X-Bracing vs. the Current Top

[electrofaro]

I tried a search, but it stated nothing suitable was found or something like that...

Paul, as you've restored and customized quite a few guitars old and new - would you have a picture of what the inside of an x-bracing top looks like compared to the later type of top without it? I'm curious what the former looks like, but also what the difference is on the inside of the latter!

[ken_j]

4005

[electrofaro]

Thannks for posting, Ken. I never expected it to be so literally X. Your picture does raise another questions: A 4005 doesn;t have some sort of center block? Or is this attached to the back?

[ken_j]

There is no center block on X braced guitars and basses. There was a pic of a modern 330 or 360 posted here a year or two ago that showed a view like this with the back yet installed. The center block is actually part of the top that does not get removed when machining.

[jwilli]

I own that particular '65 4005 although I believe that Ken was a previous owner. Mark Arnquist made a new neck, replaced the x bracing and the back when he restored it.

[stsang]

X brace.jpg

Thanks for posting! Do you know if there was there a period when RIC moved away from the X-brace or did it just happen at different times for each instrument?

[electrofaro]

Simon, I think around 1984 they changed to fully routed-out bodies with thicker tops without x-bracing.

Would be nice if someone would have a picture of such an inside to compare

[ken_j]

Starting at 2:11 in this video you will see what you want.

[Hotzenplotz]

Great stuff!



Here some more (coincidentally I sent this list yesterday to a friend):



About Rickenbacker:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&featu ... 9wnd69WKgw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1t2xeIg ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=en ... KPuWv-eUXA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPiZlrr- ... re=related



About VOX:

http://yt.cl.nr/CbrQJHq1xXI

http://yt.cl.nr/wNT7mt-GsCc

[stsang]

Thanks for posting links to these very informative videos. That's probably the closest I'll ever get to touring the Rickenbacker factory.

[admin]

Great information. Another example of one of the changes that were ushered in with the modern Rickenbacker years.

[electrofaro]

Starting at 2:11 in this video you will see what you want.

Thanks, Ken - I totally forgotten about those videos!

Not really a center block, but more of a rim for support, imo. I wonder how far the neck goes into the body to fill up that center space

[ken_j]

Not really a center block, but more of a rim for support, imo. I wonder how far the neck goes into the body to fill up that center space

If I recall correctly the neck fills that entire area that is machined out. Once the neck is in place it is solid front to back and down to the bridge, but not to the end of the guitar. Not a center block like a Gibson with a seperate piece running the full length of the body but it functions the same. I didn't watch the video all the way through yesterday when I posted this and today it is not wanting to play right, so I'm not sure if the necks are shown. I'm glad I updated Flash Player this morning.

[electrofaro]

Ken, I also updated Flash this morning (always an update, it's never an upgrade!) and it's working for me. A really long neck tennon, that is! I have to browse my Memphis Custom factory pictures to see how long the ES neck tennon is, but shorter if I remember correctly.

[electrofaro]

A little cut-out of a picture I took in Memphis, to show the neck tenons...

me-tennons.jpg