Page 1 of 4

OLDIE BUT MOLDY

Posted: Mon May 31, 2010 6:20 pm
by jingle_jangle
Wow. Recently acquired, and now I can practice my love for Combo 400s (to paraphrase G. Bush... 8) )

This is a very early Combo 400, a '56 to be exact, and it's been well-loved and shows every one of its 54 long years on this musical planet! I know nothing of its history; nothing's been changed except tuners, strings, and pickguard screws. Nothing's been lost except the bridge cover, nothing's been added except some strap pegs and a Sloppy Joe touch up, nothing's been stripped except the paint on the front. Bolted/capped body wings. HOT DeArmond/Rowe Industries pickup, etc.

The back's had horsehair glued to gray enamel. Gruesome, primitive anti-skid. Factory? I'm gonna clean that up, too, with nice new gray flocking, then it'll all be nitroed. Probably end up looking like one of those over-restored Model "A"s. So sorry :mrgreen: .

After seeing these Bodie/Kolmanskop photos, I will sort of regret restoring it, but actually the photos are more charming than the real guitar, which is begging to be re-Tootsed. Stay tuned...

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Re: OLDIE BUT MOLDY

Posted: Mon May 31, 2010 6:31 pm
by winston
Congrats Paul. :D

Re: OLDIE BUT MOLDY

Posted: Mon May 31, 2010 8:11 pm
by eatswodo
I love that body shape. It's a happy looking guitar.

Can't wait to see its reincarnation!

Re: OLDIE BUT MOLDY

Posted: Mon May 31, 2010 8:44 pm
by rickenbrother
Cool, congrats! :)
I'm looking forward to the make-over!

Re: OLDIE BUT MOLDY

Posted: Mon May 31, 2010 9:30 pm
by marc61
+1 to body shape...

have fun restoring!

Re: OLDIE BUT MOLDY

Posted: Mon May 31, 2010 9:33 pm
by kiramdear
That's some serious mojo! 8) 8) 8)

Re: OLDIE BUT MOLDY

Posted: Mon May 31, 2010 9:47 pm
by Ontario_RIC_fan
Great score!! Congrats...

Re: OLDIE BUT MOLDY

Posted: Wed Jun 02, 2010 3:24 pm
by jingle_jangle
Teardown in progress. Wiring not original; one pot replaced. Hard-to-find switch, cap, pickup all present and OK. New pickguard in Alodined aluminum.

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Re: OLDIE BUT MOLDY

Posted: Wed Jun 02, 2010 5:00 pm
by Scastles
Were the original toggles on the 400 that elongated, or maybe it's just the photo that's giving me the wrong impression?

Re: OLDIE BUT MOLDY

Posted: Wed Jun 02, 2010 5:50 pm
by 8mileshigher
That's a pretty-cool project guitar !! :) 8)
Looking forward to see the step-by-step pics, as you restore it to its glory.

Re: OLDIE BUT MOLDY

Posted: Wed Jun 02, 2010 6:14 pm
by jps
Cool, an Ohio connection! 8)

Re: OLDIE BUT MOLDY

Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2010 5:33 am
by grazioso
the switch looks the same as the one on my 425 boyd...in my case the switch is some english made late 50's contraption - ...mine has different nut though...

Re: OLDIE BUT MOLDY

Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2010 6:23 am
by antipodean
Gotta love the bolt-on wings....

Re: OLDIE BUT MOLDY

Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2010 10:20 am
by jingle_jangle
That's the original Carling '50s bakelite-housed switch; I've seen many like this on customers' guitars.

Carling is still in business, still making high-quality switches, though as far as I've been able to determine, that particular switch is no longer stocked by anyone.

Re: OLDIE BUT MOLDY

Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2010 11:37 am
by longhouse
What's with the bedliner back?!?!?!