Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

My favorite local power pop guy, John Ashfield (www.johnashfieldmusic.com), smacked the headstock of his '00 360/12 on a low-flying lighting fixture/automotive manifold during a gig, breaking off a good-sized splinter of walnut.

He brought it to me for a fix. I decided that, in order to produce a repair that would hold up and retain its original appearance through years of use, I would replace the entire walnut headstock "wing". Here are some process shots.

Note that, were this a Mapleglo, Fireglo, MB, or other transparent-finished guitar, I would have used a different shade of walnut so as to match the original, and would not have used primer to assist in blending the new and old surfaces.

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h146/jangle_jingle/before.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h146/jangle_jingle/taped.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h146/jangle_jingle/cutsand.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h146/jangle_jingle/edge.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h146/jangle_jingle/clamped.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h146/jangle_jingle/rough.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h146/jangle_jingle/shape.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h146/jangle_jingle/drill.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h146/jangle_jingle/cut.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h146/jangle_jingle/ready.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h146/jangle_jingle/back.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h146/jangle_jingle/primed.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h146/jangle_jingle/painted.jpg

Clearcoat will be sprayed next, and then the whole guitar will be buffed and reassembled. John's also asked me to fabricate some vintage, round-edged pickguards in old-style acrylic.

Fantastic job!

An "automotive manifold"???

That's some "power pop", for sure...I get nervous crawlin' around under there with nothing more valuable in my hands than a monkey wrench...

Fabulous work as always Paul. How did you go about shaping the piece of walnut after it was glued to the guitar? Also what type of glue did you use.

Titebond yellow glue was used. The walnut was shaped partially by hand, and partially with disc and oscillating spindle sanders.

Shoot! The photo's aren't opening for me.

Paul..you are a restoration machine....

Once again, brilliant work!

Amazing! Is there any Ric the Curmudge can't fix?

Broken on a manifold? Talk about playing in a garage band! Sweet pictures Paul.

Paul, how did you insure the drill bit didn't wander when drilling the holes - there were half holes there already? Very nice work, BTW.

Now that's a nice Head-stock job!

Nice job Paul!

Outstanding job!

Well done Paul!

Hey Mr. Hall! May I suggest the talented "Jangle Man" for your next "Lemmy" project.

I wonder if work like this, repairs and refins, on collectable pieces may actually hold the value rather than hurt it. I don't know anyone in the Detroit area that can do work like this.