1957 ric combo-refin. blue sparkle

[octagon]

Was this your Combo(in the photos below) Ray? Beautiful guitar! Where was it painted? The finish looks like the blue sparkle finish that Fender used like this 1965 Mustang at Olivia's Vintage I read somewhere that Fender sent these guitars out to another shop for the sparkle paint jobs. Maybe your guitar was painted at the same shop?

[ampking300]

Right you are on all fronts---this was my Combo 800---I bought it from Route 66 Guitars in Cal.in 1991---everyone that I showed it to simply loved it---all my well known guitar dealer friends said that it was refinished sometime in the late '60,s or early '70,s--I don't know where it was refinished---the ebayer that I sold it to got a good deal,I hope that they give it a good home and make good music with it for at least another 20 years

[chefothefuture]

I am very late here, but I used to own this guitar. I bought it in 1988 from Al's in LA.
I have the guard that came on it; it is painted a strange blue-burst to match the sparkle.
I had that gold guard made in 88 or 89.
Steve Uhrik re-fretted it in 89.
The case had a metal plate from Meyer's Music in Seattle.....

Wasn't the SN , 8C7155 ?

[egosheep]

I am very late here, but I used to own this guitar. I bought it in 1988 from Al's in LA.
I have the guard that came on it; it is painted a strange blue-burst to match the sparkle.
I had that gold guard made in 88 or 89.
Steve Uhrik re-fretted it in 89.
The case had a metal plate from Meyer's Music in Seattle.....

Wasn't the SN , 8C7155 ?

Cool, John! Do you have a photo of the guard?

[ampking300]

Yes,the Combo 800 that I sold in Nov.,last year must have been yours as the serial# was the same, and the case did have the tin logo emblem from the music store,Ray

[chefothefuture]

I am very late here, but I used to own this guitar. I bought it in 1988 from Al's in LA.
I have the guard that came on it; it is painted a strange blue-burst to match the sparkle.
I had that gold guard made in 88 or 89.
Steve Uhrik re-fretted it in 89.
The case had a metal plate from Meyer's Music in Seattle.....

Wasn't the SN , 8C7155 ?

Cool, John! Do you have a photo of the guard?

Here 'tis...
I also noticed from the other pictures, that it's original "amber" switch tips were long gone...

[johnhall]

According to the Bacon book Barth did the hardware, Roger body and neck, Hall the electronics.

This is exactly correct, everyone working in the area of their expertise.

[egosheep]

Here 'tis...
I also noticed from the other pictures, that it's original "amber" switch tips were long gone...

Thanks John... that's too cool. Can you tell if it was the original guard, repainted?

According to the Bacon book Barth did the hardware, Roger body and neck, Hall the electronics.

This is exactly correct, everyone working in the area of their expertise.

I have heard it said before, but it's great to have this confirmed. I love the floating upper fingerboard on the Combo 800... that is something I have seen on some German archtops.

[johnhall]

Thanks John... that's too cool. Can you tell if it was the original guard, repainted?

Can't say if it's original but at least the shape is the same as the ones I have here in my collection.

[chefothefuture]

Thanks John... that's too cool. Can you tell if it was the original guard, repainted?

Can't say if it's original but at least the shape is the same as the ones I have here in my collection.

Aww, I thought they was askin' me... LOL!

It raised some questions...
The back is not gold, but it does look is if some one removed the gold paint...
It fit correctly, but that's not saying much.
When I got it, it was right before many re-made parts were available.
WD who made the gold one for me were about the only guys cutting that stuff.

[egosheep]

Thanks John... that's too cool. Can you tell if it was the original guard, repainted?

Can't say if it's original but at least the shape is the same as the ones I have here in my collection.

Aww, I thought they was askin' me... LOL!

It raised some questions...
The back is not gold, but it does look is if some one removed the gold paint...
It fit correctly, but that's not saying much.
When I got it, it was right before many re-made parts were available.
WD who made the gold one for me were about the only guys cutting that stuff.

That first post was directed at you, John... lol. The second at the other John! That's pretty cool. It wouldn't surprise me if that were the original guard.