4001 RI (Rugged Individual)

[Killer Canary]

I took my shabby '73 to the local luthier today for an estimate on a re-finish and instead of recoiling in horror he advised me not to touch the finish, as shabby original finish is still worth more than a quality re-finish. I'll post pictures when I get it back. Does this sound right though?

[jps]

It depends on just how shabby it is.

[s4001]

Same thing. I've taken my '68 to have it refinished (twice) and both times I was refused.

Great thanks to those luthiers!

[rickenbrother]

Let's see better pictures of it!

[T.A.R.]

Let's see better pictures of it!

+1

[berth]

Cleaning/polishing your Rick (the right way) can make a dull finish Glo again quite often.

[rickaddict]

Depends on who is doing the re-fin. If you do get a real high quality re-fin like this one:

http://www.rickresource.com/register/vi ... ine%3Dtrue

(and from the man pictured!) I would bet your bass would increase in value.

[ram]

Cleaning/polishing your Rick (the right way) can make a dull finish Glo again quite often.

+1

[cheyenne]

Tear it down and give it the Scratch X & Zymol treatment.

[jingle_jangle]

And I'll bet your luthier is neither a Rick soecialist nor a Rick collector, so what does he know?

I'm soooo tired of hearing this nonsense about Ricks from "original thinkers", who are simply parroting the line that many vintage dealers subscribe to...

Yes, do leave it alone if it's old and nicely patinaed, or formerly celeb-owned. If you ARE a celeb, do whatever you like to it, because it's your name that makes it worth more.

Otherwise, do what you like. Ricks are not Fenders or Gibsons, the people who collect them are not lemmings; they are a smaller, more knowledgeable group.

[marc61]

Tear it down and give it the Scratch X & Zymol treatment.

Agreed...however if you must refin, I do recommend Paul W for accuracy and value.

[cassius987]

Cleaning/polishing your Rick (the right way) can make a dull finish Glo again quite often.

+1 +2

Paul W. who jangled in above has made some very good posts about how to best polish a Ric.

[Killer Canary]

I just got the Ricky back from it's operation and I'm putting up pics to show what the stock finish(where there is any) looks like. She's still the apple of my eye though.

[cassius987]

Looks good to me... play the heck out of it!

[johnallg]

Interesting buckle rash on the back of her. Nice old 4001!