Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Thanks Paul. I enjoyed that.

Ah just what I needed to see, the range of before shots I've been interested in - thanks Paul. Now at the risk of being pushy, have you got a nice range of completed ones before David receives his early xmas present?

I'll be taking these this weekend just before I send it off, Ron.

Beauty shot time. Things have been very rushed at the office because of end-of-semester and everybody getting ready for the holidays. Students are going postal on a daily basis; everybody's project is the only one in the world and demands immediate attention.

Late last evening, I had the chance to set out David's 335 in the office and snap some shots. I also took a few "before" shots of Melissa's 330, which is the next one to be refinished.







I'm still fiddling with the details of John Williams' 415. I was not 100% happy with the fretboard and discovered that some of the fret slots were not cut deeply enough for the tangs on the new frets, so about a half-dozen had to be deepened and refretted.

Then there's David Blair's Hofner, which a previous owner had done a screw job on the neck with some Taiwanese wood screws. Ouch!



So, the neck had to be broken free (very bad job of gluing, although the guy had used hide glue--very strange...), old glue shaven off very carefully, neck joint refitted and reglued, and screws removed and the holes plugged with wooden discs. Then the respray and blending into the old finish flatting and buffing.

This took place a few weeks back. Ready to pack and ship the bass yesterday, I pulled it out of its case to see how it had stabilized, and--the discs were showing faint rings. Flatten again, re-buff, and repack.





These two--and hopefully John's 415, too--will ship next week.

Whew! Busy three days! And now for some turkey...

...which I have to roast. Tradition in my house, you see.

But even a turkey calls for decisions, decisions.

First decision: Fireglo or Autumnglo? If I leave it too long, it'll be Jetglo!

Paul, Those are some things of beauty. When you said you had to flatten and rebuff the Hofner, I too a look at my 325 and noticed that the finish "moved" somewhat. I'm seeing things that weren't there when I did the initial buff. I'll rebuff after the holidays and see how it goes. If it doesn't look healthy after that, I'm probably going to send it off to you for a harder finish.

Harder is my middle name...

Er, that sounds a bit strange.

What I meant was, glad to accommodate!

Lovely work again/still, Paul. The Curmudge rides again!

Has your xmas present arrived yet David?

What can I say Paul, that others haven't already said! Excellent work, and I bet Melissa can't work for work to commence!!

Great work Paul! I still can't get over that gorgeous Autumn-glo finish......David might want to find some export knobs and a gold TRC to really finish it right, IMO. Super job on the Hofner. And last and probably least, my guitar is a...... 615. ;>) I didn't want our readers to think that I had a super secret model, ha ha.

Yes, John, of course. I DID pick up a new roller bridge for it no need for one on a "610", now, would there be?

Brain fade as usual...my brain hurts...

Paul, the guitar looks incredible. The guy I bought it from is a collector, mainly Gibson’s, who lives in Bridgeport. He’s not going to believe it.

John, I have a set of oven knobs here. I will be keeping a look out for a gold TRC. Or maybe just buy a beat up 80’s one and send in for a replacement. How does the replacement process work?

Has anyone here ever seen a '62-'63 330? I'm just wondering because I can't recall ever seeing one. Anyone have a pic?

I'm next??? Wooooohooooooo!!!!

How did I miss that? Oh yeah, we were hosting the whole kit 'n' kaboodle for Thanksgiving so I guess I wasn't at the computer that day!

Thank you, Paul!

BTW, although my 330 looks pretty in the pics, it has some issues which don't really show up there--it really does NEED a refin, LOL!

This is stunning work Paul.....I'm full of admiration.

Thanks, Melissa, Tony, and everyone else who has been so kind. I'm not sure if it's more fun doing the work, or more fun making my "customers" so happy!

Melissa, yours will be next to be begun, but Alan Zeleznikar's bass is a bit further along than your 330, so his will be finished before either of your projects.

Alan's bass will be really unique, and wait'll you guys and gals see the colors that Melissa and I have picked out!