jingle_jangle wrote:You did a fine job for a non-pro, and it's tons better than when you started, of course!!!
In the case of this type of restoration/re-restoration/re-re, etc, attaching a thin piece of maple to the inside of the sound hole with some good double-stick tape would not, in my opinion, be objectionable, for the boost it gives the entire appearance of the instrument. In the case of a real museum-quality resto, I wouldn't consider this, but a stopgap like I suggest is at least reversible and would give original appearance. I don't really consider this "cheap and cheesy", but rather a way to recover the appearance without a major investment in time. If desired, you can always reverse the process at a later date.
After all is said and done, though, it's your guitar, your accomplishment and your decision. Congrats on joining the ranks of DIY Rick afficionados!
+1
It looks far better than it did originally Raye, so please don't take any suggestions here as criticism of your work. Well done, actually!
For most Rickenbacker enthusiasts (which we basically all are, that's why we're here!), paint in the soundhole looks like a copy guitar. Personally, I would go to any lenghts necessary to showcase the guitar for the true classic that it is, and avoid it looking like a chinese copy guitar with the painted soundhole.
In any case, we look forward to the finished pics.
You are absolutely correct. It would look MO BETTA and authentic with natural wood behind the sound hole. Maple veneer is forth coming and will be installed, unless I find some self stick shelf paper the right color at Walmart. Just kidding 
pics in the next few days maybe. I have it all wet sanded and ready to buff and am now waiting for the buffing compound to show up probably next week.
I guess it was mine. The buffing compound showed up today McGuires Ultra Cut M-10532. I think it is going to come out pretty darn nice, pics are one single buffing. Check out the reflections of my shelfs above the work bench. I'm pretty pleased with the results so far. 
