How Do They Do It?

[Rickengretsch]

I know there was just a thread about all of our favorite things about Jetglo finishes, but my question is this: How the heck do they stay so clean and fingerprint/sweat mark free? I don't have particularly acidic sweat, but all that stuff shows up on every other black guitar I've owned or played.

I actually almost didn't get one in Jetglo (even though it was my ideal Rick) b/c I hate the maintenance of a black guitar. It's amazing these stay so clean. It's got to be something in the finish. I Love It!!

[steverok]

JetGlo is the best. What a cool name too - JetGlo.

[goofyfoot]

Rickenbacker should paint cars.

Late....Goofyfoot.

[jingle_jangle]

Rickenbacker paints guitars like Rolls-Royce paints cars, with one exception. Rolls-Royce test-drives each car before final painting and rubbing out. Seal, paint, sand, paint, sand, etc., etc, drive, then paint and buff.

I think ten days average in the paint shop is about par for both manufacturers.

There are two ways to paint cars: To spray shiny paint and let it dry shiny enough to make most folks happy. It's only a car, right?

Then there's the connoisseur's way: Paint, fine wet sand, clearcoat (optional), then buff, inch by inch. Triples the time to deliver. But satisfies really demanding people who expect quality, and makes "most folks", when they see the finish at night under lights or in broad daylight, think: I wonder why my car doesn't look that good?

They actually used to paint VWs this way, back in the '60s. Now it's handbuilt cars, Porsches at the low end and Rolls and Bugattis at the upper end.

[Rickengretsch]

I knew it must be something special. I really am truly amazed at this Jetglo paint job!!

[rickenmetal]

I kind of think there is also something different about the laquer they use, perhaps how they apply it as well, it's probably the slow method.

[jingle_jangle]

Well, the black has little gloss. The varnish is what packs the gloss, but it's not lacquer, but urethane, and although it's sprayed, it's given a lot of post-spraying attention, too, just like a Rolls...hnad-sanded absolutely flat, then hand-and-machine-buffed and finally waxed.

You cannot get that sort of gloss any other way.