Samick Royale RL1 | Part 3

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September 19 Update

I checked the electronics of this Samick Royale RL1 Semi-Hollowbody yesterday, administered a spritz or two of contact cleaner; and declared them useable. Now it was time to deal with hardware issues. Upon removing the pickups for cleaning, I was pleased to see shielding paint in the pickup cavities. Though there are no grounding tabs, you've got to hand it to Samick for taking this extra step. 

Back to the pickups, then. Long story short, the only components retained were the pickup rings, magnets, coils, bobbins, base plates and chrome covers. Everything else was too rusty to be reused, and this included the polepieces. So, now we have two slightly more presentable Duncan Designed™ humbuckers with cleaner covers and mounting rings, new polepieces, mounting ring and height adjustment screws; as well as springs. The black pickguard received lots of TLC too, namely a good clean and polish, plus a new mounting bracket and screws. 

Hardware servicing is far from over. I haven't even finished servicing the Korean Grover™ A102C tuners. With regard to this tedious job, honorable mention goes to Autosol Metal Polish, Waxco Nano Tech Plastic Polish, and microfiber cloth. Can't see myself getting anything done without you guys! Stay tuned for more updates, folks.

Shielding paint in the bridge pickup cavity

Looking better after sevicing

Pickguard after cleaning, polishing and a new bracket

Bridge pickup after after servicing and parts replacement

Neck pickup after after servicing and parts replacement

Upper bout strap button after servicing

Butt end strap button after servicing

Polishing the Grover™ A102C tuners with Autosol