Here are some photos of a recent Rickenbacher Bakeolite Panda I up graded from lost panels to SubStitute Panels.
This is the 7 String with the panels missing and a set of the KOA Panels in the Lid of the Case.
This is the CNC Laser Cutting the 3/16 thickness White Acrylic.
This is the Instrument with the Acrylic Panels set in their positions just after comming off of the Laser Mill -- The Protective Paper is on the Acrylic.
It took me about an hour of hand held sanding to round over the panels with 4 grades of sand paper.
80 grit to hog over the edge and cutting marks on the side edges.
180 grit to clean that up and start smoothing it.
220 to smooth everything more
320 to smooth everything more
400 to smooth everything more and good enough to install.
I left the protective paper on during the above described process it made for easy visual as the sanding went along.
If you want to totally polish up the side edges you can go to 1000 grit and or light auto polish compound.
On this particular piece the screw holes were all buggered and stripped.
I tapped each one out to 4-40 and got new 4-40 stainless screws which went in and all tight.
Please note the original collectible value was destroyed on this Panda long ago. The Substitue route is appropriate and works great.
This is the panels with the New 4-40 screws - the original metal panels are in the lid.
You can see they were modified by a previous owner, and are all scratched up.
I went ahead and tapped the screw holes for the Pick-Up housing too.
The Bridge was set 1/4" too close to the nut and I repositioned it too and drilled and tapped for it.
NOTE; I have Zero Knowledge of these and their vintage parts, this bridge is a cast aluminum angle it may be original. Thank goodness for modern CNC Technology and my Fixtures.
What ever - It is positioned much closer to 22.5 than it was and the additional holes are in a place where the original pickup housing holes are hidden for a good visual.
It Plays very tight now and chimes out the harmonics directly over the 12th fret as it should.
Additionally I put 2 of the White Pearl Dots in the missing positions, it is very easy, with minimal effort.
This is the completed Face Lift with Chrome Knobs at the owners request.
A Pretty Cool way to "Breath New Life" into an otherwise compromised instrument.
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This is a photo of a KOA Panel set with only clear grain filler (Epoxy)
This photo is after 2 coats of clear lacquer and no polishing.
