Getting back on my feet & a semi hollow Rickenbacher knockoff.
Hello all,
As some of you may have noticed, I've not been around here for the better part of a year. I've been on 'hiatus' so to speak, by which I mean my problems with anxiety and depression (and who knows what else) have more or less been getting the better of me, and nearly all of my productivity in the shop (and other aspects of life) came to a standstill. Ive been getting some professional help lately, and while repairing instruments has a unique ability to play on these issues for me, it has been suggested that I not throw in the towel just yet. So, in the interest of getting back on my feet, I figure this is a pretty good place to come for the help I need regarding instrument repair - especially since my mind is definitely not firing on all cylinders, and so many of the things which used to come easily are now an utter struggle much of the time, and to speak the truth, some things have just always been a struggle for me anyway... Anyway, Im doing my best to get back at it, and wouldn't you know it but this first repair in a while is throwing some real pain in the ass curveballs, so here I am :).
The guitar in question is a Rickenbacher knockoff (brand unknown) electric twelve string semi hollow, with a floating adjustable bridge and trapeze tailpiece, and its owner seems quite attached for it for reasons unknown to me. I know how we like pictures around here, so Ill be getting to that when I can, but for now Ill describe the issues as best I can (its good brain exercise ;) ).
Problem the first: the existing tailpiece has been slowly pulling out the screws which hold it in place at the tail end of the body. The size of the screws for the required load, in addition to their installation, is quite suspect. So I have ordered some beefier stainless screws that should hold things in place much better, possibly after plugging and redrilling the existing holes. However, Im still quite leery about this bracket, as it presents a very small surface area which conforms poorly to the contour of the body and the available spacing for the screws is less than desireable, and all of this culminates in a whole lot of leverage - Im not very certain that just the use of the largest screws that fit reasonably will hold the thing in place well enough to keep the thing in tune. So Im looking for some ideas for things I can use to create a contoured "shim" that will give me the maximum footprint of the tailpiece bracket and eliminate the pivot point. Ive considered a moldable steel epoxy putty, or bonding a hard maple fillet to the bracket and shaping it to fit, but Im at quite a loss as to what to do...
Problem the second: being that this thing was cheaply made out of what appears to be a single piece of (poorly dried) wood, it has developed quite a large crack (the length of the body, along the bass bout) which I am certain is the result of shrinkage. There is no way Im going to do all the surgery involved in splicing in new wood and then try to match a poly sunburst with a guitar like this, so Im wondering if filling the gap with an epoxy concoction would be sufficient to restore the necessary strength to the area, and how one might go about it. Then I need to consider finish touchup. At its widest point the crack is maybe 2 mm, but the majority of it is quite a bit smaller than that from what I can see. To be honest I might just leave this part alone and tell him to keep an eye out for a guitar to replace it, but I dont think he wants to hear that news, so Im at least putting some thought to it.
Thanks for your time.
As some of you may have noticed, I've not been around here for the better part of a year. I've been on 'hiatus' so to speak, by which I mean my problems with anxiety and depression (and who knows what else) have more or less been getting the better of me, and nearly all of my productivity in the shop (and other aspects of life) came to a standstill. Ive been getting some professional help lately, and while repairing instruments has a unique ability to play on these issues for me, it has been suggested that I not throw in the towel just yet. So, in the interest of getting back on my feet, I figure this is a pretty good place to come for the help I need regarding instrument repair - especially since my mind is definitely not firing on all cylinders, and so many of the things which used to come easily are now an utter struggle much of the time, and to speak the truth, some things have just always been a struggle for me anyway... Anyway, Im doing my best to get back at it, and wouldn't you know it but this first repair in a while is throwing some real pain in the ass curveballs, so here I am :).
The guitar in question is a Rickenbacher knockoff (brand unknown) electric twelve string semi hollow, with a floating adjustable bridge and trapeze tailpiece, and its owner seems quite attached for it for reasons unknown to me. I know how we like pictures around here, so Ill be getting to that when I can, but for now Ill describe the issues as best I can (its good brain exercise ;) ).
Problem the first: the existing tailpiece has been slowly pulling out the screws which hold it in place at the tail end of the body. The size of the screws for the required load, in addition to their installation, is quite suspect. So I have ordered some beefier stainless screws that should hold things in place much better, possibly after plugging and redrilling the existing holes. However, Im still quite leery about this bracket, as it presents a very small surface area which conforms poorly to the contour of the body and the available spacing for the screws is less than desireable, and all of this culminates in a whole lot of leverage - Im not very certain that just the use of the largest screws that fit reasonably will hold the thing in place well enough to keep the thing in tune. So Im looking for some ideas for things I can use to create a contoured "shim" that will give me the maximum footprint of the tailpiece bracket and eliminate the pivot point. Ive considered a moldable steel epoxy putty, or bonding a hard maple fillet to the bracket and shaping it to fit, but Im at quite a loss as to what to do...
Problem the second: being that this thing was cheaply made out of what appears to be a single piece of (poorly dried) wood, it has developed quite a large crack (the length of the body, along the bass bout) which I am certain is the result of shrinkage. There is no way Im going to do all the surgery involved in splicing in new wood and then try to match a poly sunburst with a guitar like this, so Im wondering if filling the gap with an epoxy concoction would be sufficient to restore the necessary strength to the area, and how one might go about it. Then I need to consider finish touchup. At its widest point the crack is maybe 2 mm, but the majority of it is quite a bit smaller than that from what I can see. To be honest I might just leave this part alone and tell him to keep an eye out for a guitar to replace it, but I dont think he wants to hear that news, so Im at least putting some thought to it.
Thanks for your time.
Views: 379
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Mike Kolb on
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Hi Andrew....
Can't tell you a thing about your Ric® knock-off, but it's damned good to see you back again. Continue the positive health progress and keep logging some bench hours.... as your tools have missed you!
Wishing you all the best for a wonderful 2017 and beyond. /// Mike
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Permalink Reply by charley erck on
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Mike, wish my keyboard had that registered trademark symbol !
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Permalink Reply by steven gallagher on
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On Windows, Num Lock Key On, hold down Alt key, type 0174 on the numeric keypad.
®®®
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Andrew, I feel the same as Mike. Glad to see your posts again. I personally would have nothing against masking along a crack like that and filling it with an epoxy wood dust mix that looks good, and matching the finish with coloured finish, as best you can.
Cheers!
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Permalink Reply by Andrew on
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The tailpiece bracket:
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IMG_0517.JPG, 1.4 MB -
IMG_0518.JPG, 2.1 MB
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IMG_0520.JPG, 1.7 MB
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The holes & screws, & body shrinkage crack:
That crack in the soundhole appears to run the length of the body, but I couldnt capture that. I have no idear how I would get epoxy in there properly, nevermind doing so without making a big old mess :S. - Attachments:
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IMG_0522.JPG, 2.2 MB
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IMG_0524.JPG, 2.2 MB
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IMG_0530.JPG, 2 MB
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More of the crack:
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IMG_0549.JPG, 1.6 MB
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IMG_0541.JPG, 2 MB
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Permalink Reply by Paul Breen on
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Hi Andrew, welcome back.
I wouldn't over think your tailpiece problem. Drill the screws holes out and glue in some short lengths of dowel rod. Pilot first, put in some longer screws and call it a day.
Can't tell from your pictures what your describing with the crack. Does it threaten anything structurally? If it's only cosmetic and a cheap guitar, why do anything?
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Over-thinking does tend to be an issue for me ;) lol. Plan A on that part is to install the larger screws as necessary and string it up and see how it is. (Aside: is it just me or is tracking down quality guitar screws more difficult than it ought to be?)
Re the crack, my feelings are about the same. Its not under string tension or anything like that. Still, it does look as though the wrong kind of bump could knock the section loose and make it a bigger mess than it is now... so Im still on the fence about it.
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I get my stainless screws at the hardware store, no need to search parts houses for them. Get the same diameter so the heads will fit the countersinks but use longer screws and go deeper.
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