1960 450 "Teardrop" restoration

kiramdear · Post by **kiramdear** » Sun Jan 24, 2010 7:22 pm

Gotta get up pretty early in the morning to catch me sleeping.

collin · Post by **collin** » Sun Jan 24, 2010 11:01 pm

Wow, thanks Paul and Kira!!

What a great tip, I will try to find some of the fiberglass cloth.

On original 425/450's, painted solid colors, is there typically seam lines where the wings meet the center block? I don't want to smooth them out if they should really be there.

Been swamped lately and away from this project, but I should be back on it pretty soon.

kiramdear · Post by **kiramdear** » Sun Jan 24, 2010 11:56 pm

I don't believe that visible seam lines would be appropriate for a 4XX series guitar. That would only go for the old combo 900-950-1000 models. Someone could jump in, please, if I'm wrong about that.

collin · Post by **collin** » Mon Jan 25, 2010 1:12 am

kiramdear wrote:I don't believe that visible seam lines would be appropriate for a 4XX series guitar. That would only go for the old combo 900-950-1000 models. Someone could jump in, please, if I'm wrong about that.

Hard to say if this 450 might even have been one of the early types, that actually had the neck/center block left as maple, and the wings only painted...?

I guess it won't matter too much, I want to paint the whole thing jetglo anyways, regardless of how it was originally (it'll be a step up!).

8mileshigher · Post by **8mileshigher** » Mon Mar 08, 2010 4:22 pm

Collin --- how's the Teardrop restoration project going ??

Did you get smooth seam-lines with the fiberglass cloth ?
Any more pictures to post of work-in-progress ??

collin · Post by **collin** » Mon Mar 08, 2010 5:47 pm

Sorry Rich----held up some more. Despite how often I post here, its typically because I have a computer in front of me 20 hours a day doing school work.

I'll get rolling on it again soon, I have some progress pics since then, but I want to lay more down at the same time.

Plus, I've been waiting for a tracing of a late 50's 450 to use before I cut the shape again (a member is sending one, I believe!).

ledbye · Post by **ledbye** » Thu Mar 11, 2010 11:49 pm

Awesome, I too love threads like this. This one actually reminds me of the J-Bass restoration Tym guitars did...

http://www.tymguitars.com.au/Repairs_64_Jbass.htm

Maybe the bass player was from the band that this guy was in with his Ric!!

beatles beatnik · Post by **beatles beatnik** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 10:26 am

whatever became of this? I love the 450's and this restoration is highly intriguing!

collin · Post by **collin** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 12:14 pm

beatles beatnik wrote:whatever became of this? I love the 450's and this restoration is highly intriguing!

It's still in the works---I just haven't had the time to commit to it in a long while. Getting close though, I just need a new bandsaw to get started.

kennyhowes · Post by **kennyhowes** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 7:27 am

Wassa happening?

collin · Post by **collin** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 1:10 pm

kennyhowes wrote:Wassa happening?

Progress, actually!

To make things easier and cleaner, I have recently removed the body wings (using infrared heat lamps to loosen the glue).

So now it's as stripped down as it gets, should be making some more progress soon and posting pics.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 2:13 pm

Lonely teardrops...

8mileshigher · Post by **8mileshigher** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 3:40 pm

Collin - are you thinking about Binding on the body or are you going with contours on the body wings ?

collin · Post by **collin** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 5:07 pm

8mileshigher wrote:Collin - are you thinking about Binding on the body or are you going with contours on the body wings ?

No matter what, I won't contour the body wings -- that is one of the distinct features of earlier "capri" (?) versions of the 450, before 1963. Otherwise it would have been cheaper and easier to pick up a 60's 400-body with contours (which seemingly are available all over the place lately).

I thought about checkerboard binding--the guitar will be Jetglo with gold guards....might as well, since much of the guitar isn't going to be original anyways...customize a little (within the boundaries of taste, of course..).

8mileshigher · Post by **8mileshigher** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 5:18 pm

collin wrote:
8mileshigher wrote:Collin - are you thinking about Binding on the body or are you going with contours on the body wings ?

No matter what, I won't contour the body wings -- that is one of the distinct features of earlier "capri" (?) versions of the 450, before 1963. Otherwise it would have been cheaper and easier to pick up a 60's 400-body with contours (which seemingly are available all over the place lately).

I thought about checkerboard binding--the guitar will be Jetglo with gold guards....might as well, since much of the guitar isn't going to be original anyways...customize a little (within the boundaries of taste, of course..).

Nice ! Checkerboard binding with JetGlo is first class cool !!

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