Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

This beautifully-patinaed 365 from 1966 was sent in by a Rick player from Oz, with instructions to make it play like new, but not to restore it cosmetically.

It needed a neck reset,some attention to the bridge and wiring harness, a new nut, and a refret. I had to take the back off and redo the binding in order to do the neck reset.

These photos were taken when it was finished and ready to ship back to Australia. As you can see, except for the absence of buckle rash on the back (which it'll get soon enough!), it was kept in its original appearance, despite having to strip the sides to install the new binding.

This is a real relic...no phoniness. It's earned its scars and wears them proudly!

What are those crazy buttons. I've never seen tuners like those before.

Van Ghent keys. I still have a box of them and we put them up on the RIC Outlet from time to time. Unfortunately, no one seems to buy them! They're pretty but didn't work that well.

i loves me some aged maple mellow. very nice,Paul.

johnhall wrote:Van Ghent keys. I still have a box of them and we put them up on the RIC Outlet from time to time. Unfortunately, no one seems to buy them! They're pretty but didn't work that well.

These are more common on mid-'60s Gretsches. They do turn up on some Rickenbackers of the same time period; my guess is (and JH can verify) that they were used as "fill-ins" when stocks ran low on Klusons.

The biggest problem with these is that they loosen up over time and go out of tune. Tightening up those screws in the spur gear centers cures the looseness, but there often is a backlash problem.

I've seen this one in the flesh. I must say it's a very nice guitar.

We have word for a restoration that keeps, re-uses, and generally rehabilitates a Harley rather than replacing older parts with newer ones.

It's called a rustoration. I think that applies here.....

That is superb!

gareth wrote:I've seen this one in the flesh. I must say it's a very nice guitar.

We have word for a restoration that keeps, re-uses, and generally rehabilitates a Harley rather than replacing older parts with newer ones.

It's called a rustoration. I think that applies here.....

Hmmm...this isn't a Harley and there was no rust...

How about Dustoration?

"leave-alone-storation" ...

Paul's done a great job of keeping what visually appeals to me about the guitar as well turning it back into a reliable player again.

The reason I wanted it left "as is" cosmetically, is that I love its "played in" feel. It was one the things that appealed to me when I bought her in August '93 and it wouldn't really feel like my guitar if it was stripped and resprayed.

Thanks again to Paul for rising to the challenge I set him and exceeding my expectations.

Can't wait to get her home!

Agreed. Nice work Paul. The keywinds are certainly something you don't see every day.

doctorwho wrote:"leave-alone-storation" ...

They have a fancy work for that....it's called preservation.

Looking good, Paul W. !

Another job well done by Paul. Enjoy it, Rod!

rickenbrother wrote:Another job well done by Paul. Enjoy it, Rod!

+1