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Post new topic Restoring Rickenbacher B6
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Author Topic:  Restoring Rickenbacher B6
Steven Cearley

 

From:
Portland, Oregon, USA
Post  Posted 2 Aug 2008 11:30 am    
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Rolling Eyes Wanting to restore my recent purchase from Ebay. I will try and download pics of the guitar. This particular B6 has three control knobs. The plates have a textured feel with spreckles in it that didn't show on the ebay photos. I removed the plates and found some newspaper stuffed under the two lower plates. Paper was dated October 15, 1950. Ray Montee tells me that we can't date the steel just by those dates alone so I am still going to do some research, perhaps on the pot numbers. I liked the way Rick Aiello's Bronson came out and may have these plates powder coated the same. The tuning pegs are crumbling, what a surprise, huh! Any idea where I can get replacements that would fit without re drilling would be appreciated. Note: The horseshoe is chrome, not brass looking, bad camera lighting.

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Tom Pettingill


From:
California, USA (deceased)
Post  Posted 2 Aug 2008 11:49 am    
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Hey Steven ... welcome to the forum Smile

I'm not going to be of any help, but you came to the right place, we have some very knowledgeable Rick experts here.
Looking forward to seeing how it comes out Smile
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Rick Alexander


From:
Florida, USA, R.I.P.
Post  Posted 2 Aug 2008 11:52 am    
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Steven if the tuners themselves are still functioning, you can just replace the buttons. Stew-Mac has them.
It's easy - instructions are here.
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Steven Cearley

 

From:
Portland, Oregon, USA
Post  Posted 2 Aug 2008 12:54 pm    
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Two other questons, I'm thinking about replacing the knobs with bell shaped knobs. I've seen what Stewart MacDonald has, any other sources?
Second, in replacing the strings what are the best options for C 6th tuning, i.e. wound, gold vs silver etc. The tone I want is warm and mellow. Thanks, STEVE
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Rick Alexander


From:
Florida, USA, R.I.P.
Post  Posted 2 Aug 2008 1:22 pm    
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You'll probably get several different answers to that question.
I'd say get the Nickel Jagwires from b0b on the forum.
Just click on "STRINGS" at the top of the page.
He has C6 sets made up. Stock #J-L6C
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Ron Whitfield

 

From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
Post  Posted 2 Aug 2008 4:50 pm     Welcome back, Steven
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Old style Gibson strings are the best for the vintage Jerry Byrd Rickenbacher sound you may be looking for. No other brand matches them for a certain sound he and his devotees sought.
They can be difficult to find, but your man Ray, knows where to get them.

Have fun!
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J D Sauser


From:
Wellington, Florida
Post  Posted 5 Aug 2008 9:16 am     Re: Welcome back, Steven
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Ron Whitfield wrote:
Old style Gibson strings are the best for the vintage Jerry Byrd Rickenbacher sound you may be looking for. No other brand matches them for a certain sound he and his devotees sought.
They can be difficult to find, but your man Ray, knows where to get them.

Have fun!


And it's the plain string which are important... and the gauge... but that's for C6th/A7th.

... J-D.
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Steven Cearley

 

From:
Portland, Oregon, USA
Post  Posted 9 Aug 2008 6:19 pm    
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Shocked Just got my plates back from having them powder coated in high chrome at a bike shop here in Portland, Oregon. Cost me twenty five bucks. Next, trying to replace the knobs and having the string header plate re-chromed at a plating shop.
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JOZEF SMITH

 

From:
WESTMINSTER - CA - USA
Post  Posted 12 Aug 2008 10:28 am    
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When I bought my B-6 T logo Rick a long time ago, it has white metal covers which got almost brown from old age. So I decided to chrome them and put white stripes around the body. I redid the white stripes on all frets also. To me it looks very good and I love to play on it. The value may come down but that does not matter to me.

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Ron Whitfield

 

From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
Post  Posted 12 Aug 2008 1:23 pm    
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That's the 2nd Bakelite I've seen with white/painted binding.
Ron Kanahele has his modified righty to lefty painted similarly.

Both look cool!
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Ray Montee


From:
Portland, Oregon (deceased)
Post  Posted 12 Aug 2008 1:45 pm     Just a question, please.................
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I have three post-war and one pre-war Ric Bakelites with WHITE painted fret markers.

It's a known fact that attempting to play on stage in a dimly lit little bar somewhere.....that seeing the 'unmarked frets' can be a near impossibility.

HOWEVER, the painted frets, the ones with paint on BOTH SIDES of each fret tends to really do a number on my eyes. It tends to make all the frets on the neck appear as tho' they're running together.

ANYONE ELSE exprienced that phenomenon? OR, is it just that my bifocals are doing a number on me? OR, is this a dilema for Dr. Laura Schleissinger?
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JOZEF SMITH

 

From:
WESTMINSTER - CA - USA
Post  Posted 13 Aug 2008 2:56 pm    
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What is that single feature on the inner cover plate.
Is it a push button switch?
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Steven Cearley

 

From:
Portland, Oregon, USA
Post  Posted 14 Aug 2008 6:16 pm    
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Jozef, I haven't plugged it in yet. I just got the plates back so I'll put that back together. It will be another two weeks before I get the head plate back, having it re chromed. STEVE
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