Finish getting tacky

[fenderslash]

I discovered a very worrying issue with one of my rarely used 330s tonight. I took it out of its case for the first time in a long time tonight and discovered that the finish was a little tacky. I'm hoping I can get some advice here about what could have caused it and what if anything can be done about it. I knew something was up when I lifted it out of its case and it was pulling some of the case's fibres out with it.

Just in case it any of this is relevant, here are the details on this guitar...

It is a 2001 Desert Gold 330, which I purchased NOS in 2006. The guitar was gigged every week for a year or so in 2006/07. My maintenance routine at the time was to clean whatever gig grime was on it the following day with a damp cloth, followed by immediately buffing it dry with the Ric polishing cloth. The cleaning/drying process was done in sections on the guitar, rather than cleaning the whole guitar and then drying the whole guitar. Then I'd leave it out of its case for at least a full day just to be sure it was totally dry. For the last two years or so the guitar has seen no use though and would have been out of it's case no more than once or twice. And I even keep the case inside its original Ric shipping carton!

Different areas of the guitar are suffering to different degrees, with the headstock being the stickiest and the neck being the least affected. The condition of the body is about half way between. I have also checked out my Jetgo 330 and my Fireglo 360 which have had the same cleaning routine and storage conditions for approximately the same period of time and they don't appear to be affected at all. The only difference (aside from the colours) is that although I purchased the Jetglow and Fireglo guitars within months of the Desert Gold guitar, those two are a couple of years newer (2003).

The guitar was showing zero signs of this tackiness appearing back when it was getting regular use, and the problem has only developed after being left for a couple of years undisturbed in its case.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[jingle_jangle]

Assuming that the case is an original RIC case, it appears that something was used to clean or wax this guitar before you purchased it, if all you've done is store it and wipe it down with a clean damp cloth.

A foreign substance has penetrated the conversion varnish clearcoat and caused it to soften over time.

Beyond these admittedly sketchy comments, I can't offer much without actually examining the instrument in person.

[fenderslash]

Thanks for the reply Paul. Just to add a little info after reading your comments...

I purchased the guitar direct from Shinseido (Japan Ric distributor) as a NOS guitar, so presumably it had just been stored in their warehouse from manufacture until I purchased it rather than being on display on a dealer's floor for five years. Since my ownership the only cleaning agent that went near the finish was tap water on a damp cloth and the Ric polishing cloth which was immediately used to dry off the tap water. The guitar has always been stored in its original Ric case (2001 black standard version with blue plush lining). As I mentioned above, when I put the guitar into storage it was fine, so this is something that has developed while being in storage. It's very strange.

I know that Shinseido checked and tested the guitar prior to sending it to me, so presumably they cleaned it then as well. When you say "something was used to clean or wax this guitar before you purchased it", is it possible that if it was cleaned with the wrong agent one time only in 2006 it would still appear to be perfectly fine twelve months or longer down the track in 2007 while actually deteriorating without showing it? (It was impossible to type that question without sounding a bit smart or sarcastic, but that's not the intention - I genuinely want to know if that's what could have happened because it seems unlikely in my admittedly very uneducated opinion).

[jingle_jangle]

I agree that it's quite strange, but since you appear to have done nothing out of the ordinary, the period of time prior to your purchase and ownership draws my attention.

This lack of continuity (i.e., you don't know what happened to it before you bought it; you only have hearsay) is why RIC only warrants the finish for a limited time after manufacture, not after registration--there's no way to imagine every possible scenario that your guitar's been through.

[fenderslash]

Thanks again Paul. While you were typing that I was editing my last post and added a second paragraph with another question. If you could have a read and offer your opinion I'd appreciate it

[jingle_jangle]

And, I'm going to plead ignorance on exactly what it could be that is hurting the finish, as it could be a couple of things I know, a combination of factors, or something unknown to me and you, too. Too bad I'll never get a chance to look at this one in person, though. My curiosity is piqued.

[fenderslash]

It'd be an excuse to come over for a holiday. Claim it as work related expenses even. I'm sure JH would pay in the interests of company R&D. It's nice and warm here right now.

Oh well, at least one thing I have learned from this thread is that it's not my own cleaning routine that had caused the damage. That was worrying me a little too, because I continue to do the same to all my regularly used guitars, including a few nitro guitars (a couple of Teles and a Firebird VII). I know Rics aren't nitro, but I'm just thinking of non-plastic finishes in general. I have eight Rickenbackers with this one being the oldest, and I was (an am) very concerned that they're all going to follow suit in order of manufacture.

[grazioso]

i'd try to keep it outside the case and outside that carton just to see what is going to happen...
one those glues used in that shipping carton or inside the case is the greatest suspect ...

[antipodean]

i'd try to keep it outside the case and outside that carton just to see what is going to happen...
one those glues used in that shipping carton or inside the case is the greatest suspect ...

My thoughts exactly - or some chemical has been spilt in the case (acetone?) and the trace fumes are doing their thing.....