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Post by spudmurphy on Nov 12, 2014 0:20:56 GMT
It all started for me back in 1970 when I bought a Rapier 44 for 44 guineas I believe. Not a great photo, but the only one I have (Wish I still had all the hair!)  A little while ago I got myself a 33 for 100 quid and tbh not in too bad a knick! Here's a photo of it when I bought it -Only 3 strings & note the non original strap button. 
Complete with lipstick lips stickers  Grungy fretboard  |
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Post by spudmurphy on Nov 12, 2014 0:31:19 GMT
As is common with these the finish has reliced nicely!   I always did like the trem on these  Ahhhhhh pifco switch in all it's glory!  Now this is what the bottom strap button should look like - anybody have a spare one ??   |
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Post by spudmurphy on Nov 12, 2014 0:37:07 GMT
Love the 3 ply nut  The "ghost" of the original Watkins headstock decal  Sunken dot inlays - one fell out - I still have it!  Let's take it apart in the sun!!  All in pieces!  |
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Post by spudmurphy on Nov 12, 2014 0:42:24 GMT
neck pocket all ok  Wot - no truss rod!!  All original wiring  |
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Post by spudmurphy on Nov 12, 2014 0:59:01 GMT
1-2-3 Pickups   This is the ghost of the Rapier Watkins logo, inked (not etched into the scratch plate)   New Watkins decal I made - very slightly reliced  Next to my "Albert"  Next to it's WEM amp cousin  I enjoyed the refurb, I had to stone and level the frets, and just provide some TLC. It plays great - now all I need is to get a black knob to replace the missing one,and an original strap button. I need to show you the guitar I built - and that's one for another day! |
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Post by philc on Nov 12, 2014 7:48:15 GMT
Looks like a nice guitar...now! The scratch plate indicates a later one but as I have found, trying to identify the age by the serial number is not straight forward, probably imposible.
My inlays were the same, not great to play when you can feel the holes with the tops of your fingers. As I mantioned before, either file new ones down (they're only pence to buy)and glue on top or superglue something to the originals and pull them out, pack the holes and glue them back, the ones I bought had a gold tint to them as the originals, they look more aged.
All you need to do now is post a music file with it!
Phil
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Post by erikMAMS on Nov 12, 2014 8:37:06 GMT
Nice refurb - thanks for sharing the pics. Something about those old guitars that got us started.
I wonder, how's the trem action on these? Looks like a sturdy piece - but no adjustments except the number of springs.
Looking forward to see the guitar you built.
Erik
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Post by philc on Nov 12, 2014 8:45:55 GMT
Erik, the trem action is nothing like a Strat, it's more delicate, if your hand just touches the arm when playing the pitch changes, re my comments on my Sleepwalk post using it. Here's the soundfile app.box.com/s/vilyxak6knemjdtvd6y4Phil |
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Post by erikMAMS on Nov 12, 2014 10:29:46 GMT
Ah yes Phil, had forgotten about your Sleepwalk sound file.
I get your point about the sensitivity (not that it's heard in your track). With the pivot point at the very back end, and max distance from the bridge, the arm has to be long - which will obviously increase sensitivity.
Although the strat trem/bridge comb can't be beat, I quite like the action and feel of the trem on my Burns NuSonic - which is somewhat similar to the Watkins design. The difference is that the pivot point is closer to the front/bridge which is probably the reason for a nice balanced sensitivity and feel.
Erik
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Post by philc on Nov 12, 2014 10:58:56 GMT
Actually Erik (I shouldn't really say this  but there is a slight note intonations there as it was the first time for me to play one of these for 50 years! I find the Marvin a not so positive trem as the Strat etc as note bends need more movement. Phil |
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Post by spudmurphy on Nov 12, 2014 20:23:24 GMT
Nice refurb - thanks for sharing the pics. Something about those old guitars that got us started. I wonder, how's the trem action on these? Looks like a sturdy piece - but no adjustments except the number of springs. Looking forward to see the guitar you built. Erik Hi Erik. Thanks for posting. I'm guessing that your query has already been answered. The trems are great as they are - I wouldn't even consider taking a spring off like a conventional trem claw 5 spring set up. This is different to the Fender system which tbh I'm not a big fan of. Ernie Ball took the Fender trem system a little step further and is much better. aside from the convoluted switching system this guitar plays great for a 50 year old, and can still be bought for reasonable amounts - unless you want to get fleeced in Denmark St. Having a WEM amp as well as the Rapier makes a nice little pair. Oh yeah - 24 inch scale length too. My other guitar project is listed here charliehall.proboards.com/thread/18052/bet-guitarsOt .... don't get me started on MM amps, which I love as well! |
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Post by erikMAMS on Nov 13, 2014 8:26:28 GMT
Hi Rog/Kevin/spud.....?  No trussrod - quite remarkable the neck is still playable after 50 years. I don't know much about the EB guitars - but had a MM 2x12 combo many years ago, nice LOUD amp. Noticed your pair in one of the pics. Phil - I agree, the Marvin Rezo trem is a totally different beast. It was apparently designed as an improvement over Leo's strat trem - differing opinions on whether Jim Burns succeeded or not. Erik |
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Post by philc on Nov 13, 2014 9:30:48 GMT
No truss rod as such but it has a aluminum rod in bedded in the neck.
Phil
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Post by spudmurphy on Nov 13, 2014 10:17:33 GMT
Hi Erik
When I first saw the guitar it only had 3 strings. The frets were worn in the first 5 frets but something I could fix, but the neck itself was straight. Yes you could say what would happen when you had six strings on there? Could get too much relief in the neck. That was something I was prepared to take that small risk on, because there were possible solutions to that risk. I also knew that although there was no truss rod, the neck had a metal bar running through it.
I'll have to track down a picture of that!
The MM amp on top in the picture is an '81 RD50 112 (1981 Reverb-Distortion 1 x 12 inch speaker).It has the 12 ax7 and 6GL6GC valves in it- quite a sought after little amp now. The one underneath is a matching 1 x 12 inch speaker cab I made as an extension cab.
The other amp in my collection is the RP 65 112 (Reverb Phasor).
The early stuff they made include some very high powered amps for their day.
Must have been good, as Dumble used them initially as the basis for his amps.
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Post by erikMAMS on Nov 13, 2014 11:59:00 GMT
Ah - the alu rod explains it.
Erik
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but there is a slight note intonations there as it was the first time for me to play one of these for 50 years!