The Kauffman Curse

[stringsncords]

I recently purchased a new 325 C58 JG, which is obviously a big piece of RIC history - now discontinued. It's a very cool little guitar with a brutally bad tremolo system; the Kauffman Vibrola. The guitar can easily be made playable with the addition of a Trapeze tailpiece and the removal of the Kauffman, but here's the issue: the 325 body is a bit thick for the case, and when the case is unlatched, the lid of the case doesn't close flush - there's about a 1/2" gap that has to be squeezed away before the case can be fully closed and latched, possibly creating some additional pressure on the body of the guitar.

When I removed the dreaded Kauffman, there was a nice little gouge in the finish of the guitar, where the tremolo arm "tightening screw" meets the wood. I admit that I get a little crazy about dings, but the thought of having a brand-new playable guitar with a ding or an unplayable guitar without one is a bit tough to comprehend after paying well in excess of $2K for the guitar. In retrospect, I wish it had been assembled with the Trapeze, and had the Kauffman in the case compartment for optional installation, but that's just my brainstorming; the guitar was sold exactly as promised, and looked excellent when it arrived. After all, it's exactly the way that they were made in 1958 - warts and all. I have no regrets about my purchase.

I know that these models are far from perfect, and I guess that this is one of the prices we have to pay in order to own this model.

I called RIC and spoke to Richard about touch-up paint, and it isn't available; he suggested nail polish or model paint. He also admitted that the Kauffman was pretty useless It is, however, period-correct for 1958 when it was first designed.
No problem there.

I'll take Paul W's suggestion about goth-black nail polish as a repair remedy, and hope that it works out OK.

Anybody out there who has addressed this issue? Did it work out OK for you?

Thanks for your input.

Bob

[rickendelic]

I know this doesn't really answer your question, but would an accent fit and cover the mark?

[rick_ovic]

I've experienced the same problem with every Kaufmann vibrola. My remedy is to remove the thing completely and add a trapeze tailpiece or an Ac'cent vibrola.

[stringsncords]

The guitar is now back at my dealer (POTR) where the Kauffman will be replaced with a Trapeze, and the ding will be repaired with some black nail polish and wet-sanding (Chris is ABSOLUTELY GREAT at this), so it's in very good hands!

I'll keep you posted...

[stillrich]

Hey Bob, as you already know, I have the same problem with my brand new C58MG. Hopefully, the small ding can be fixed and not show very much when I have the trapeze put on. I agree that it is a problem that should have been prevented by some very logical steps taken prior to the shipment from the factory. At the very least, the vibrato arm should have been taken off before putting it in the case. This in itself would have reduced most of the stress pushing down on the Kaufman and into the wood and might have resulted in no damage at all. Hopefully this will all have a happy ending.

[jdogric12]

How funny. Inevitable: after all the trouble they go to to make these authentic replicas, and then stuff like this comes up and people are still shrugging their shoulders! Reminds me of something I heard a friend and beer connosieur say about all those new flavored drinks like the "Hard Lemonades" etc... they spent centuries trying to get the flavor out of beer, then they go and put it all back in!

[stringsncords]

Sorry if I've offended anyone with this post.

Upon further review, there's a wonderful thread entitled PROBLEMS WITH A NEW RICKENBACKER 325 C58 MG which reviews the issues with this guitar; the fact that it's somewhat crudely built accurately reflects the standards to which the 1958 models were constructed - including some very obvious flaws that should have been corrected, but for history's sake, were not; they were kept on the guitar on purpose. Especially interesting are JH's comments that the goal in reissuing this model was to make "perfectly imperfect instruments".

Based on what I learned from this thread, I think that I can safely conclude that EVERY C58 model has some damage to the wood from the Kauffman; the way the guitar is constructed, with the metal adjustment screw so close to the bare wood, and the tight fit in the case, it seems that damage would be imposssible to avoid.

I still don't think it's funny, but I understand the guitar better now, so it's all good.

[jdogric12]

I can certainly sympathize; I would not be amused if I had plunked down that kind of cash and not expected such results.

[dr_wahnsinn]

Very late to this party, but my C58 had no damage to the finish underneath that thumbscrew. There was, however, a shallow impression underneath the end of one of the springs near the end bracket. The shallow case also gave me a cracked pickguard at just about the same place as Lennon's, but at a different angle. I jettisoned the Kauffman for a trapeze and haven't looked back.

[stringsncords]

Thanks, Jocelyn.

A new trapeze is on, the ding is repaired, and the Kauffman is in the case with the paperwork.

I'm not looking back, either!

[beatlefreak]

How about some pictures?

[360dave]

Bob.....that is almost exactly what I did with the Kauffman on my 360MG except it is much more difficult to see the scratch on MG.
The last time I saw that Kauffman was on my garage floor after it had been it the attic for many years.
I think it's near the bottom of the Los Angeles city dump right now.....that was over 30 years ago so it must be about half way down by now.
LOL

I did keep the roller bridge though....and it's coming off soon as i have a non-roller replacement for it.

Best

Dave

[stringsncords]

Hey Dave,

Mine's good - Chris at POTR did a great job with the repair. Nothing like getting a new guitar that's pre-dinged!

Thanks, Bob

[sped55miles]

Wow I was thinking on getting this model, now it sounds like a bad idea. I was only going to change the knobs face plate ect to have it identical to lennons changes later on with like his guitar. something to think about I guess.