Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Last week I bought a C58 Alderglo from our buddy Lawton Higgs. I was going to doll it up with a B5 and a couple of other doodads and re-sell at some point.

When I pulled it out of the case, my wife's eyes about popped out of her head. Despit the fact that I hadn't eaten dinner yet, she insisted that I plug it in and play, and listened rapturously while I played Beatles for about an hour. She forbade me to sell it. I am graduating college soon (many years later than most) and she told me this would be my gift, should I so desire.

How cool is that?

Bob!! I'm thrilled that you and the Mrs are happy! Do you agree that the bowtie really opens it up acoustically? Those Thomastic-Infeld twelves are nice, too, eh?

They are indeed. I must ask: Why are the grommets cut in half?

She must be my wife's sister!

Give her a huge kiss from me!! I promise I'm clean and spoken for......

How understanding is she? (and how lucky are you?).

So tell us........ do you so desire??

Email at ya, Bob...

Bob, they only used 1/2 of a grommet all the way around on a '58 325, or it was a different design of grommet altogether. John Williams has a early '58 365 that has metal spacers under the pickguard, most likely factory original...

John, thanks for that post/info. I wasn't exactly sure what he was asking, as the grommets on it are what I bought it with.



Now that I look at my '98 1997 (bought from forum member Kevin Kuney), though, it's obvious that the grommets under these toasters are twice as thick as what's on the C58.

D'Oh! This is what I get for sticking to more recent RICs. I will have to make it my mission to buy several late '50s guitars just to learn these little details. How do you think the wife will feel about that? Can I say I am furthering my education?

And yes, I do desire. The little c58 can stay. Lawton set it up great and it really plays wonderfully!

Sounds like the way I've got mine set up. Trapeze tailpiece and a Wes Cooksey bowtie?

I keep thinking about putting a B5 on it, but I really hate the idea of putting a hole in the top...

The B5 is on the bench...I am vacillating as well.

Hey, Bob. I'll trade ya

Even though I had a B5 put on mine there is something certainly unnatural about plugging holes into the top of a perfectly good guitar. Since it was done by someone else though, I didn't have to experience the agony of it first hand.

I have no such fear. I have added vintage tuners to 2 12-strings and had to drill 24 holes in a pristine headstock.