Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Gotta get up pretty early in the morning to catch me sleeping.

Wow, thanks Paul and Kira!!


What a great tip, I will try to find some of the fiberglass cloth.

On original 425/450's, painted solid colors, is there typically seam lines where the wings meet the center block? I don't want to smooth them out if they should really be there.

Been swamped lately and away from this project, but I should be back on it pretty soon.

I don't believe that visible seam lines would be appropriate for a 4XX series guitar. That would only go for the old combo 900-950-1000 models. Someone could jump in, please, if I'm wrong about that.

kiramdear wrote:I don't believe that visible seam lines would be appropriate for a 4XX series guitar. That would only go for the old combo 900-950-1000 models. Someone could jump in, please, if I'm wrong about that.

Hard to say if this 450 might even have been one of the early types, that actually had the neck/center block left as maple, and the wings only painted...?

I guess it won't matter too much, I want to paint the whole thing jetglo anyways, regardless of how it was originally (it'll be a step up!).

Collin --- how's the Teardrop restoration project going ??

Did you get smooth seam-lines with the fiberglass cloth ?
Any more pictures to post of work-in-progress ??

Sorry Rich----held up some more. Despite how often I post here, its typically because I have a computer in front of me 20 hours a day doing school work.

I'll get rolling on it again soon, I have some progress pics since then, but I want to lay more down at the same time.

Plus, I've been waiting for a tracing of a late 50's 450 to use before I cut the shape again (a member is sending one, I believe!).

Awesome, I too love threads like this. This one actually reminds me of the J-Bass restoration Tym guitars did...

http://www.tymguitars.com.au/Repairs_64_Jbass.htm

Maybe the bass player was from the band that this guy was in with his Ric!!

whatever became of this? I love the 450's and this restoration is highly intriguing!

beatles beatnik wrote:whatever became of this? I love the 450's and this restoration is highly intriguing!

It's still in the works---I just haven't had the time to commit to it in a long while. Getting close though, I just need a new bandsaw to get started.

Wassa happening?

kennyhowes wrote:Wassa happening?

Progress, actually!

To make things easier and cleaner, I have recently removed the body wings (using infrared heat lamps to loosen the glue).

So now it's as stripped down as it gets, should be making some more progress soon and posting pics.

Lonely teardrops...

Collin - are you thinking about Binding on the body or are you going with contours on the body wings ?

8mileshigher wrote:Collin - are you thinking about Binding on the body or are you going with contours on the body wings ?

No matter what, I won't contour the body wings -- that is one of the distinct features of earlier "capri" (?) versions of the 450, before 1963. Otherwise it would have been cheaper and easier to pick up a 60's 400-body with contours (which seemingly are available all over the place lately).

I thought about checkerboard binding--the guitar will be Jetglo with gold guards....might as well, since much of the guitar isn't going to be original anyways...customize a little (within the boundaries of taste, of course..).

collin wrote:

8mileshigher wrote:Collin - are you thinking about Binding on the body or are you going with contours on the body wings ?

No matter what, I won't contour the body wings -- that is one of the distinct features of earlier "capri" (?) versions of the 450, before 1963. Otherwise it would have been cheaper and easier to pick up a 60's 400-body with contours (which seemingly are available all over the place lately).

I thought about checkerboard binding--the guitar will be Jetglo with gold guards....might as well, since much of the guitar isn't going to be original anyways...customize a little (within the boundaries of taste, of course..).

Nice ! Checkerboard binding with JetGlo is first class cool !!