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Post by pluckit65 on Jun 2, 2014 15:07:04 GMT
Yes Phil, I thought that at the time. I think it was around mid eighties and early nineties that Fender were having financial troubles. My MIJ Strat from 1985 is certainly better than some USA made around that time. As for the fret dots, I have never seen that myself, either. I hope when your guitar is ok, we can have the pleasure of hearing it?
Regards Roger
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Post by philc on Jun 2, 2014 15:14:36 GMT
I'll be stripping it down later to see it's innards but I have to plug it in first and will post something in due course Phil
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Post by philc on Jun 2, 2014 18:55:37 GMT
Well it works but it needs a lot of work as the strings are way too high and this causes tonation problems, I hope. There's a rocker screw missing on the bridge, I'll have to try to find one that fits. Here's the pictures so far. Phil
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Post by pluckit65 on Jun 3, 2014 6:55:02 GMT
Hi Phil I love looking inside these old guitars. The technology seems so crude but, the guitars (for the most part) performed well. I recently stripped an old Hofner solid body. It was one that Hofner decided to cover in paisley red and gold vinyl. I still need to replace the home made scratch plate but, it plays fine. Have the guys at projectguitars got the screws you need? They seem to have originals and copies of a lot of spares for older guitars. the well known auction site is the only other place I know but, I stay away from that guy in Italy who seems to buy old guitars and, sells the bits for really high prices. Pleae keep us posted on your progress.
Regards Roger
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Post by allclaphands on Jun 3, 2014 7:45:38 GMT
Hi Phil Just think when looking at this guitar it must be 50 years old, its good its still here and not in that bad a condition as well and with a lot of TLC can and will be restored to it former glory and it may still be around in another 50 years. Pete
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Post by grip on Jun 3, 2014 7:51:35 GMT
Hi Phil, I nearly made a similar trip dowm memory lane to buy the same guitar that I first used (Futurama II), decided against it and bought something new. Have you found out the name of the submarine it was recovered from yet? Kind regards, Chris
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Post by philc on Jun 3, 2014 13:24:32 GMT
One of the machine heads was bent to almost 45 deg. Straightening can have problems especially on old brass...and it did! It was almost back to shape when it snapped! There are a few things to do here, buy a repro set, which are similar but not identical and they are not vintage or a repair, so a repair it was. I drilled a hole through the shaft and worm and inserted a steel rod, this was superglued, I then drilled and added a dowel to the shafts you can see these and the break in the picture. Phil
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Post by pluckit65 on Jun 3, 2014 14:50:39 GMT
Phil, you are going to a lot of work with that Rapier. We are expecting great things from it when completed. I was looking at my old Hofner and, maybe I will do that up if the parts are available. Good luck with your next task.
Regards Roger
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Post by philc on Jun 3, 2014 18:26:17 GMT
Thanks Roger. It would be interesting to see what parts are available for you Hofner? As for my latest, Machine heads cleaned and centre screws re-blued. Phil PS, the sound from the Rapier isi very nasal which suprised me.
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Post by pluckit65 on Jun 5, 2014 6:49:36 GMT
Hi Phil I don't need much for the Hofner really. The scratch plate has been manufactured from a nasty looking piece of plastic. It is orange and, someone painted the neck to match. I also have one mismatched machine head. The machine heads are easy enough to replace. It plays fine, excepting the age of course. `I have two other old Hofners,,,,a Hofner Professional bass circa 1959/60 and, a 1967 Hofner Club 70, which I was told was one of only 200 made(or less). They didn't catch on for some reason. You can see both my Hofners in the Hofner collectors site, under Roger Silcox. Still looking forward to hearing that Rapier.
Regards Roger
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Post by philc on Jun 5, 2014 13:24:16 GMT
Putting it back together now, found a replacement screw for the bridge. I've almost finished stoning the frets but still waiting for the knobs and tremolo arm.
Phil
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Post by philc on Jun 6, 2014 13:06:49 GMT
The project so far. Knobs and tremolo arm fitted fitted, the knobs are not the right ones as the originals had concave chrome and not convexed but they will have to do until originals are found. The frets have been stoned and dressed, the nut fret was way too high. Phil
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Post by pluckit65 on Jun 6, 2014 15:13:25 GMT
Did I hear that plug going into the wall socket, for the amp then Phil? Wont be long before we will be hearing that Rapier of yours then? It looks really nice. The trem block looks exactly like the one on my later model but, mine is threaded for the arm. I have my headphones plugged in and, ready to go Phil. Regards Roger
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Post by allclaphands on Jun 17, 2014 7:18:24 GMT
Hi Phil From the latest picture of your Watkins Rapier it certainly looks very much like a labour of love bringing it back to its former glory.Waiting to hear what sounds your going to produce with it. Pete
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Post by sandra on Jun 17, 2014 16:35:48 GMT
Hi Phil From the latest picture of your Watkins Rapier it certainly looks very much like a labour of love bringing it back to its former glory.Waiting to hear what sounds your going to produce with it. Pete I bet he could make some great Uriah Heep sounds with it Pete, don't you
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Post by philc on Jun 17, 2014 16:53:24 GMT
Mother of Pearl dots arrived, putting them in shortly, but it's too nice here in Italy to even think about that.....and Uriah Heep Phil
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Post by sandra on Jun 18, 2014 1:24:36 GMT
Mother of Pearl dots arrived, putting them in shortly, but it's too nice here in Italy to even think about that.....and Uriah Heep Phil Ah to be in Italy, what an ideal country to be visiting while remembering how to play something like Easy Livin'
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Post by allclaphands on Jun 18, 2014 6:42:07 GMT
author=" sandra" I bet he could make some great Uriah Heep sounds with it Pete, don't you Yes Sandra I do. but will he? (better watch this space) Pete
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Post by philc on Jun 18, 2014 8:13:55 GMT
Should have brought my gear out here as it's raining today Phil
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Post by GuitarPhil on Jun 18, 2014 13:15:02 GMT
Well it's arrived, looks dirty but totally original. The decal question has been answered as WATKINS RAPIER is actually embossed into the plastic scratchplate but the gold has worn off. There are what looks like three 13mm plugs under the paintwork on the back and one on the front, they are slightly sunken? Next job, strip it down. Phil Hi Phil, If you can get your hands on some gold leaf, you may be able to apply it to the engraving in the scratch plate. I don't know what Watkins did originally, however. (Another) Phil
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Post by sheendigs on Jun 18, 2014 13:52:29 GMT
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Post by philc on Jun 18, 2014 21:47:49 GMT
I have sent for a gold water slide and a special liquid that when painted on, softens it so it fits perfectly to the raised areas.
Phil
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Post by philc on Jun 28, 2014 13:48:00 GMT
The dot holes were obviously drilled too deep, in fact i've not seen any as deep as this. I bought new dots but I managed to get the old ones out and just replaced the missing one. Here's before and after. Phil
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Post by pluckit65 on Jun 28, 2014 13:56:05 GMT
I see there are a few more Rapiers on the well known auction site Phil. Go on, you know you want to do another.
Regards Roger
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Post by philc on Jul 2, 2014 13:51:51 GMT
Just about finished with decal fitted.
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Post by allclaphands on Jul 2, 2014 14:02:16 GMT
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Post by brileary on Jul 2, 2014 16:52:18 GMT
There are what looks like three 13mm plugs under the paintwork on the back and one on the front, they are slightly sunken?
Bullet holes? Playing too long because the bingo was due?
Nice job you've done.
B.
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Post by philc on Jul 3, 2014 19:27:32 GMT
Thanks guys, I think it was worth the work Phil
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Post by Deleted on Jul 3, 2014 21:02:49 GMT
nice one phil ,what did you do with the paint work ,flat and polish :)or repaint it
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Post by philc on Jul 3, 2014 21:25:52 GMT
Thanks Dave, I just TCut it.
Phil
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