Ric Model 100, Back from the dead!

Rich Hlaves · Post by **Rich Hlaves** » 23 Nov 2008 9:19 pm

Every now and then I actually finish a project. This evening I brought a Rickenbacker Model 100 back to life. This guitar was purchased about a year ago as a body only with the nut, bridge and control plate intact. Also in place where the tuners. The buttons where crumbling so it got a set of StewMac ivroids. You have to get the tunner shafts real hot to install the ivroids. It worked out great and I re-lubed the tuning machines before reassembly. There was no mounting hardware with the pickup but I found springs at the Home Depot and knerled nuts at Lowe's. Lucky me.

I had to re-glue the fret board in place, clean everything and supply all new electronics including the pickup. I just found an affordable horseshoe the other day so I soldered her up tonight. I hope to find original control knobs and a headstock decal someday but for now....what a player.

I have a tin can Ric, a post war model with both controls on the audience side. It does not hold a candle to my new "creation" in tone or output. This particular horseshoe is HOT. It meters 2.7K ohms and will send my Twin Reverb to overdrive. I am blown away by the pickup and this ugly splatter painted plank of wood.

A few pics.

Even a blind pig finds an acorn once in a while!

RH

Bill Creller · Post by **Bill Creller** » 24 Nov 2008 11:58 am

Hey Rich, that looks great! The post-war horseshoe is hot too.

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 24 Nov 2008 2:05 pm

Nice job, Rick! Let's hear how it sounds.

Justin Hughes · Post by **Justin Hughes** » 24 Nov 2008 2:54 pm

Nice work, Rick! Restoring an old instrument and putting it back on the stage is certainly rewarding. Are you running straight into the Twin?

Rich Hlaves · Post by **Rich Hlaves** » 24 Nov 2008 3:04 pm

Thanks Guys, I think I'm going to play a gig with it on Dec. 7th. I was going to play my '47 New Yorker but now I have a new favorite tone machine. If it gets recorded, I'll post a link.

RH

Tom Pettingill · Post by **Tom Pettingill** » 24 Nov 2008 6:14 pm

Nice save Rich

Rich Hlaves · Post by **Rich Hlaves** » 24 Nov 2008 9:50 pm

Justin,

Yep, straight in. Nothing but a volume pedal in the signal path. Volume on 3.5, treble 7, mid 8, bass 8 reverb 3. The bright switch is off. With it cranked like that it will sustain very nicely as just keep adding some "foot feed". I does let me know if a screw up and don't throttle down before I grab a string or three!

Tom,

Your customs are gorgeous. I have seen several looking through old threads. Great body shapes and contrating woods. I'm drueling.

Jon Nygren · Post by **Jon Nygren** » 25 Nov 2008 6:10 am

I have one of those, blonde speckled finish- not as 'spattered' as yours, dont know if it's worn down or not. The IRC brand Pots date to early '54, and the volume/tone controls are on opposite sides of each other, black flying saucer knobs. Never seen another laid out like that(no metal control plate)...the input jack is recessed at an angle- really unique but totally original. I'm thinking this one might be one of the earliest 100 series.

Those horseshoes are amazing..like yours, mine overdrives the amp easily but, in such a nice non-offensive way.

It's easily the best 6 string i've played. Good to see another one in service as I think these are pretty underrated (IMO).