.

JOEY!

I can't believe you would say such a thing!



(Captain Mischief strikes again!)

My apologies to both Joey and Daniel. I was bored and attempted to make a funny. Again...This is a joke...It's only a joke. I know that I'm goofy. I can't help it.

Somebody...Please save me from the boredom of my daily routine!

Heeeelp!

[BlueAngel]

I agree with Daniel up to a point - and as a repairer, I've seen a lot of results of 'creative' owners too . But most are done with either some idea that it will improve the functionality - not always in a rational way, but at least that was the intention - or some sense of artistic care and either craftsmanship or originality.

This is none of those things - it's simply a bass that someone has crudely hacked pieces off with no apparent skill or artistry, let alone purpose. It's that which makes me wonder about the intelligence or sobriety of whoever did this one. I think it will affect the playability too - the damage to the body will catch on your arm and/or clothing. It is, I think, the worst example of pointless hacking I've ever seen... though not the most extreme modification or the most valuable instrument to suffer it.

There have been several great examples on Ebay and other guitar forums over the last few years. Ever see the '59 Les Paul Standard converted to a left-hander, with an extra cutaway and moved controls? Or the 50s Goldtop Les Paul turned into an electric 5-string banjo? (No, I'm really not kidding!)

My favorite is "Picasso's Jaguar" though - a genuine '62 Fender Jaguar which someone cut sections of the body and headstock off, then reglued them in different locations. I understood what the artist was trying to do, and even though I'm a fan of Jaguars I couldn't bring myself to hate him for it. It was actually quite cool and unique in its own way, and in some ways it wouldn't have been quite the same if he'd started with a modern cheapo.

[teeder]

Ever see the '59 Les Paul Standard converted to a left-hander, with an extra cutaway and moved controls?

Ouch! That's gonna' leave a mark!

[Ric O'Sound]

(Captain Mischief strikes again!)

My apologies to both Joey and Daniel. I was bored and attempted to make a funny. Again...This is a joke...It's only a joke. I know that I'm goofy. I can't help it.

No worries, Jeff... I can recognize a little good-natured fun when I see it.

Thanks to all you guys for the welcome. As I mentioned above, I've seen a lot of gruesome stuff in my day. Here's one that still sticks in my mind...

I swear to God I saw this in a pawn shop one day back in the mid '90s...picture this:
An honest-to-goodness '56 Gold-Top Les Paul (not a reissue) with the P-90s removed and the pickup cavities filled in with Bondo (or some kind of filler). It was obvious that wood was not used to fill the cavities, as the filling material had shrunk over time, leaving rectangular craters into which cutouts for Danelectro lipstick pickups were sloppily routed...Poorly matched gold Krylon spray paint covered the "bondo-ed" areas. To top it all off, a third "middle pickup" cavity was routed between the two for an additional lipstick. An additional volume control was added beneath the usual group of four (with a non-matching knob...looked like it came from a Jazz Bass) and a micro-switch mounted next to the standard 3-way toggle on the upper bout. I nearly cried when I saw that guitar. I asked myself, "Why on earth would anybody want to put 3 lipstick pickups in a Les Paul?" But hey...it takes all kinds, as they say.

I have even more "horror stories" including one involving a Rick 360, but I won't tell that one here 'cause I don't want to induce any more nausea amongst members than the original topic already has. Anyway, that story is best told while camping in the woods at night with everyone sitting in a circle, and me holding a flashlight to my chin.

[beatlefreak]

I have even more "horror stories" including one involving a Rick 360, but I won't tell that one here 'cause I don't want to induce any more nausea amongst members than the original topic already has. Anyway, that story is best told while camping in the woods at night with everyone sitting in a circle, and me holding a flashlight to my chin.

Why not? It's coming up on Halloween soon, and we're all in the mood for scary stories...

[rickenbrother]

(Captain Mischief strikes again!)

My apologies to both Joey and Daniel. I was bored and attempted to make a funny. Again...This is a joke...It's only a joke. I know that I'm goofy. I can't help it.

Somebody...Please save me from the boredom of my daily routine!

Heeeelp!

[paologregorio]

(Captain Mischief strikes again!)

My apologies to both Joey and Daniel. I was bored and attempted to make a funny. Again...This is a joke...It's only a joke. I know that I'm goofy. I can't help it.

Somebody...Please save me from the boredom of my daily routine!

Heeeelp!

I thought it was a funny crack as well.

My advice is, if one's going to cut up a Rick, make sure the Rick's airbrushed on, made of frosting, and perched atop a cake!

[rickaddict]

No worries, Jeff... I can recognize a little good-natured fun when I see it.

Cool. I like you already!

picture this:
An honest-to-goodness '56 Gold-Top Les Paul (not a reissue) with the P-90s removed and the pickup cavities filled in with Bondo (or some kind of filler). It was obvious that wood was not used to fill the cavities, as the filling material had shrunk over time, leaving rectangular craters into which cutouts for Danelectro lipstick pickups were sloppily routed...Poorly matched gold Krylon spray paint covered the "bondo-ed" areas. To top it all off, a third "middle pickup" cavity was routed between the two for an additional lipstick. An additional volume control was added beneath the usual group of four (with a non-matching knob...looked like it came from a Jazz Bass) and a micro-switch mounted next to the standard 3-way toggle on the upper bout. I nearly cried when I saw that guitar. I asked myself, "Why on earth would anybody want to put 3 lipstick pickups in a Les Paul?" But hey...it takes all kinds, as they say.

Unreal. I can kinda understand stuff like removing a horseshoe pickup to get better string access, or adding a tremolo bar, or changing out the bridge because the old one was difficult to adjust, etc. But what would someone be thinking when he did that?! I think he was thinking this:

"The lipstick pickup is the holy grail of tone...With these pickups I will increase the quality of my tone such that I will finally achieve my rightful place among Rock and Roll's great guitarists...Clapton, Page, Harrison, Vaughan, Van Halen, and me...Billy Bob 'Cooter' McCoy."

What's so wrong with taking lessons and practicing as a means of improving?

[rickaddict]

My advice is, if one's going to cut up a Rick, make sure the Rick's airbrushed on, made of frosting, and perched atop a cake!

Very nice, Paul!

Kinda reminds me of this:

[cjj]

Better eat those cakes quick, before the RIC trademark infringement police get you...

[deaconblues]

Ever see the '59 Les Paul Standard converted to a left-hander, with an extra cutaway and moved controls?

The lefthanded people must be stopped!

[rickaddict]

The lefthanded people must be stopped!

Yuck! But at least this guy was trying to adapt the instrument so that he could play it. Not just trying to destroy it because mommy and daddy paid for it and he was frustrated that he couldn't play it!

[johnallg]

I believe the one altering the Rick wanted it to be a visual statement pertinent to the style of music his group played. He is entitled, he owns it.

And what is it with blue Ricks and cakes?!

"So, welcome to the best instrument forum on the web, where we are all strong, good looking, and above average!"

Paul, I know exactly what you mean!

Man, this place is in rare form today!