How to keep my BlueBoy blue

[IHeartRics]

[quote="blueflamerick"]I think it's going to be next to impossible to do this unless you never touch it or even open the case it's in.[quote]

So it seems abstinence will keep a Blue Boy blue.

[fatcat]

Then I shall perhaps name my 4003 BB Dracula.
Never let ut see daylight.

[soundmasterg]

Paul, do you think I'll have this problem (blueboy changing to mint green) in my self-refinished 230? I used all PPG paint and CV as you suggested. I haven't noticed a hint of it yet.

Greg

[jingle_jangle]

You won't, as the PPG CV (which is a high-solids, automotive blend) has a non-yellowing UV inhibitor. That's one of the reasons it costs $241.00 per gallon...As you may have noticed, it's a bear to sand, although if you haven't used a furniture CV, you've nothing to compare it to.

[Rickygirl]

I have a 360/12 in Blue Boy. It has a slight hint of colour change, but it is still definately Blue Boy. The trouble is, I keep it locked in it's case most of the time as I am paranoid about it changing, so I don't play it as often as I should. I need to reset my brain to accept the colour change and get it out to play more often.

Still pressing the reset button....damn thing isn't working!!!!

[jps]

Sarah, you shouldn't have anything to worry about, you never have any sun over there to promote any color change, just like no chance of you getting a suntan!

[libratune]

I have several Blue Boys. Two were made in 2002 for the Japan market and are definitely true blue. The others were made in 2004 (and after) and are a mixed bag: some are true blue, some have mint green overtones and one has large green splotches. Why?

John Hall, in a 2005 comment in the official RIC forum, said the following to a forumite who wanted to know why his new 4003 BB was “seafoam green”:

“[Blue Boy] is a solid, pastel blue color coat, but the clear coat adds some shading and detail of its own. It's likely too that you're looking at this with fluorescent lighting, which emphasizes this effect somewhat.”

http://www.rickenbacker.com/forum_view_ ... h&p=p#3772

In my opinion, the greening is not caused by exposure to light, but by something going on with the clear coat, which is consistent with what Mr. Hall said. Of course, exposure to light can cause some kinds of clear coat/CV to amber, but I believe the greening of those Blue Boys that have turned green takes place regardless of exposure to light.

I base this belief on my own observations of the finishes on my Blue Boys. Several of them have not been exposed to light at all and are mint green and one has green splotches in a pattern that has nothing to do with light. I have also noticed that the mint green Blue Boy instruments are uniformly true blue around the body edge below the binding. (This comment was also made about the 4003 in the thread referenced above.) Perhaps this has to do with the scraping that is part of the binding process; not my area of expertise, but maybe someone more knowledgeable than me could comment.

If you have a Blue Boy, my recommendation is to play it and display it. I do not believe that modest exposure to normal indoor lighting is going to make the Blue Boy finish turn green –- or turn any greener than it already is.

[sloop_john_b]

Ron, do you have photos of your '02's?

[libratune]

Bearing in mind that BB is not an easy color to photograph, here are 2 pics of my 2002 360 BB from the angles that best show the "true blue" color, IMO:

02 360 BB - 1

02 360 BB - 2

And the RIC Japan warranty card for this guitar:

02 360 BB JPN WCard

[jps]

Looks kinda minty on my Mac, does this look better?

[libratune]

Looks kinda minty on my Mac, does this look better?

Thanks, Jeff, the color in your rendition of my photos is more true to the actual color of the guitar. I will be visiting you in the "photo" forum shortly to discuss what I might be doing wrong.

If only you could run all the Blue Boy basses and guitars that have turned mint-green through your "true blue" filter, there would be a lot of happy Blue Boy owners!

[kiramdear]

You could always pass out yellow sunglasses before viewing.

[wints]

Sarah, you shouldn't have anything to worry about, you never have any sun over there to promote any color change, just like no chance of you getting a suntan!

Sounds just like Ohio!

[jps]

Sarah, you shouldn't have anything to worry about, you never have any sun over there to promote any color change, just like no chance of you getting a suntan!

Sounds just like Ohio!

Compared to Florida, perhaps!

[soundmasterg]

You won't, as the PPG CV (which is a high-solids, automotive blend) has a non-yellowing UV inhibitor. That's one of the reasons it costs $241.00 per gallon...As you may have noticed, it's a bear to sand, although if you haven't used a furniture CV, you've nothing to compare it to.

Thanks Paul! I'm glad to hear that....maybe my 230 will be the only instrument thats still BlueBoy in 30 years...haha!

I didn't notice it was too much trouble to sand it....but then the last guitar I refinished before this one was with acrylic lacquer, and that was a PITA.....took forever to harden and dry, and comes off looking like plastic. Not gonna use that anymore. (easy to avoid since you can't buy it in the US anymore.)

Greg