Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Here's a recent pic. It was restored to original factory spec a number of years ago.

Suzi Arden guitar!

Nice to see it back wearing it's original parts, kudos on that.

Wasn't this guitar converted to look like nr. 2?
I remember the owner being flamed hard for that on this forum

wim wrote:Wasn't this guitar converted to look like nr. 2?
I remember the owner being flamed hard for that on this forum

And, rightly so, for doing such an atrocity to a major piece of history.

Is it the picture or has the binding cracked that hard?

wim wrote:Is it the picture or has the binding cracked that hard?

It's just a quick iPhone pic. The binding is not cracked.

Stunning guitar.

Fantastic. Glad to see that the 'Save Suzi' campaign is no longer required!

Thanks Paul. So what's the story?

jdogric12 wrote:Thanks Paul. So what's the story?

Hi Jason, as I mentioned above, the guitar was restored a few years ago to its original factory specs.

By this I mean, restored to the way it was originally conceived and built in July 1963. That includes its original stringing arrangement. All it's original parts were utilized in the restoration process, with one exception.

The original tailpiece claw bracket had been replaced with the "R" type claw bracket by the factory in late '64 to facilitate the use of the "R" style tailpiece. Interestingly, the factory did not replace the claw bracket. Instead, it appears they cut off the claws on the top but left the original bracket's base still screwed into the guitar. They then added the new "R" bracket on top of the old bracket's base. The new bracket had a different screw hole footprint, so they simply drilled through the original bracket's base. During the initial restoration, a custom bracket was made using the original (non-symmetrical) screw hole footprint and happily no empty holes are visible. Both the removed "R" tailpiece and its bracket, as well as the original now clawless bracket, remain in the guitars case compartment.

I am delighted to confirm that the guitar is absolutely stunning in person and simply amazing to play.

I hope that answers your question?

Awesome, thanks! Neat story indeed. Glad it's out of the hands of that nut who nearly ruined it.

So who owns it? Did the guy who altered it have a change of heart or is the original poster here the new owner?

beatleboy wrote:Here's a recent pic. It was restored to original factory spec a number of years ago.

Actually, it modified to look like #2 a number of years ago.

opticnerve wrote:

beatleboy wrote:Here's a recent pic. It was restored to original factory spec a number of years ago.

Actually, it modified to look like #2 a number of years ago.

Actually, no. It only looked like #2 for a quick photo shoot. It was, in fact, restored to original factory specs.

beatleboy wrote:

opticnerve wrote:

beatleboy wrote:Here's a recent pic. It was restored to original factory spec a number of years ago.

Actually, it modified to look like #2 a number of years ago.

Actually, no. It only looked like #2 for a quick photo shoot. It was, in fact, restored to original factory specs.

Ah, you're THAT Paul. 5 years ago, I think Josh left us with the impression these were permanent changes. So it's all original again with the exception of the nut, which crumbled? Did you put it back to its original "traditional" course order?