Grease accumulating!

[jc-sz]

Hi everyone, it's been a while since the last time I was around here. For those who don't remember, I bought my first Rick a couple of months ago and since it is in mint condition, I want to keep it that way. The thing now is, everytime after I play my Rick, I clean it using the RIC cloth and it is like new again, the problem is that where I rest my thumb (I play with fingers, and rest the thumb on the pickguard above the neck pup) there's some wear that's starting to appear.

I (want to) believe it's grease, but could it be that the finish is wearing and becoming dull on that spot?

I took a picture and it kinda shows, you have to take the reflection to compare and you'll see what I mean.



Is there any product that can be used to clean it better than just the cloth? generic names are preffered since I don't live in the US and not everything is available here.

Am I just being a freak?

Cheers!

[ram]

Joaquin, I think the first thing I'd try is a little Turtle car wax... from the Owner's Manual:
"Clean all perspiration, fingerprints, dust and grime stains, etc. with a RIC polishing cloth after each use. RIC cloths are specially treated, and other cloths may damage the finish. Polish using any non-abrasive pure carnauba based auto wax if the finish becomes stained or dull. Inexpensive Turtle Wax ® T-123 mixed 50/50 with water works better than most available specialty guitar polishes. Wipe in a circular motion at the speed which is slow enough to see small water bubbles form but fast enough to remove the polish completely before drying."

If the doesn't clear it up it might be time for Zymol... search the forum for that.

[jc-sz]

Thanks a lot Tom, I believe I can get Turtle Wax here. I had checked the manual before, but my 2003 came with a 1992 manual which does not mention Turtle Wax, it does mention caruba auto wax, but I didn't know where to find that. By the way, is that normal? getting such an old manual with a newer guitar?

I'm going to try to find Turtle Wax (a friend of mine knows where they sell it) and then tell you how it worked. Should I apply it using the Rick cloth or another cloth will be fine? And last, is washing the Rick cloth in the washing machine ok?

I know these are really silly and boring questions, but like I said, I'm kind of a freak when it comes to keeping my Rick like new. I wanted this bass for over 10 years, now I have it, I want to keep it like new... I sometimes have nightmares about it getting hit or scratched! I wake up sweating!!!

Thanks a lot once again!

Cheers!!

[johnallg]

Another thought would be to put a clear hard plastic piece right there to protect the finish. Look at the checkout lanes for a plastic hanging tab that holds products on the pegs. You want one that is on a plastic coated product and is big enough to cover the area you are wearing through. Pull it off the product and cut to size.

Oh, and whether you buy the product or ditch it in the store is up to you.

[FretlessOnly]

I'd use the Zymol starting ASAP. That's almost exactly where I anchor my thumb, and on my first Rick, an '80 4001, after owning it for 18 years, it had developed a significant wear spot there.

[ram]

Joaquin, the manual can be found on the Ric corporate site:
http://www.rickenbacker.com/pdfs/manual.pdf

an old t-shirt (clean) or and old diaper (also clean ) would work fine to apply the wax.

No such thing as silly and boring questions.... believe me I (and I dare say most of us) understand how you feel about your bass.... if the wax doesn't work look up the zymol and see if you can find some.

Let us know what happens.

[jc-sz]

Thanks everyone again!

Tom: the manual on the official website is much more complete than the old one I got with the bass, so THANKS!

John A: Thanks for the idea, although I must say it does not appeal to me that much... I had already considered installing a finger rest but decided not to in order not to compromise the originality of the bass. But thanks anyway

John M: I'm going to start first with Turtle Wax and then, if it does not work, turn to Zymol.

I must say I would start right now, but I am unfortunately unemployed at the moment, and although my bass is my joy and pride, I cannot afford buying anything. As soon as I get a job and get paid, I will start working on that

Thanks again

Cheers!

jc

[johnallg]

Joaquin, what I was talking about is a thin clear plastic about 1mm thick. It would barely be seen on the bass. Here is a link to the seller of one such product. You would cut the part that has the very sticky glue on it to use, putting it on the wood where the thumb is wearing the finish. It would virtually disappear on the bass. Almost.

http://www.do-it.com/hang-tabs/slot.html

[flying junk]

My Ric is always clean & shiny courtesy of Turtle Wax, but it has battle scars that would make you wince! Little dings on the body from the straplock buttons and fumbles with the jack plug, a couple of small chips on the headstock from collisions with low ceilings or light fittings, and from one memorable clash with our guitarist (who has the heaviest and hardest Telecaster - ouch). I might use the Jazz Bass if I'm playing outdoors or if it's really steamy, otherwise I wouldn't dream of gigging with another bass. Maybe if I was lucky enough to have two Rics I might like to keep one pristine, but I enjoy playing it (and being seen to play it) too much!

[ram]

Joaquin, another thing along the lines that John is suggesting, is applying a little piece of the non-adhesive plastic covering that is used for protection of electronic equipment faces as in cell phones. You just get the surface real clean and smooth (as in turtle wax) and the just put a small piece of the plastic in the area that is being affected. It adheres itself (anyone remember Color Forms?). I’ve seen it before but can’t recall where. Maybe someone else could chime in about it.

[cjj]

Joaquin, another thing along the lines that John is suggesting, is applying a little piece of the non-adhesive plastic covering that is used for protection of electronic equipment faces as in cell phones. You just get the surface real clean and smooth (as in turtle wax) and the just put a small piece of the plastic in the area that is being affected. It adheres itself (anyone remember Color Forms?). I’ve seen it before but can’t recall where. Maybe someone else could chime in about it.

That might not be such a great idea. Most of those types of things are vinyl plastics or PVC and, if I'm not mistaken, the plasticizers in vinyl may soften/damage the conversion varnish finish on the instrument...

[jingle_jangle]

Avoid vinyls.

[jc-sz]

Thanks again!

After I try Turtle Wax I'm going to decide wether to adapt something else or not. I also though about making a custom thumb rest long enough to be able to use 2 of the pickguard's screws and so avoid drilling anything... But we will see after Turtle Wax.

What I fear about putting anything on top of the wood/finish is that if I ever want to take it out its absense will show after many years of use/polishing etc. You know, that siluette where you see that something is missing.

Steve: I don't mean that I don't want to use it in case something happens to it, I am dying to play live with it (but we haven't had a chance yet, plus the swine flu has everyone kinda paranoic and nobody wants to go out around here)... It's just that I want to keep it as close to perfection as possible. It also has some marks... It's just that the day I saw them, I was really angry lol!

Thanks again everyone!

We will see what happens after turtle wax. I will try to ask my mate to lend it to me for a while and then see what happens, if not, it'll unfortunately have to wait till I get a job and then get paid :s

Cheers!

jc

[ram]

That might not be such a great idea. Most of those types of things are vinyl plastics or PVC and, if I'm not mistaken, the plasticizers in vinyl may soften/damage the conversion varnish finish on the instrument...

Hadn't thought of that - vinyl = bad. As Paul says stay away from it. Short exposure might not be too bad but repeated on the same area over and over - why even risk it?

Paul - love your new avatar!

I think the wax may get you out of the 'haze' anyhow.

let us know what happens.

[FretlessOnly]

Actually, I've always wondered why so few basses have a proper thumbrest in the right place. I realize that "the right place" is subjective, but seriously, don't most finger-style players anchor about 2-3 inches from the end of the fingerboard? They had those ridiculous "thumbrests" back in the day that were actually finger-tip anchors for playing with the thumb, that probably 1% of players actually used.

Why not bring it back; re-design it to prevent finish wear (heck; I'll do that) and put it on the E-string side where we can use it?