Sticky Gummy Finish on UNPLAYED 1999 Rick 4003 CurlyMaple FG

Vintage, Modern, V & C series, Fretless, Signature & Special Editions

Moderators: rickenbrother, ajish4

User avatar
ken_j
RRF Consultant
Posts: 4216
Joined: Fri Jul 18, 2003 5:31 am
Contact:

Re: Sticky Gummy Finish on UNPLAYED 1999 Rick 4003 CurlyMaple FG

Post by ken_j »

Welcome Jeff. I would consider contacting RIC customer service even though the warrenty period has long passed they may have an answer. A cross post in Reflections of a Curmudgeon: by Paul Wilczynski section will yeild some good info. Paul is definitely the finish guru here.



Maybe the bass feels rejected by not getting any play time. :lol: :lol: :lol:
"The best things in life aren't things."
User avatar
pag
Intermediate Member
Posts: 500
Joined: Wed Oct 27, 2010 8:37 am

Re: Sticky Gummy Finish on UNPLAYED 1999 Rick 4003 CurlyMaple FG

Post by pag »

I sympathise with you over the sticky situation.

I dont wish to sound awful but from the description above this is a fine looking bass made from great timbers and in some ways its a pity that the bass wasnt played and displayed for all the world to see.
Could it be that when Rickenbacker made this bass that it was infused with life and it is now suffering from some kind of syndrome developed by being incarcerated in solitary confinement?
Its a bit like the old collectable toys you see on Antiques Roadshow.. although its lovely to see mint condition stuff its also quite sad that they were never played with.

Lets hope Rickenbacker (the toymaker) can cure it.
User avatar
bassduke49
Senior Member
Posts: 6550
Joined: Wed May 14, 2003 5:00 am

Re: Sticky Gummy Finish on UNPLAYED 1999 Rick 4003 CurlyMaple FG

Post by bassduke49 »

It's interesting that the unusual wood has the unusual problem. I wonder if that particular selection of wood was somehow inhibiting the curing of the conversion varnish?

I don't know enough about coatings, but in my limited experience playing with urethane resins, a sticky, never-completly set casting is usually a sign of inadequate mixing of the resin and hardener (catalyst). Keep us informed, please.
Author: "The Rickenbacker Electric Bass - 50 Years As Rock's Bottom"
User avatar
cjj
RRF Moderator
Posts: 10900
Joined: Tue Jul 22, 2008 6:17 pm
Contact:

Re: Sticky Gummy Finish on UNPLAYED 1999 Rick 4003 CurlyMaple FG

Post by cjj »

Welcome to the RRF!

So, if you think it might be the SKB case, is this the only bass you have that's been stored in an SKB case? Do you know for sure that this bass was never out of it's package before you received it? If not, there's some possibility that someone at the store took it out (and if it was noticed that it was a particularly nice specimen, perhaps let several people look at or try it out) and then wiped it down with something that harmed the finish...
I have NO idea what to do with those skinny stringed things... I'm just a bass player...
User avatar
Lefty4001
Member
Posts: 283
Joined: Wed Jun 09, 2010 9:15 pm

Re: Sticky Gummy Finish on UNPLAYED 1999 Rick 4003 CurlyMaple FG

Post by Lefty4001 »

What about outgassing from the interior of the case? QC maybe missed one.

What's it smell like in there?
'turn up the bass'
rickaddict
Senior Member
Posts: 6163
Joined: Mon Mar 29, 2004 7:46 am

Re: Sticky Gummy Finish on UNPLAYED 1999 Rick 4003 CurlyMaple FG

Post by rickaddict »

Sorry to hear about your sticky bass, Jeff. I'm not sure what happened to it, but I suspect (as Paul B mentioned) the finish wasn't properly formulated.

But I'm no finish expert. The only thing I can offer is...I wouldn't worry about it happening to your other 24 Ricks. It's just not a problem that we ever hear about on this forum. There was a stickiness problem for a year or two with Midnight Blue (maybe around 2002 or 2003?) but that's the only similar issue I know of.
User avatar
godber
Advanced Member
Posts: 2650
Joined: Fri Sep 16, 2005 11:07 am

Re: Sticky Gummy Finish on UNPLAYED 1999 Rick 4003 CurlyMaple FG

Post by godber »

Lefty4001 wrote:What about outgassing from the interior of the case? QC maybe missed one.

What's it smell like in there?
In fairness to Rickenbacker I'm not sure how a factory inspection on the line could pick it up the issue when it only showed up 12 years later :? I've also only ever heard of finish issues in relation to Midnight Blue a while back, but they surfaced (no pun intended :roll: ) within a short time.

Hopefully Jeff will be able to get some practical advice here or direct from Rickenbacker. In the meantime if Jeff has any pics of the finish issue I'm sure we would be keen to see them and aid discussion - and of course to see that curly maple.

Stick around Jeff, maybe show us the rest of your collection and add them to the register.
User avatar
Hotzenplotz
Intermediate Member
Posts: 942
Joined: Sun Sep 26, 2010 8:51 am

Re: Sticky Gummy Finish on UNPLAYED 1999 Rick 4003 CurlyMaple FG

Post by Hotzenplotz »

Sounds a bit to me that outgassing is not the worst start for thinking about the effect. Especially the information of a for years unopened case is a very special detail.

I agree, our well known member Paul W. could say some more.
User avatar
cjj
RRF Moderator
Posts: 10900
Joined: Tue Jul 22, 2008 6:17 pm
Contact:

Re: Sticky Gummy Finish on UNPLAYED 1999 Rick 4003 CurlyMaple FG

Post by cjj »

godber wrote:
Stick around Jeff, maybe show us the rest of your collection and add them to the register.
Yes, please do, we'd all love to see them.

And it might help if you do a bit more here than you've done over of the RIC Corporate forum - lodge your complaint about the finish and then never respond to the questions/info people are asking/giving. We'd all like to help, but it's a bit difficult with no further information...
I have NO idea what to do with those skinny stringed things... I'm just a bass player...
User avatar
Hotzenplotz
Intermediate Member
Posts: 942
Joined: Sun Sep 26, 2010 8:51 am

Re: Sticky Gummy Finish on UNPLAYED 1999 Rick 4003 CurlyMaple FG

Post by Hotzenplotz »

First thing I would do with the instrument itself: nothing!

No polishing or whatever until it is more clear. Maybe this sticky thing is just outgassed glue of the (nearly never opened) case. Normally that should have no influence concerning the CV.

Is this sticky thing under the scratchplate, too?
User avatar
Kopfjaeger
Advanced Member
Posts: 1908
Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2011 8:49 am

Re: Sticky Gummy Finish on UNPLAYED 1999 Rick 4003 CurlyMaple FG

Post by Kopfjaeger »

I had a similar situation with a Fender P bass manufactured in the early 1980's. It was my regular giging bass but after I "retired" from bands and playing, the bass sat in it's case for nearly 20 years. At one point in time I opened the case to find the body of the bass had adhered to the case material. I literally had to peel it out of the case.

Initially I thought the case material had broken down and adhered itself to the bass but quite recently I found the paint had actually taken the texture of the lining material. it would seem the paint adhered to the case material.

I thought that since the case material was synthetic, it may have leeched out some of it's chemical properties that softened the paint. The only area that stuck was in direct contact with the bass with no air and the full weight of the instrument laying on it. That was my best guess.

After peeling the bass away, the paint was hard, just "textured".

Sepp
Vintage/Classic Rickenbacker Enthusiast!
1972 4001 Jetglo
1973 4001 Burgundyglo
2011 4003 Jetglo
1986 4003 Shadow
User avatar
jdogric12
Rick-a-holic
Posts: 10853
Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2005 6:00 am

Re: Sticky Gummy Finish on UNPLAYED 1999 Rick 4003 CurlyMaple FG

Post by jdogric12 »

cjj wrote:Welcome to the RRF!
there's some possibility that someone at the store took it out (and if it was noticed that it was a particularly nice specimen, perhaps let several people look at or try it out) and then wiped it down with something that harmed the finish...
This is the likeliest scenario.



cjj wrote: And it might help if you do a bit more here than you've done over of the RIC Corporate forum - lodge your complaint about the finish and then never respond to the questions/info people are asking/giving. We'd all like to help, but it's a bit difficult with no further information...
+1
User avatar
jps
RRF Consultant
Posts: 37126
Joined: Wed Feb 12, 2003 6:00 am

Re: Sticky Gummy Finish on UNPLAYED 1999 Rick 4003 CurlyMaple FG

Post by jps »

jdogric12 wrote:
cjj wrote: And it might help if you do a bit more here than you've done over of the RIC Corporate forum - lodge your complaint about the finish and then never respond to the questions/info people are asking/giving. We'd all like to help, but it's a bit difficult with no further information...
+1
+2, what's up with these one post folks? :?
User avatar
godber
Advanced Member
Posts: 2650
Joined: Fri Sep 16, 2005 11:07 am

Re: Sticky Gummy Finish on UNPLAYED 1999 Rick 4003 CurlyMaple FG

Post by godber »

jps wrote:
jdogric12 wrote:
cjj wrote: And it might help if you do a bit more here than you've done over of the RIC Corporate forum - lodge your complaint about the finish and then never respond to the questions/info people are asking/giving. We'd all like to help, but it's a bit difficult with no further information...
+1
+2, what's up with these one post folks? :?
They probably fart on their way out of a lift too Jeff.
User avatar
cjj
RRF Moderator
Posts: 10900
Joined: Tue Jul 22, 2008 6:17 pm
Contact:

Re: Sticky Gummy Finish on UNPLAYED 1999 Rick 4003 CurlyMaple FG

Post by cjj »

godber wrote:
jps wrote:
jdogric12 wrote: +1
+2, what's up with these one post folks? :?
They probably fart on their way out of a lift too Jeff.
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
I have NO idea what to do with those skinny stringed things... I'm just a bass player...
Locked

Return to “Rickenbacker Basses: by Joey Vasco & Tony Cabibe”