What finish on 330?

[Amber]

What paint finish is on my Jet-glo from 2007? I'm asking because the Ric website says it isn't poly or nitro, and I saw a video on you tube saying that Rickenbacker makes few guitars because only a certain quota of paint by-products can be released into the atmosphere in any one year.

[iiipopes]

Conversion varnish.

[jdogric12]

Was the switch to UV in '09?

[Hotzenplotz]

The switch to UV cured varnish was in week #16 of 2010.

See here:
viewtopic.php?f=106&t=403516

The new UV cured varnish is polyester based.
The old conversion varnish was based on polyurethane, IIRC.
The times of nitro finishes was decades (!) before.

[girllennon76]

So, which finish formula holds up over time? My curiosity is piqued

[Hotzenplotz]

Nitro changes the most. Sooner or later it will reduce its thickness while changing to a wavy surface and it will develop cracks. And nitro is a big issue when it comes to environmental aspects.

Then there is the old PU finish. The surface stays unruffled but it develops the famous Rickenbacker whisker cracks, always rectangular to the forces acting on the wood.

Last but not least there is the "new" UV cured varnish. This seems to be the one that changes the less. My in 40/2010 build 330 is still perfect. - Easy to clean and it seems to handle the natural changes of the wood the best.

- Let's see how it will be a few years later. So far it is looking like the UV varnish will win the race.

[Amber]

Thanks for the comprehensive replies guys. Much appreciated.