How to tell a refin

marc61 · Post by **marc61** » Fri Nov 25, 2005 10:59 am

At the recent Rickenbacker Fest, I unveiled for the first time in public a 1967 4005. A couple of attendees stated that they felt ,while it was a nice bass, that it was refinished. The assumption was based on overspray in the sound hole.

How can I be sure one way or the other as the seller is stating that there is no way this bass is refinished?

Is there some kind of testing? Any other Rics have overspray that you guys feel are original? As this was a costly venture for me, any input appreciated
.

Bass in Question:

wim · Post by **wim** » Fri Nov 25, 2005 11:03 am

check if the polishing stuff is UNDER the lacquer maybe?

marc61 · Post by **marc61** » Fri Nov 25, 2005 11:03 am

Oh, I forgot to add, I'm not mentioning names of the seller or the folks who gave me opinions. It's not a mudslinging contest, I just want the correct information.

nattiep · Post by **nattiep** » Fri Nov 25, 2005 11:05 am

That's why you want to sell it? I can't tell.. but I also don't see the big deal on if it was a refin or not.

dswp · Post by **dswp** » Fri Nov 25, 2005 11:12 am

For what's it's worth. and the little I know about Ric's.

Red paint in the sound hole?

It's a refin. or an over sprayed at a minium.

How else would the red paint get inside the body???

marc61 · Post by **marc61** » Fri Nov 25, 2005 11:15 am

The explanation I got for the overspray was that the instruments were painted by hand, and this happened once in a while.

jps · Post by **jps** » Fri Nov 25, 2005 11:29 am

Look at the picture of Suzi Arden's 360/12 in the Smith book on page 87 for some major overspray in the soundhole. Given the nice yellowing of the finish, your 4005 is probably original unless the refin was done a very long time ago.

Another example is shown on page 103 of the 335 on the right.

dswp · Post by **dswp** » Fri Nov 25, 2005 12:00 pm

Wow, Jeff,

Looks the same as Marc's paint in the hole.

Perhaps I'm wrong...

wints · Post by **wints** » Fri Nov 25, 2005 12:10 pm

Who else here has a original 67 FG 4005? Comparisions of the spray pattern should not be too difficult to match...Ken's RM4005 should match up here...

I'd say that FG looks a lot like Ken's old 67 4001 pattern..just on a bigger bass.

Maybe Paul.W could comment on the specifics of paint or clues to an older refin...

Anyone else?

dswp · Post by **dswp** » Fri Nov 25, 2005 12:14 pm

I think Marc's is next to mine on the far right.
Both 67's

nattiep · Post by **nattiep** » Fri Nov 25, 2005 12:16 pm

I don't like blue boy, but that BB 4005 is amazing! I also really like Jeffrey's bass.

ken_swearingen · Post by **ken_swearingen** » Fri Nov 25, 2005 12:16 pm

marc61 · Post by **marc61** » Fri Nov 25, 2005 12:19 pm

See, now I think mine's the second from the left.Ironically, I was just about to post the same photo.

Please keep in mind that the story behind mine was that it was used mainly in the studio, which may mean it was kept in case, and not seen much of the light of day.

dswp · Post by **dswp** » Fri Nov 25, 2005 12:19 pm

dswp · Post by **dswp** » Fri Nov 25, 2005 12:21 pm