Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Tell Robin to get in line! =)

Here's Len's Combo as it looked upon arrival and disassembly:







And how it looked an hour ago in my booth getting its last coat of nitro clear:









Note that no filler of any type was used in this restoration. In other words, no Bondo, no primer!

A few more days and we should be reassembling it and shipping it off...time for a new case, Len!

And then . . . ?

Paul?

Is it my turn?

WOW!

Then it's my wife's turn...

Does your wife play guitar too Paul? What one are you restoring for her? LOL

You must always find special time for your wife eh Paul, and you guys out there waiting to get guitars done should be aware of this. If the cook's not happy then nobody's going to get guitars refinished.

So let's ease the pressure, so Mrs 'W' can have some special time, (how will a couple of hours be Paul?) and then it's full on again.

See guys problems solved and everyone's happy!

Paul, how were the electronics in Len's guitar? Virgin or messed with over time?

Seriously messed with. Some original parts--and of course that wonderful pickup. But only one original pot and one original cap.

Somebody actually tried to solder a ground wire to the old aluminum pickguard.

But it played!

Paul, great pics of the 400 - I am amazed!!! I can't wait to see it all back together. For the record I did not try and solder the ground wire to the pick guard and I do have the other original pot but was told it no longer worked? and Yes I need a new case as well ha! ha! Outstanding work Paul you should sign the inside cavity!!!

Len I'm of the opinion that the ground wire soldering attempt was made by the same guy who had once painted the guitar DayGlo orange and scratched "Property of Tony G" on the back of the old guard in crude 2nd grade cursive.

Yep, it was good old Tony G.

Paul, did you fabricate the bridge cover also? Sweet.
I believe there is a small market out there for the large chrome bridge covers on the '59 - '62 Combos (420-450-900-950-1000s). Most of the guitars you see from that era are missing them.

The bridge cover is the sixth one I made. The first five were not up to snuff. I considered making special tooling just for this part (I simply used a jump shear and pan brake) but in the end just bit the bullet.

Your wife Paul? You do need to sort your priorities out there Paul.

That 620 is gorgeous. Just think how good these projects will be when you get good at this.

Was there ever a better pair of nubies?

Was there ever a better pair of nubies?