This stuff really works - WOW!!

kcole4001 · Post by **kcole4001** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 6:45 am

I only did the Scratch X & one coat of Zymol on the fingerboard & it looks almost new! It was dull & grungy from years of (someone else's) neglect.

I've put all RIC strings on my 4080 & I really like 'em.
The guitar strings are 10-42's, & I got a couple of extra sets off ebay for $20. Included was 2 sets of 10's & a set of 9's. Great deal!

The RIC bass strings took a little getting used to, as they are lighter on the A & D strings than a standard 45-105 set, but they are very growly!

johnallg · Post by **johnallg** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 3:07 pm

Ok, after wading through all the (cat) s**t here to get to the gems (

), I stopped at the local Advance Auto Parts and they had both the Scratch-X ($8.18) and Zymol ($13.48). After a diaper stop tomorrow I'll see how an MG looks after "The Paul Treatment". Thanks for great advice and procedures.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 6:19 pm

John, it'll be less dramatic on MG than on, say, BG or JG, but the results are still worth the effort!

Good luck...

johnallg · Post by **johnallg** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 6:36 pm

Thanks. I've had it for just over a year and have always wiped it down after playing, but have yet to clean or wax it. There are also a couple creases in the back where a button may have been (too big of an overhang for buckle rash!) and a couple cord plug dings around the jack area that I'm hoping the Scratch-X may reduce - probably too deep to rub out and leave any CV on.

One thing I'm not clear on from the descriptions (am I the only one who clipped and pasted it into a document to keep?) so far is do you use the Scratch-X all over or just where the scratches are?

Thanks again for all the help/info.

harvey49 · Post by **harvey49** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 8:35 pm

Not trying to steel Paul's thunder here, but as this info was from Paul anyway so I don't think he'd mind me answering your query John, (that way he can stay on the refins, so we all can get some enjoyment LOL).

Do small areas at a time, don't be aggressive with the Scratch X near edges, and yes do the entire guitar, it will come up a treat. Don't forget to follow up with the Zymol - it's great stuff!!!

ozover50 · Post by **ozover50** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 8:47 pm

Not trying to steal Paul and Ron's thunder here, John, but rub the Scratch X back and forth in one direction only - not in a circular motion.

Also, two coats of Zymol is always better than one!

johnallg · Post by **johnallg** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 9:48 am

Thanks to you both, Ron and Howard. After running all over town and wasting more money on gas then diapers (went to a specialty baby store first and after laughing they wished me luck), I had to get birdseye style diapers. They have a rough weave, but I finally found some marked super absorbant and they looked like they had a tad more nap to them rather than the tea towel look. What ever happened to the thick fluffy diapers I remember from years ago?? Are these birdseye-type what everyone is using? They don't look very good for polishing.... Dundee is the brand I finally settled on, with the pink label, which were the super absorbant. Otherwise it was the blue label and they almost looked like cheesecloth. Gerber brand was only birdseye also and the thin kind. Sigh....

Besides, even though I have an MG it is not a birdseye maple..... bud-a-bump...

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 10:44 am

Any diaper services in your neck of the woods, John? They are a good source.

Maybe I oughta go into the recycled diaper business...All of my custumers get a fresh diaper in their cases anyway. That's a head start.

johnallg · Post by **johnallg** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 11:01 am

Interestingly as I was out driving all over, I passed one truck out making his deliveries and if I'd seen him quicker I would have turned and asked him if they sell. I just reread your first diaper post in this long thread and you did say cotton or cotton gauze diapers, so I suppose the ones I got should be ok. Mine look like your grandma's tea towels, only soft.

Thanks once again. Tomorrow morning I destring and attack.

harvey49 · Post by **harvey49** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 12:50 pm

You'll be pleased with your efforts John, both Howard and I,(and many others who've used Dr Paul's remedy for sick finishes), can vouch for this

ozover50 · Post by **ozover50** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 1:36 pm

One other piece of advice, John. It pays to take your time - my first one took four hours, and that was with Ron's assistance!!

Subsequent ones can be done much more quickly because you know the drill. Can you show us some pics when you're done?

johnallg · Post by **johnallg** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 3:07 pm

Thanks again to all the encouragement. At dinner, I ran the Dundee diapers thru the wash (Tide Free and no softner - didn't even put the cup in the washer as it had buildup in it). They are in the dryer and will be ready for the morning endevors. Looking at them out of the plastic, they are double layer with multi layers in the middle (more absorbtion!) so they should work fine. I will cut the small application pads out of that middle layer.

And if it takes 4 hours for the first time, it could be a couple days work but I will try and get decent pics of before and after. Not a lot of free time to do the deed in one sitting, I believe. Granted the bass is not in any sort of bad shape, but to see about a couple lines on the back, for protection, and to get that certain "Glo", I want to give it "The Paul Treatment".

johnallg · Post by **johnallg** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 11:10 am

Well, the deed is done. I took enough time to use the Scratch-X and Zymol (2 coats) and got to work an hour late, but oh well. Let me say I am really impressed with Zymol - the car gets it next.

I learned quite a bit doing this and would like to share some:

1. Zymol is a really great product.
2. When you first put it on the working cloth square, you really smell the coconut. When you are finished with the job, you can't.
3. Your instrument will look better than new (ignore the dings!) when done.
4. MA from RIC did work (probably the truss rods) under the TRC.
5. David from RIC probably installed the tailpiece.
6. Rosa from RIC worked in the electronics cavity.
7. Your instrument is dirtier than you think.
8. Scratch-X probably works great on fine scratches but will not remove dents that don’t even break the CV. But it doubles as a great cleaner.
9. You will become intimately familiar with the grain in your instrument’s wood (if it shows).
10. My MG has nicer grain than I thought. It also looks like the darker lines are deeper in color now after waxing.
11. Your instrument has a lot of nooks and crannies. Either product likes nooks and crannies.
12. It is wise to color code the wires you unsolder (3 on my bass) so hours later you remember where they go. I knew this from my electronics work but wanted to share it.
13. It takes longer than you think it will, but is easier to do that you thought it would be.
14. If you wax the TRC, it gets into the lettering and a diaper doesn’t get it. I found a clean soft toothbrush does (helps with #11 above). I wouldn’t use Scratch-X on it as the lettering is paint.
15. Two coats minimum.
16. There are a lot of sexy curves on a Rickenbacker.
17. The chrome work on the tailpiece and pickup surrounds is not the greatest. You can thank the EPA for that.
18. The bubinga wood of the fretboard looks awesome when cleaned and waxed this way.
19. You will find out just how good a shape your hand muscles are in.
20. Dundee extra absorbent diapers work really good.
21. You will literally know your instrument inside and out after doing this.
22. Make sure you properly support the instrument. On the basses, where the neck joins the body is the weakest link so remember that as you work on the neck and support it properly.
23. Paul knows what he is talking about and “The Paul Treatment” really works. Thanks a bunch!

johnallg · Post by **johnallg** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 11:12 am

I was asked for photos so please indulge me with the number. I tried to get photos showing the dings and a couple indent lines, but they wouldn’t show up good and Scratch-X didn’t phase them anyway so it doesn’t matter. The one before is the 4003 nekid. The rest are after “The Paul Treatment”.

johnallg · Post by **johnallg** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 11:13 am

Here are the rest: