Question about RV1 bridge and pickup

[Mike M.]

Did Robin ever install Washburn Wonderbars as a custom option? What about Bill Lawrence pick ups?

I have a parts guitar that is an RV-1 body and and Paul C's neck. I want to replace the bridge but there are no other holes drilled other than forthe Wonderbar, which uses 54mm spacing in the front 2 screws.

Also, no standard pick up ring or pickup with fit. It had a Bill Lawrence when I got it - was this ever and option?

I know this is a Robin body (bird's eye maple!) because of the stamps on the heel.

Any reponses welcome, and I will post a pic when I can.

Thanks!

[Ken Jones]

Once you post a pic we'll be able to tell you more.

I've never seen an RV-1 with a Wonderbar. All of the Tokai Robins (RV, RG, RH) came with a standard strat tremolo. The guys in Houston would install locking tremolos on some guitars on a per-order basis, but they would have removed the standard tremolo to do so.

I've also never seen an RV-1 body with birds eye maple. The tops on those were flamey sycamore.

All of the RV-1's came with "Tokai 57 PAF" pickups (which are Gotohs).

[Mike M.]

Here are the pictures of the guitar mentioned in the first post. Any help identifying this would be great. Before you ask, no I am not going to photo the neck cavity - the neck has ben removed too many times and the holes are iffy.http://robinlovers.com/discus/messages/5/3547.jpg

[Mike M.]

Here's more detail...<br>http://robinlovers.com/discus/messages/5/3550.jpg

[Ken Jones]

I still doubt if the body is a Robin. All of the RV series had two or three control knobs - two on the RV-1, three on the RV-2. The RV-1 has a miniswitch, and the RV-2 has a three way selector.

My guess is that the body was made in the same factory (Tokai Gakki) as the Robins, but this is not a Robin body. In your original post you state:

"I know this is a Robin body (bird's eye maple!) because of the stamps on the heel. "

Stamps on the heel? Where is the heel on a guitar body? Are you referring to the heel of the neck? Did you mean to say the neck pocket on the body? What do the "stamps" say?

[Mike M.]

Yes, I meant the neck pocket. Don't kill me for my bad typing, I am an English speaker, I promise!

I will take a pic and post, despite my protestations to the contrary.

[Mike M.]

You're right, it's a Zolla(?!) not a Robin.

[Ken Jones]

Quick Google search found this website for Zolla guitars:

http://members.cox.net/bzolla/index.html

Email them and ask what the deal is on your guitar. My bet is that they used to import guitars from Japan too.

[Mike M.]

Ken, yes, I did email with the pics and my bridge/pick up questions. I'll post here if I hear anything interesting.