This stuff really works - WOW!!

kcole4001 · Post by **kcole4001** » Fri Feb 24, 2006 11:30 am

Polishing begins tonight!
The Hipshot tailpiece I bought from Ron Plichta arrived today (thanks, Ron!) & my white '77 4001 will be disassembled & buffed. Next up will be the FG '76 4000, & then the big project, the '81 4080.

I got all new screws for all 3, courtesy of RIC, & that made quite a difference in looks. I hated all those dirty, rusty, chewed up 30 year old screws. Now they're nice & shiny.

rickenbrother · Post by **rickenbrother** » Fri Feb 24, 2006 7:43 pm

Howard's guitar looks so great I went and bought the Scratch X and Zymol also.

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Fri Feb 24, 2006 7:46 pm

I did the backside of my recently purchased red '85 4003 and WOW! Ok, I'm sold.

kcole4001 · Post by **kcole4001** » Sat Feb 25, 2006 6:21 am

Much more dramatic results on darker finishes, but indeed a transformation. Even my wife can tell the difference, & she can't tell a Fender from a Rick!
I'll do my FG 4000 Sunday night, then the shine will really show.

I'm about 85% on the Hipshot. Need shorter screws for the D & G strings, then the intonation will be perfect.

harvey49 · Post by **harvey49** » Sat Feb 25, 2006 1:04 pm

You know Paul, I think Meguairs and Zymol should send you a complementary bundle of their products. The amount of interest and business this thread has generated far exceeds what has gone on before, for these products!

Well done Howard for starting this and getting a lot of people to actually go out and give this stuff a go. We now have a lot of happy little "Rickenpolishers" out there now!!!

kcole4001 · Post by **kcole4001** » Sun Feb 26, 2006 5:53 am

Indeed, many thanks to all involved for enlightening the rest of us. The stuff is great, & the expert advice even more valuable.

That's exactly why I love this place!

rickenbrother · Post by **rickenbrother** » Sun Feb 26, 2006 9:52 am

My trans red 4004Cii5 was my first patient for applying the Scratch X and Zymol. WOW!!

Too bad there is no such thing as Chip X, Gouge X or Weather-Checking X for vintage instruments!!

melibreits · Post by **melibreits** » Sun Feb 26, 2006 10:32 am

Heh, then Paul would be out of a job/rewarding hobby.... If my Purpleburst didn't have a few of the above problems beforehand, it would still be Fireglo, LOL!

ozover50 · Post by **ozover50** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 11:19 am

Had a crack at another yesterday - my 620 TQ. Came up very nicely indeed!

BTW, what does one use to remove the 'sweaty bits' on the body after playing?

melibreits · Post by **melibreits** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 11:26 am

Aitch, that is LOVELY! Sweet, sweet, sweet!

I've gotta get to work shining up MY Turquoise soon.... lately it seems like there aren't enough hours in the day to do everything I wannna do!

sowhat · Post by **sowhat** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 11:49 am

WOW! So lovely i can even see the sky and the trees there!

kcole4001 · Post by **kcole4001** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 12:09 pm

Don't you know Aitch, if you polish it you must NEVER play it again!

Seriously, I'm interested in the answer also. I've noticed that the finish doesn't get as grubby looking after playing as it did before polishing, but surely you don't have to redo the whole process every time you sweat on it!

ozover50 · Post by **ozover50** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 12:24 pm

That's only two applications of Zymol, also. It will get another one or two during the week.

I wiped it down gently with a clean dry diaper afterwards but I'm not sure whether that's the best way. I thought of the Rick cloth but I prefer to use that on the metal parts.

kcole4001 · Post by **kcole4001** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 12:57 pm

I found it makes a huge difference in the look of fingerboards too. The boards on my '77 & '81 were very dull. Now they look like the CV is still wet!

ozover50 · Post by **ozover50** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 1:59 pm

I used some Dr. Stringfellow on the fretboard - took the gunk off and gave it a pretty good shine.

I tweaked the neck, did the intonation and set the action at the same time - as well as putting a set of Rotosound 10-46s on it. They are great strings - sound fantastic with the hi-gains!

With all the work done it's like having a new guitar....