The Steel Guitar Forum

Hi everyone!
I bought this Rickenbacker DW16 a couple of years ago with the idea of restoring it. I received it covered in gold spray paint and wood filler.

However he only work I have been able to do on this guitar is stripping.One pickup has been rewinded by Lollar. Now it appears as in these photos. 4 small screw are not original. Case and legs (not in picture).

I have no chance of restoring it myself, as I have no place to work with it.

What should I do with this? Sell the parts or sell it as a "project" for someone else? And what should it cost?

Those are nice steels. I guess if you have no way to work on it by means of time, space, skills, tools or parts, or the funds - I would sell it. I had so many projects like this I had accumulated over the years and finally realized I couldn't save them all. Nothing worse than having these projects sit around in boxes unfinished for years - I've found that's when the parts go missing never to be found again.

Rune Alm wrote:Sell the parts or sell it as a "project" for someone else? And what should it cost?

Assuming you have the fretboards and all else, I'd be happy paying or getting $500 for it, under the circumstances.
And if I had an extra 5er I'd be waving it at you, and probably repaint it gold.

I'd say about $375-$400 is the right price, as the guitar is, IF you have the fretboards and all other parts, in good working condition. It's a good project for a handyman who can refinish it. But it wouldn't make sense for someone who has to pay to have it refinished and assembled. Just my opinion, as one who has owned many "steels in a basket".

Thanks for the feedback!

I have all the parts including fretboards (minus 4 screws).

It's just a paradox the way that all the parts are pretty rare in themselves, but when I try to sell them together as a guitar, the price is somehow lower. The pickup-selector is an early brass version of a switch also used on Gibson guitars. The 4-on-a-plate tuners are also very rare. The pickups of course and then the legs.

I am tempted to leave the guitar "in the basket" for now and make a project of it when I have time and room for it sometime in the future.

It seems I will lose money in any case. Otherwise it should just go on ebay and wait untill someone with time and money shows up

No, actually I think I'll hang on to it. I can fix it up later.

At least I only have one project. Clearly labelled zip-lock bags is the next step I think.

And now: back to actually playing!