What kind of finish is on the newer RIC's?

[ric330]

Do the newer RIC's come with a Polyurethane finish or some kind of derivative of a urethane?
Just curious...

[octagon]

Conversion Varnish?

[jimk]

Paul would know.

JimK

[chefothefuture]

Mitch-
You have it with Conversion Varnish.
It's intended to be resistant to weather checking.
Smells good; my 381/12 BBR has the wonderful
"new Rick smell"

[jingle_jangle]

Yep, the umpteenth updated, improved version of the conversion varnish that Rick has used since sometime in 1959.

Conversion varnish is the woodworkers' / contract furnishings terminology for catalyzing polyurethane clearcoat. It's a sprayable liquid which is mixed in a precise ratio with a catalyst (usually also a liquid) and then reduced with a special solvent blend in order to give it the proper viscosity for spray operation. This is the same type of material used in modern industrial and automotive applications. Conversion varnish is formulated to be a bit softer than the other versions, and it's a great way to protect wood from elements, although it's not an outdoor finish, strictly speaking. RIC does their best to provide the most weatherproof finish they can procure--the product they use is recommended by the supplier for use on caskets!

The smell you are experiencing is a mix of different olfactory components...the varnish, wood, and paint are usually overpowered by the scent of the glue used to attach the plush lining to the guitar case. If you go to a local music store that stocks guitar cases, you can open the cases on display and experience the same nirvana. I do it at least once a week when I can't sniff a new Rick...

[ric330]

Thanks everyone for the posts and Paul for your thorough explanation.