Newbie!!!!

paulv63 · Post by **paulv63** » Thu Jun 30, 2005 3:59 pm

I just wanted to pop in and say hello to all of you. I've been a Rickenbacker owner since 1985 (4001)and these days I have a 325v63. I'm in the process of refinishing the jetglo since it was turning into a sticky, gummy, goo. It's a 1989 and I heard that the finishes in the 1980's were of poor quality. I'm glad that it's back to mint condition! I would also like to thank Paul W. for answering my questions on the finish problems I ran into.

scottpro1969 · Post by **scottpro1969** » Thu Jun 30, 2005 4:12 pm

Welcome Paul,
If there is a question about a Rickenbacker product, rest assured you will get an answer...either from a knowledgable forumite or an actual person who works for, or has worked for in the past, or the CEO himself from Rickenbacker.

This forum is very unique in that we are lucky to have people who post here that actually work, or have worked for RIC in the past, posting their opinions on these incredible instruments. I may be wrong but....does the CEO of Fender, Gibson, or any other of the major instrument manufacturers post anywhere to answer queestions about their product??? I'm serious, I don't know.

Quality control is paramount in an instruments success and Rickenbacker is Top Shelf in that aspect. I do not have to defend Rickenbacker...their product speaks for itself.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Thu Jun 30, 2005 5:47 pm

Paul, I do not believe that it ever was true that Rickenbacker finishes were "of poor quality". You will hear all sorts of spurious claims and apocryphal stories about these instruments, usually started and/or circulated by folks with an axe to grind.

It's my understanding and belief--and I have yet to see otherwise with my own eyes--that Rickenbacker instruments were always finished with materials that were the best and most durable available at the time the instrument was built. Beginning in the '80s (and I'm not sure of the exact year), the factor of allowable VOCs (volatile organic compounds--smog-producing agents from evaporation of paint solvents into the atmosphere) had to be considered, too, as the RIC factory is located in the area of the USA with the strictest controls on air quality. So RIC has, ever since, been working with their paint vendors on formulating finishes with greater and greater durability and less and less pollution potential.

In 2004, RIC ran right smack up against their allowable legal limit. I mean within a fraction of 1%. Obviously, they can't exceed the limit unless they want to be cited and hit with a huge fine or worse, so something like this means that they would be unable to expand capacity.

RIC has been experimenting all along with finishes that have lower VOCs and enhanced durability, and good news on this front is probable in the near future.

The problems that you mentioned with the finish on your 325 I can say are almost certainly not factory-related, but more likely due to atmospheric or environmental factors. The problem is with the conversion varnish, not the black finish under it. Without looking at it, I can't give an exact answer, but I've examined lots of 325V63s and have not seen the stickiness surface (pun?) on any of them. And if it was a bad batch of varnish, this would have been a problem with many guitars, not just one. It is even possible that your guitar was refinished once already using improper materials and/or techniques.

Anyway, I'm glad it's turning out! I'm just completing a 325V63JG refinish this week for David Blair, and they are stunning guitars when kept up!

dale_fortune · Post by **dale_fortune** » Thu Jun 30, 2005 7:07 pm

Paul Maiorana There are various cleaners that people have used on guitar finishes that attack the top layer and dissolve it or make it soft. Things such as: Goof Off, MEK and various furniture polishes. Some of these contain silicone, which is not good for your guitar. I know for a fact that the finish that goes on Rickenbackers is of the highest quality and when taken care of properly you will have none of these problems.

doctorwho · Post by **doctorwho** » Thu Jun 30, 2005 8:13 pm

Welcome to the Forum, Paulv63!

As a chemist, I would agree with the gist of Dale's comment - a previous owner probably used a finish-incompatible material on it at some time that softened the finish, that's why it is tacky. None of my 1980s guitars have 'bad' finishes.

patrickkelly · Post by **patrickkelly** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 6:15 am

While we're on this subject, would any of the finish experts care to comment on "NuFinish?" I don't use the stuff, as (I believe this is true) it adds a thin layer of poly to the finish; however, many guitarists swear by the stuff.

Personally, I shine my guitars up with one of the major label (Meguires or Mothers) low-abrasive liquid cleaner/polishes from the local auto parts store.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 9:26 am

One word:

Silicone.

A second word:

Solvents.

As Dale has mentioned, (and I tend to agree), it could be solvents responsible for turnng the conversion varnish that is the tops gloss coat on any Rickenbacker guitar made in the last 45 years, into goop. Do you know which solvent is in the wax you put onto your precious Rick?

The factory recommends Turtle Wax 123, and they use it themselves. I've recommended Zymol, and there are some other waxes that are made for guitars which, as long as they say "no silicones" on the label, should be OK.

NuFinish is for lazy folk to maintain the "Zombie-Shine" that new cars come with. Rickenbackers have a premium, hand-polished finish, like a new $200K Ferrari. If you're the type who cares enough to ask, use premium products to maintain them.

paulv63 · Post by **paulv63** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 9:53 am

Wow guys. Thanks for all of the information. I did have the toughts that it was contaminated with some kind of a polish that the previous owner may have put on which made it gooey therefore selling it off. I'm glad to say it looks factory fresh with the new finish. Here's a funny story... I belong to another discussion group and for the most part they are Fender and Gibson owners. I can't tell you the hard time I have getting an answer to questions from these people. I felt like an outcast there. Glad to be around people who share the same love!

octagon · Post by **octagon** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 10:16 am

Did you ever try Powerchord? Ive used it on all my Ricks and it works beautifully.Don't know what is in it but no Silicone or Solvents and its not a wax.Here is info on it:

http://www.powerchord-usa.com/how_it_works.htm

paulv63 · Post by **paulv63** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 11:56 am

Mitch, I personally use Meguiar's on my instruments. I think it does a pretty good job however, it didn't fix the problem that I had with the finish on my 325.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 12:09 pm

Gonna have to pick some of this up myself. Lessee... Umm...

1. Not a wax
2. No silicones
3. No solvents

What does that leave? Schmutz?

Sounds a bit like Brillianize...

Meguiar's spray detailer makes the same claims, BTW...

paulv63 · Post by **paulv63** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 5:01 pm

Paul, the Meguiar's stuff I have is in a squeeze bottle. I haven't had any problems with it...yet...

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 5:26 pm

Paul, all the Meguiar's stuff comes in a squeeze bottle, except their clay...

Lots of people swear by their stuff, and of course they make Scratch-X, the JG owner's best friend!

leftyguitars · Post by **leftyguitars** » Mon May 01, 2006 9:30 am

I know that this thread is nearly a year old but I have recently picked up an early eighties 360 which has (I believe) been polished with a silicone based polish. The surface of the finish is very slightly rough to the touch and it looks like it needs a real good polish. I gave it a good going over with buffing cream and it looked lots better, but a couple of weeks later it was as bad as ever again. Is there any magic polish or anything to fix it? Or is it terminal?