Just bought this www.the well known auction site.co.uk/itm/Red-Watkins-Rapier-33-Electric-Guitar-Made-in-Britain-c1964-/360937814176?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&nma=true&si=m70B5QD5c1PmQPxJLMCI5ynkVwg%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc please scroll down.
The Rapier 33 was my very first guitar back in 1961/2, I bought it as a nostalgia thing really but it will be interesting to hear what it sounds like.
I've found a trem arm and knobs but i'm still looking for a Rapier 33 script decal for the scratchplate.
It's very odd those pearl dot inlays sinking so deep, i'll either leave them or replace them with flush ones.
My wife's still got (somewhere) a Pifco hairdryer that the switches are from.
Hi Phil Nice looking Rapier. Have you tried www.projectguitarparts.co.uk for the logo you need? They do loads of spares for the Watkins/Wem guitars. You may be lucky. I managed to get a wammy bar for my old Rapier a while ago form them. My Rapier is a solid block of wood and, a neck like a cricket bat but, it really has a great set of pickups. Yes, the knobs are the old style radio knobs. I don't know how to post pics so I could let everyone see the guitar.
Roger, i'm getting the trem arm from them, i've emailed the but I don't think they do the decals.
My old 33 was a glued neck job. The body red paint merged into the neck from body and headstock, the neck itself was lacquered. There was no decal on the headstock only the scratchplate.
Phil
Dual Mackie D8b's, Dual Mackie 24/96 HDR's, Mac Pro running Logic, Roland VS1680, Focusright ISA 430, Lexicon MPX1, TC Electronics M1, Roland XV5050, Antares Auto Tune, Vocal Studio, Messenburg Stereo eq's, Yamaha PSR9000, Drawmer master clock, Motu 2408, Acuma Labs final mix, Altec 436c, Chandler/EMI RS124. Goodmans Audiom 60.
Hi Phil I know they do some decals but, its a bit hit and miss when they get them in stock. As you probably know though, they are a useful company to keep an eye on. My Rapier is a two pickup model with a red stained finish 9(gloss), a small transparent pick guard. It is surprisingly loud and, great for most genres of music. Did you manage to get a threaded trem for the Rapier?
Yes Phil, I bought mine from there but, my Rapier seems to have been modded and, the trem block has a thread. I'm trying to get some pics together to post here, maybe someone can identify the model for me.
As you can see Phil, my pics didn't come through. The one you have in the pic is an older 60s model. I spent many hours with a copy of the Bell Music Catalogue. I hoped each Christmas, I would find a Rapier in my stocking but, sadly, never did. Is that you in the pic Phil? I can see from the glass display cabinet(my step mum still has one) that it was, shall we say, a couple of years ago. Lover to hear the guitar if you intend to post a sound file or video.
That's because it's gold and is blown out in the picture with the white scratch plate, there's no decal on the head stock.
It should look like this. In my second picture look at the grey diagonal line from the toggle switches towards the middle pickup, it matches up with the capitol "R" in Rapier.
Well I know that when guys get to that certain age they like to try to recapture their youth, buying sports cars and motorbikes and so on, so a favourite guitar to remind you of the one you had way back when is understandable.
Whatever you do though Phil, please do not grow a pony tail to go with it
I liked this part of the sellers description :
The images (Click to Enlarge) are of the ACTUAL item for sale and as you will see it is in reasonable condition for its age (Approaching 50 Years).
Maybe I should add that to my photos on facebook with a few more years added
Its nice to be an important person but its more important to be a nice person
oi reckon oiv been in the west countree fur too long Phil. Oiv picked up the lingo. Oil ave to roid over the bridge on moi new tracterrrrr. Maybe get my home lingo back.
Sandra, believe it or not I cut off my pony tail about twenty years ago!
I am so pleased to hear that Phil, as there's nothing that looks worse than a balding guy with a ponytail, unless its a balding guy with a comb over plus a ponytail
Just be careful Roger, its me giving it out at the moment, not me taking it
Its nice to be an important person but its more important to be a nice person
Hi Sandra, If you look anything remotely like your avatar, I believe every word you say. I will be the perfect gentleman from here in(unless I get a senior moment).
author="pluckit65" oi reckon oiv been in the west countree fur too long Phil. Oiv picked up the lingo. Oil ave to roid over the bridge on moi new tracterrrrr. Maybe get my home lingo back.
Regards Roger
He can't read and he can't write but he can drive a Tracterrrr!!!!!!!!!! 'O' r 'O' r
Last Edit: May 31, 2014 7:06:25 GMT by allclaphands
Hi Sandra, If you look anything remotely like your avatar, I believe every word you say. I will be the perfect gentleman from here in(unless I get a senior moment).
Regards Roger
I can confirm that as I took the picture
Phil
Dual Mackie D8b's, Dual Mackie 24/96 HDR's, Mac Pro running Logic, Roland VS1680, Focusright ISA 430, Lexicon MPX1, TC Electronics M1, Roland XV5050, Antares Auto Tune, Vocal Studio, Messenburg Stereo eq's, Yamaha PSR9000, Drawmer master clock, Motu 2408, Acuma Labs final mix, Altec 436c, Chandler/EMI RS124. Goodmans Audiom 60.
Post by SteveBGuitarist on May 31, 2014 10:00:37 GMT
That looks nice Phil. My uncle used to have one, a 4 pickup version if I remember rightly. He was in the original band from the 60's The Rapiers who all played Watkins Rapiers, hence their name. Best Wishes Regards Steve B
I Phil I hope you soon get the Rapier up and playing as you want. I bought a 1990 Fender USA standard Telecaster, some years ago. It too, had several sunken plugs in the bodywork, at the back. They were about the size of an old half penny(if you are old enough to remember them). I was told by someone that Fender sometimes did this to lessen the weight but, I'm not fully convinced that was the case.
Hi Roger, I think you were told a tall story there, more likely, the same as this Rapier I assume there were holes etc in the wood and they were plugged, over time the different woods shrunk to different levels.
The inlay dot's on this one are original but well below the surface, there's one missing and that hole is deep, I assume someone drilled all the holes too deep and that's why the inlays are below surface. I've not seen that before.
Phil
Dual Mackie D8b's, Dual Mackie 24/96 HDR's, Mac Pro running Logic, Roland VS1680, Focusright ISA 430, Lexicon MPX1, TC Electronics M1, Roland XV5050, Antares Auto Tune, Vocal Studio, Messenburg Stereo eq's, Yamaha PSR9000, Drawmer master clock, Motu 2408, Acuma Labs final mix, Altec 436c, Chandler/EMI RS124. Goodmans Audiom 60.