Getting a Vintage Rickenbacker Bass restored ?

[thx1955]

Yeah when Larry Striped her down he found the original colour was FG as it was still in the pickup routes so its back to its original colour !

The original, and "only" colour for me ..

[wints]

What a wonderful restoration there by Larry.

No surprise it was a Fireglo bass originally, and looking like "when I'm" '64 new again!

[Gilmourisgod]

At the risk of sounding crass, what is a full restoration like that worth? I realize it would vary based on the condition of the wood, paint, missing parts, etc., and I can't imagine all that extremely detailed hand work being cheap. Based on some of the restoration of criminally abused basses I've seen here, there doesn't seems to be a bottom threshold for restoration short of "a pile of ashes", but I suppose there is a point where something becomes too far gone to rescue. Flood damage maybe?

[Kopfjaeger]

Flood damage? Nope, that too can be fixed. My former 77 4002 had seen water and every joint was or had separated. A lousy attempt was made to "repair" it but it was a mess when I got it. I shipped it off to someone to have them restore it. At first i was told the neck may need to be replaced b it then it was determined that it was fine. Fine is a a very subjective word, as I would learn.

Water and moisture does weird things to wood. As humidity causes us to tweak truss rods, moisture will really make a neck move. The restorer in question resurrected the instrument and she looked wonderful but the neck had a slight twist. The fretboard was not radiused very well to try to compensate for this and that threw off the action at the bridge. The strings were so far from the pups on the treble side that the tone balance was affected. I was unhappy with the way she played and sounded and the restorer wanted little to do with making it right.

Everything can be fixed, it all depends on how much you are willing to spend and at what point does the instrument stop being what it left the factory as. That too is subjective.

Sepp

[henry5]

Known water damage is one of the things I would shy away from, based on a '73 that I once bought -and returned - that sucked in every possible way except visually, and would have needed a complete rebuild to put right; it was priced as per a decent '73 so returning it was a no-brainer. The water damage hadn't been disclosed at the point of sale.

As Sepp says, water does funny things to wood and the fallout can be way down the line....

[henry5]

At the risk of sounding crass, what is a full restoration like that worth? I realize it would vary based on the condition of the wood, paint, missing parts, etc., and I can't imagine all that extremely detailed hand work being cheap. Based on some of the restoration of criminally abused basses I've seen here, there doesn't seems to be a bottom threshold for restoration short of "a pile of ashes", but I suppose there is a point where something becomes too far gone to rescue. Flood damage maybe?

As for what a restoration is worth, well, in many cases a restoration can end up costing a fair bit more than you'll ever make back selling.

[thx1955]

At the risk of sounding crass, what is a full restoration like that worth? I realize it would vary based on the condition of the wood, paint, missing parts, etc., and I can't imagine all that extremely detailed hand work being cheap. Based on some of the restoration of criminally abused basses I've seen here, there doesn't seems to be a bottom threshold for restoration short of "a pile of ashes", but I suppose there is a point where something becomes too far gone to rescue. Flood damage maybe?

As for what a restoration is worth, well, in many cases a restoration can end up costing a fair bit more than you'll ever make back selling.

For many who want to restore, cost is not important, only the outcome, that's said with the full realisation that you'd never see the investment back.

In the HiFi world I recently re-built a Linn LP-12 and by the time I was done the only original parts were the platter, tone arm and cartridge, for the cost of the rebuild I could have bought a brand new LP-12, but, I didn't want to throw away my original.

[jps]

...in many cases a restoration can end up costing a fair bit more than you'll ever make back selling.

Anyone who is or have been involved in restoring/renovating an old (century, in our case) house will certainly agree! Out your way I suppose a 100 year old home is a fairly new one.

[henry5]

...in many cases a restoration can end up costing a fair bit more than you'll ever make back selling.

Anyone who is or have been involved in restoring/renovating an old (century, in our case) house will certainly agree! Out your way I suppose a 100 year old home is a fairly new one.

Yep! I remember staying at a youth hostel in France many years ago telling a young American that my school was founded in 1717; he was amazed. Having said that, our house is only 4 years old; I think it was 3d printed.

[thx1955]

...in many cases a restoration can end up costing a fair bit more than you'll ever make back selling.

Anyone who is or have been involved in restoring/renovating an old (century, in our case) house will certainly agree! Out your way I suppose a 100 year old home is a fairly new one.

Yep! I remember staying at a youth hostel in France many years ago telling a young American that my school was founded in 1717; he was amazed. Having said that, our house is only 4 years old; I think it was 3d printed.

Hah !!! A mere youth, try 1451 ... Via Veritas Vita !!

[jps]

My brother-in-law has a friend who owns a hotel in Zürich in which the building is from the 1200s!

[henry5]

Hah !!! A mere youth, try 1451 ... Via Veritas Vita !!

Jim, I didn't realise you were that old. You're looking well for it.

My favourite pub at college dated from around 1430. The upstairs floor sloped; you can imagine what that was like after several pints!

[bassslug]

At the risk of sounding crass, what is a full restoration like that worth? I realize it would vary based on the condition of the wood, paint, missing parts, etc., and I can't imagine all that extremely detailed hand work being cheap. Based on some of the restoration of criminally abused basses I've seen here, there doesn't seems to be a bottom threshold for restoration short of "a pile of ashes", but I suppose there is a point where something becomes too far gone to rescue. Flood damage maybe?

If you look at mine in the Register you can see before and after photos, everything was there it just need to be refinished because it had been painted and repaired badly in the past so I suppose its case specific. Its is however the 9th one made in 1964 so that may also be a factor as to its value now. As a previous member said I don't think you do it to increase the Value its more about preserving something that's unique from a "better managed time" excuse the pun there I couldn't resist. I'm just delighted that master crafts men like Larry Davis exist to do this work to this level. This Guiter is now 50 years old and with the Job Larry has done there is no reason why it can't see another 50 with ease !

[bassslug]

What a wonderful restoration there by Larry.

No surprise it was a Fireglo bass originally, and looking like "when I'm" '64 new again!

Hi Wints, yes Larry did a wonderful Job such a Gentleman as well a pleasure to deal with, I'd highly recommend him to anyone whos need this type of work done.

[Ontario_RIC_fan]

Its is however the 9th one made in 1964 so that may also be a factor as to its value now. !

Not the 9th Bass made that year Donald - just just the 9th instrument Electro Strings (AKA Rickenbacker) made that year. Paul's bass was the 23rd instrument they made that year.

Without Rickenbacker sharing their archive, we will never know precise numbers, but based upon what has been collected so far in the RRF register we know
that they made at least 105 instruments that month.

http://www.rickresource.com/register/in ... DA&order=5

4 of them at least (including yours) were basses. The rest were lap steels, or 6 string guitars like the 335 or 615.

John Hall shared that there were 5 instruments prepared and sent to Rose Morris that month for their catalog and promotional purposes - which would have included another bass. The rest of the Rose Morris shipment was sent starting in March.

Not sure where the thread was that John shared that... But I do remember the info.