Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

oh oh you got my full attention. now i have to locate suitable 330/12.

I would love to see a TRC made out of that lightshow material. That would just complete the look.

Very nice indeed.

freshmattyp wrote:I would love to see a TRC made out of that lightshow material. That would just complete the look.

Very nice indeed.

yeah and put two bulbs under there too.

freshmattyp wrote:I would love to see a TRC made out of that lightshow material. That would just complete the look.

Looks like one of the FG ones has just that.

freshmattyp wrote:I would love to see a TRC made out of that lightshow material. That would just complete the look.

Very nice indeed.

Yeah, with a couple LED's behind it, would be cool

The FG LS330 that is my prototype, has the LS material ("Rowlux") behind a clear plastic TRC.

The JG original (which belongs to Kenny Howes) also has that treatment.

If I ever add TRC LEDs it'll take a channel routed under the neck binding for no less than 4 wires, and a rebind on the neck.

I guess that means, "someday".

jingle_jangle wrote:The FG LS330 that is my prototype, has the LS material ("Rowlux") behind a clear plastic TRC.

The JG original (which belongs to Kenny Howes) also has that treatment.

If I ever add TRC LEDs it'll take a channel routed under the neck binding for no less than 4 wires, and a rebind on the neck.

I guess that means, "someday".

as in "over the rainbow"?

jingle_jangle wrote:If I ever add TRC LEDs it'll take a channel routed under the neck binding for no less than 4 wires, and a rebind on the neck.

It shouldn't... two LEDs can be run from 3 wires - LED1 feed, LED2 feed, common return. Bi-color LEDs have only three connections.

And there ARE three 'wires' up the neck in a Rickenbacker... the strings (ground/return) and the two truss rods!

Of course this depends on your wiring scheme being compatible with a common ground connection to the LEDs, and I have no idea if it does. Also, you would have to insulate the rods from the pressure plate, but this could be done with bushes like those used to isolate power transistor mounting bolts, but larger - or you could use a non-metal pressure plate, if you can find a material that's strong enough. You would also have to make electrical connections to them, but this could be easily done with eyelet tags at both ends - and a connection to one of the tuners for the ground.

Just thinking out loud!

Said like a true crazy inventor!!! I like this out of the box thinking, and it almost seems like it would work, too... except I think that using the strings as a ground is possibly not doable. But I'm going to mock this up and if it works, it'll turn up on my prototype next!

You weren't joking when you were talking about LEDs Paul. Great job !!!!!

Gary ( modrock )

jingle_jangle wrote:The FG LS330 that is my prototype, has the LS material ("Rowlux") behind a clear plastic TRC.

The JG original (which belongs to Kenny Howes) also has that treatment.

Next time you get the camera out, I'd love to see a closeup of that.

freshmattyp wrote:

jingle_jangle wrote:The FG LS330 that is my prototype, has the LS material ("Rowlux") behind a clear plastic TRC.

The JG original (which belongs to Kenny Howes) also has that treatment.

Next time you get the camera out, I'd love to see a closeup of that.

What's the inlay at the first fret, please? I don't recognize the shape. I like the TRC like that, even unlit.

That TRC with the swirly material behind it was either JH's or Kenny's idea, when they collaborated on the restoration of Kenny's basket case LS. I only borrowed it.

That "inlay" is a reflection of light on the shiny fretboard.

jingle_jangle wrote:I thought long and hard about how to light them all up at once...the three conversions all use an external signal from the amp (or any other amplifier output like a keyboard, mike, or even a stereo system,which makes them great party wall decorations!) But the originals require a signal generator with leads clipped to the preamp inputs inside the guitar, OR somebody strumming the guitar. Kinda kills the effect.

At tradeshows, all we did to make them "dance" on display was plug in an FM tuner into the output jack. You just need to find a station with the requisite dynamic range to make them look nice; I'll bet rap music would work nicely and (unfortunately) is quite available on the airwaves.