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Topic: My "new" Pre-War B6 |
Scott Thomas
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Posted 9 Jun 2013 6:14 pm |
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I've wanted a Pre-War Bakelite for a long time, and when I saw this one at an online retailer for a fair price, I went for it. It looked pretty good in the picture, but I didn't expect it to be so pristine! I'm in awe of how beautiful it looks, how well it's made, and of course the sound...it sounds like the old Hawaiian records. This thing is loud and the single volume is very dynamic. There is a volume and treble bump after the half way mark. These can get much brighter than I would have thought...more than I would need. It easily saturates my little amp with the 8" speaker, giving it that characteristic thick tone.
I'm not sure about the pickup. It has the burgundy winding but no tape, and just seems in too good of condition. Maybe a rewind or replacement. Plus, someone beveled the pole pieces, filing six grooves across the top of the bobbin in the process. The chrome on the shoes is amazing, but I think they are original, just in really good shape like the rest of the guitar.
So there it is. Thanks for letting me share my "new" B6! |
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Ron Whitfield
From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
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Posted 9 Jun 2013 6:34 pm
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Way sweet, congrats!
Check to see if the wiring harness looks untampered, if so, the bobbin wiring shouldn't be of great concern if correctly re-done. The old harness' make a big dif in tone/s. |
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Ray Montee
From:
Portland, Oregon (deceased)
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Posted 9 Jun 2013 6:52 pm A beautiful steel/steal!
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Certainly is a beautiful instrument.
If you aren't planning on selling it as a 'vintage' instrument, I personally wouldn't care about any of things you've mentioned.
I'd be proud of it and learn to play it well. The 8inch speaker you have should be a perfect match for the pickup.
Congratulations. |
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Scott Thomas
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Posted 9 Jun 2013 7:58 pm
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Thank you both. Ron, some rainy day when I'm bored and/or my curiosity gets the better of me, I may take a look inside. Normally, the tinkerer in me couldn't resist, but right now I'm just enjoying playing it and the sound is so good to my ears that whatever it is...I like it!
Ray, I found this one in Tacoma and I'm just surprised there was still a Bakelite in the PNW that you didn't already own!  It does make me want to learn to play it well. |
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Ray Montee
From:
Portland, Oregon (deceased)
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Posted 9 Jun 2013 8:51 pm Just curious.....................
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Would you mind sharing with us 'where' you purchased your guitar?
I can't recall the name of the place but I did purchase a Ric Bakelite at this shop located somewhere east of I-5 and in the vicinity of Federal Way?
I was shocked as on that day, the store had five or six Bakelites on display and for sale. Eeenie, meeenie miney moe.............. |
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Scott Thomas
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Posted 9 Jun 2013 9:06 pm Re: Just curious.....................
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| Ray Montee wrote: |
| I was shocked as on that day, the store had five or six Bakelites on display and for sale. Eeenie, meeenie miney moe.............. |
Indeed! 
I got mine from Guitar Center. |
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Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Posted 10 Jun 2013 2:13 am
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| Congratulations, Scot. That's a beautiful Ric if ever there was one. Some are beat and some were obviously care for with love for 70+ years. |
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Andy Sandoval
From:
Bakersfield, California, USA
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Posted 10 Jun 2013 7:17 am
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Very nice!  |
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Rick Aiello
From:
Berryville, VA USA
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Posted 10 Jun 2013 7:32 am
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| Quote: |
| I'm not sure about the pickup. It has the burgundy winding but no tape, and just seems in too good of condition. Maybe a rewind or replacement. Plus, someone beveled the pole pieces, filing six grooves across the top of the bobbin in the process. |
That looks original to me ... The oldest ones were wrapped with cloth insulated lead wire to protect the purple-ish magnet wire ...
Later they started applying that nasty black tar like covering on the coils ...
I've also seen the bobbin groves ... When the horseshoes themselves were bent with little to no "flare" ... Mostly found in the earliest units ....
As far as the "sound" associated with the wiring scheme ... The one knob Ricky's were wired in a rheostat fashion.
Two hot and two grounds came from the coil ... One set went to the potentiometer ( usually with one of the three lugs removed) ... And the other set going to the jack.
This made the volume a "variable load" control ... As the volume knob is rolled back, the load on the coil changes ... Altering the tone ... Kinda a one trick pony, but quite effective when no tone control is used.
A beautiful specimen 
Last edited by Rick Aiello on 10 Jun 2013 12:24 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Posted 10 Jun 2013 7:39 am
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| How does the case smell? Mine old Bakelite's case smelled like a gym locker that had dirty sox in it for 60 years or so! |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 10 Jun 2013 8:02 am
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There's something so noble looking about those pre-war B6s. They're like knights in shining armor!
_________________
Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
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Ray Montee
From:
Portland, Oregon (deceased)
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Posted 10 Jun 2013 8:42 am About those old cases..............
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ANDY: I have one of those and the minute I open it up I go through about a fifteen minute sneezing fit.
I've used a five gallon jug full of Febreze without any relief.
Glad to learn it wasn't all in my mind. |
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Scott Thomas
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Posted 10 Jun 2013 11:34 am
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I appreciate the replies, all. Ha, very cool, Mike. I always thought these were some of the best looking steels ever made. The case has the usual musty smell, but thankfully nothing so extreme! I've heard other stories like that.
Rick, that is really good to know. Thanks for adding your expertise. I'm a big fan of your website, and have been a frequent visitor to the museum and Ricky I.D. page...especially lately. You are partly responsible for my desire to get one of these. |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 11 Jun 2013 2:54 pm
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| Ray, Scott, get some ZorbX from Lowes. Unscented. It has no smell. Fabreeze stinks like cheap perfume. ZorbZ is great stuff! |
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