restoring a 1964 325 fireglo

[beatlebacker]

This is my first post here! Im hoping to connect with some folks who can help me put all the peices together in restoring this awesome vintage guitar. I was given this guitar recently, and it has been living in a spooky basement in a garbage bag for some number of years. The serial no. puts it at being manufactured in July 1964. I'll put a list of things I think i will need at this point..if anybody has some of these parts to sell or trade, or can point me to the best leads I would be grateful!

3 pick-ups (toaster style)
1 tremelo arm
knobs (probably the black ones)
pick gaurd
name plate
old case

i haven't figured out exactly how to post a pic, but you can find pictures of it on my blog at www.darrelllahay.wordpress.com, or just google: vintage 1964 Rickenbacker 325 Fireglo

[ocduff]

Hi Darrell -

Welcome - and lucky you. Sweet guitar.

All those parts can be found - depends on whether you want to replace the missing parts with 1964 era parts, or reissues.

Pickguardian.com has pickguards. Rickenbacker.com with have the tremolo arm, or Pick of the Ricks or one of the other Rickenbacker Parts places. Rickenbacker will have to supply you with the headstock nameplate.

You'll want some scatterwound toasters with the longer polepieces coming out the bottom. You'll see vintage cases for these on Ebay from time to time - or a reissue 325 case would work.

That humbucker looks nasty, as I'm sure the routing is underneath it. The tuners might've been changed too.

Great find - make sure and keep us updated on progress. This info should get you started.

- Owen

[1965]

Out of curiosity, what's the serial #?

[doctorwho]

Welcome, Darrell!

That will be a nice one once it is even partly restored. I suggest that you also post your 'want list' in the Rickenbacker Marketplace - Rickenbacker Wanted section:

viewforum.php?f=12

As mentioned above, there may be some issues caused by that humbucker ... it might be worth it to post a note in The Vibola section where the resident luthiers hang out to get their input.

[Ontario_RIC_fan]

Wow what a neat guitar! It will be great to see it come to life again.

Who knew there was such a beast in Canada?

Brian

[beatlebacker]

Thanks for all the help..this is gonna be a fun project. The serial is DG916....july 1964...

Question: is it possible to get this thing officially appraised even though its not complete?

[doctorwho]

Thanks for all the help..this is gonna be a fun project. The serial is DG916....july 1964...

Question: is it possible to get this thing officially appraised even though its not complete?

You can start out by getting a "semi-official" appraisal here on the Forum, as we have a section for that:

viewforum.php?f=17

You will need as many good pictures as possible to start (it would be useful to have at least a few within the posting), and appraisers may request specific shots or close-ups. Because most of us have a hand on the pulse of the Rickenbacker marketplace, an appraisal here will be pretty accurate.

For an official appraisal, you'll have to inquire at a dealer such as Gruhn's:

http://www.gruhn.com/

Of course, such an appraisal will cost you money. Plus, it may refelect the value as perceived by the dealer, not what a buyer might actually pay (we've seen examples of this time after time on eBay ...). Our appraisals here on the Forum tend to be spot on what a buyer would be willing to pay.

[beatlebacker]

I've begun purchasing some stuff for this beast. I found some vintage knobs, I'm looking at the electronics next....I've been looking for a template for the pickgaurd, and I can't seem to find one that fits..rickenbacker doesn't make them, and they didn't seem too helpful with the specs either! I contacted pickgaurdian, and printed off a few templates Tony said might fit. It seems small though compared to pics I've seen of this guitar..does anyone know where I can get a template for the pickgaurd for a 1964 325 rose morris? I'll send more pics later.

[Ontario_RIC_fan]

That is great Darrell.

I would like to see more images as you restore the guitar.

Best of luck with it

[beatlebacker]

For some reason I can't figure out how to upload pics from my computer to the forum...?

In the meantime, I'm blogging about the restoration with pics on my blog..

Just type: http://www.darrelllahay.wordpress.com

Find the 'search my blog' field and type 'rickenbacker'

Cheers

[jps]

What are you doing that is preventing you from uploading photos? How big are the files?

[beatlebacker]

I must seem like such a noobie, but I can't quite figure out what all the tabs and codes are all about in the posting pane. I want to upload some pics from my cmptr but I can't do it. I clicked the "IMG" tab and it just wants me to put an url or somthing..how do I browse my own files to post them? Thanks for taking the time, and forgive my un-geekness!

[1965]

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[img]http://darrelllahay.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/dsc04305.jpg?w=800[/img]

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[jps]

... I can't quite figure out what all the tabs and codes are all about in the posting pane...

When you open a dialog box to make a post you will see below where it says Options Upload attachment. Click on that and then browse to where your file is to upload with the Choose File button, then double click the image and click Add the file. You can add a comment under the image in the File comment: box if you want.

[beatlebacker]

D'oh! Got it thanks...