69 RI Thinline

ToneShark · July 10th, 2008, 02:04 AM

After lurking around a while I decided it might be a good idea to post occasionally here -- so here's the first thing I'd like to ask the experts:

I picked up a used 69 RI Thinline (MIM, natural mahogany) in a trade a few months ago and it has rapidly become my #1 guitar, blowing away everything else I own, regardless of how much more I spent on the other instruments or how much more I thought I'd like them. There were a few obvious things I had to address right away, which was getting a setup and putting brass saddles and 250k CTS pots in.

One day or another I'd like to sand the poly off, refinish in nitro, and maybe get it reliced while I'm at it. I started on the back with really fine sandpaper but clearly that poly finish is thick. I could probably start with the heavier stuff. I used the fine stuff on the neck too and that was actually quite nice, because it feels a lot more like a satin-finished neck, not too different from the one on my John Mayer Strat. I'd also like to throw in a Bigsby someday, but I feel like if I do that I'll probably just get another one first.

So. Anyone else using these? Any other good suggestions, other than pickups, which I'm actually quite pleased with?

TG · July 10th, 2008, 03:01 AM

If it's now your number one guitar I'd strongly suggest leaving it as it is. I wouldn't put a Bigsby on it.

Big Smokey · July 10th, 2008, 08:03 AM

It is going to take a huge effort to get a modern poly finish off of a guitar. I learned this the hard way, almost ruining a MIM Nashville tele body a few years ago..... If you love the guitar as is, why mess with it...

ToneShark · July 10th, 2008, 08:51 AM

Well, like I said, if it comes down to a Bigsby or something, I'll probably want to just buy another one for all of the experimenting, and leave one much more stock.

The poly will be a real pain, but I cannot tell you how much I don't like poly. It's less of a sound thing but I'd be willing to be even that could improve without the plastic finish. I figure I'll focus on the body first and if I really screw it up I'll have to grab another one. Thing is, these guitars, for as wonderful of instruments as they are, are not terribly expensive or hard to find. I don't see why everyone doesn't have at least one, or five of them.

Sooner or later I'll probably just have to get the Custom Shop thinline, but that's not exactly pocket change.

Steffey · July 10th, 2008, 08:19 PM

Mine is all stock, and I suspect it will stay that way. I'm a little superstitious about messing with a good thing, especially since this guitar has got all the vibe I ever wanted. I know a lot of folks trade out the pups, but for me the stock pups offer such a wide variety of tones and nuances that I can't see that an "improvement" is needed.

And as for the Bigsby...on a Tele, they just look wrong to me. In fact, the idea of any kind of whammy bar on a Tele seems like a violation to me. I guess I'm a traditionalist. If I want some whammy action, I can always borrow my son's Gretsch with a Bigsby or his gorgeous Olympic White American Standard Strat. But then again, I just have too much fun finding my own bends on the Thinline.

ToneShark · July 10th, 2008, 09:34 PM

You really ought to look into compensated brass saddles and lower-resistance pots. I cannot even tell you how much of a difference they made on mine. It didn't sound bad before, but once I put those on there its sound was so noticeably improved I couldn't play other guitars. That's how it became #1.

Bonneville Bruce · July 11th, 2008, 12:05 AM

I have the '69 Surf Green MIM reissue and it has become my #1, over some stiff competition.

I replaced the original pups with the CS Nocaster bridge and a '68 CS neck, and I'm done fooling with it. The original weren't bad, but the Nocaster gives it twang deluxe.

It is a twang-monster and I wouldn't trade it for any other guitar.

July 10th, 2008, 02:04 AM	#1 (permalink)
ToneShark TDPRI Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 31	69 RI Thinline After lurking around a while I decided it might be a good idea to post occasionally here -- so here's the first thing I'd like to ask the experts: I picked up a used 69 RI Thinline (MIM, natural mahogany) in a trade a few months ago and it has rapidly become my #1 guitar, blowing away everything else I own, regardless of how much more I spent on the other instruments or how much more I thought I'd like them. There were a few obvious things I had to address right away, which was getting a setup and putting brass saddles and 250k CTS pots in. One day or another I'd like to sand the poly off, refinish in nitro, and maybe get it reliced while I'm at it. I started on the back with really fine sandpaper but clearly that poly finish is thick. I could probably start with the heavier stuff. I used the fine stuff on the neck too and that was actually quite nice, because it feels a lot more like a satin-finished neck, not too different from the one on my John Mayer Strat. I'd also like to throw in a Bigsby someday, but I feel like if I do that I'll probably just get another one first. So. Anyone else using these? Any other good suggestions, other than pickups, which I'm actually quite pleased with?

July 10th, 2008, 08:03 AM	#3 (permalink)
Big Smokey Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Nashville TN Posts: 533	It is going to take a huge effort to get a modern poly finish off of a guitar. I learned this the hard way, almost ruining a MIM Nashville tele body a few years ago..... If you love the guitar as is, why mess with it... __________________ www.bigsmokey.com

July 11th, 2008, 12:05 AM	#7 (permalink)
Bonneville Bruce Tele-Holic Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Caldwell, Idaho Posts: 553	I have the '69 Surf Green MIM reissue and it has become my #1, over some stiff competition. I replaced the original pups with the CS Nocaster bridge and a '68 CS neck, and I'm done fooling with it. The original weren't bad, but the Nocaster gives it twang deluxe. It is a twang-monster and I wouldn't trade it for any other guitar. __________________ "Let us issue, 'Live Music is Better' bumper stickers."

July 10th, 2008, 03:01 AM	#2 (permalink)
TG Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Beside a bog in the west of Ireland Age: 46 Posts: 4,427 7 Photos	If it's now your number one guitar I'd strongly suggest leaving it as it is. I wouldn't put a Bigsby on it.

July 10th, 2008, 08:51 AM	#4 (permalink)
ToneShark TDPRI Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 31	Well, like I said, if it comes down to a Bigsby or something, I'll probably want to just buy another one for all of the experimenting, and leave one much more stock. The poly will be a real pain, but I cannot tell you how much I don't like poly. It's less of a sound thing but I'd be willing to be even that could improve without the plastic finish. I figure I'll focus on the body first and if I really screw it up I'll have to grab another one. Thing is, these guitars, for as wonderful of instruments as they are, are not terribly expensive or hard to find. I don't see why everyone doesn't have at least one, or five of them. Sooner or later I'll probably just have to get the Custom Shop thinline, but that's not exactly pocket change.

July 10th, 2008, 08:19 PM	#5 (permalink)
Steffey TDPRI Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Shoreline, WA Age: 47 Posts: 27	Mine is all stock, and I suspect it will stay that way. I'm a little superstitious about messing with a good thing, especially since this guitar has got all the vibe I ever wanted. I know a lot of folks trade out the pups, but for me the stock pups offer such a wide variety of tones and nuances that I can't see that an "improvement" is needed. And as for the Bigsby...on a Tele, they just look wrong to me. In fact, the idea of any kind of whammy bar on a Tele seems like a violation to me. I guess I'm a traditionalist. If I want some whammy action, I can always borrow my son's Gretsch with a Bigsby or his gorgeous Olympic White American Standard Strat. But then again, I just have too much fun finding my own bends on the Thinline.

July 10th, 2008, 09:34 PM	#6 (permalink)
ToneShark TDPRI Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 31	You really ought to look into compensated brass saddles and lower-resistance pots. I cannot even tell you how much of a difference they made on mine. It didn't sound bad before, but once I put those on there its sound was so noticeably improved I couldn't play other guitars. That's how it became #1.