2002 Rickenbacker 330 finish issue

[sebgreen]

Hi, this subject has come up many a time on this forum but I need a little clarificationfrom the expert. I just bought a second hand 330 MG made in 2002. The finish on the guitar is not tacky as such but it seems to be easily dented, especially the dark parts of the neck and headstock. Some bits are harder than others but it cant be a reaction due to the wrong polish because it is the same under the pickguard an under the truss rod cover. The softest is the back of the neck. This is the second rick I have bought which has this issue, the first being a 2006 ( very sticky) model which I got the money back for
The condition seems to worsten on the neck after playing for some time...
Have any other owners of ricks made BEFORE the varnish change in 2008 noticed the same thing ? Could this be a hidden reason behind the change ?
Will some kind of pure wax, leaving a "hard" coat help and also make the somewhat sticky neck more confortable ?

I would feel much better if I am not the only one so if you could prod your guitar (fingernails do it) and tell me what happens I would be grateful

Cheers

Seb

[jingle_jangle]

Hey, Seb---

I have heard if this type of situation here and there, and the blame has variously been cast on hand soaps containing chlorine, solvents and waxes, and the glue used to fasten the case lining.

Although many of us have read with interest the numerous comments on this topic in both the RRF and RIC's own factory Forum, I don't recall ever seeing a solution posted that would re-harden the softened conversion varnish. This is a difficulty that takes place on a molecular level. To my own knowledge, once a catalyzed finish is softened, it can't be re-catalyzed.

[sebgreen]

Hi, thanks for your answer, what i'd like to know however is what would be best to stop the neck sticking to my hand so much. Should I use Lem-Oil or a pure wax ?
Are these products safe to use on a slightly softened finish?
I realise that once the damage is done it's to late but my father has a tokai strat which dents easily too. You just have to take good care of the instrument... This type of finish does seem awfully suceptible to damage and RIC's complete ignorance as far as answering queries seems to indicate that they may have known this ...
Cheers !

[winston]

Complete ignorance Sebastian? That is a bit too harsh of a condemnation. After all you did buy this instrument second hand as you mentioned in your first post. Presumably you had an opportunity given your previous experience with this rare occurrence to check to make sure that the condition described did not exist on this instrument.

If you truly want answers and or help, I would suggest that you drop the posturing and the rhetoric since it will not serve you well over the long haul. If you have only come here to gripe and make a scene you have come to the wrong place.

[jingle_jangle]

Hi, thanks for your answer, what i'd like to know however is what would be best to stop the neck sticking to my hand so much. Should I use Lem-Oil or a pure wax ?
Are these products safe to use on a slightly softened finish?
I realise that once the damage is done it's to late but my father has a tokai strat which dents easily too. You just have to take good care of the instrument... This type of finish does seem awfully suceptible to damage and RIC's complete ignorance as far as answering queries seems to indicate that they may have known this ...
Cheers !

It's unfair to toss out a word like "ignorant" (which, by the way, is not a pejorative term unless it's preceded by a word like "willfully", which they certainly are not!). Perhaps you think they were unresponsive, which is another thing entirely.

If you do read up on this a bit more (which my own answer was formulated to save you the trouble, but I see I was wrong), RIC did quite a bit of investigating on these issues in the incidents that have come to light. Their conclusions were what I posted in my reply.

As to what to use to prevent it being sticky, I can't make a recommendation except to say that anything containing a solvent would be a no-no, as if the finish is already soft, the solvent would certainly do further damage. Lem-Oil has a strong citrus component as well as containing the same petroleum distillate as most waxes. Perhaps the water-based Zymol Cleaner-Wax is something you could try.

[sebgreen]

I am sorry, that is not really what I meant, I used the wrong words. What I mean is the customer service does not answer my messages.
I did try the instrument and it seemed fine, the condition on the neck worstened after a few hours playing. I am just terribly afraid to have yet again made a stupid mistake but this time I cannot go back !
Once again, sorry to have given the wrong impression, all I need is advice on how to make it better.
Thank You.

[winston]

OK thanks for the clarification Seb. We may be a bit gun shy here ourselves. It seems that every once in a while people just join the forum to create a fuss.

[sebgreen]

As to what to use to prevent it being sticky, I can't make a recommendation except to say that anything containing a solvent would be a no-no, as if the finish is already soft, the solvent would certainly do further damage. Lem-Oil has a strong citrus component as well as containing the same petroleum distillate as most waxes. Perhaps the water-based Zymol Cleaner-Wax is something you could try.

This might be the reason, I went to a guitar shop and was recommended d'andrea guitar polish which contains petroleum distillates. I used it on the neck.

[jingle_jangle]

Seb--

With a used instrument, it's impossible to know what previous conditions it experienced (care of finish and climatic) before making it into your possession. I seriously doubt that any single application of guitar wax containing petroleum distillates, would soften the finish. It sounds to me like it could be the heat of your hand in extended playing situations, and this isn't normal, either. I would suspect the abuse of the varnish happened at the hands of a previous owner, who then got rid of it.

The Rick finish is outrageously durable and has been for a long time. It resists (fir short times) lacquer thinners, most petroleum solvents, orange oil, acetone, and lots of other materials that would trash typical "nitro" (nitrocellulose) lacquer.

These finishes are guaranteed, but yours is way past its validity. I know it's frustrating.

[sebgreen]

Thanks for the info folks ! At the moment I feel like throwing it and myself through the window but i'll get over it. Sorry again for the misunderstanding.
Kind rgds
Seb

[jingle_jangle]

Seb--thanks for your good attitude and patience with us. Sometimes we get blind-sided.

[sebgreen]

Just to finish, my mum may well have found the miracle solution: talcum powder! Don't know how well it'll perform in a gig but does the trick for the neck. I'm just fussy and still suffering the aftershock of spending every penny I have !
Cheers !

[admin]

As it is a Mapleglo finish why not strip the back of the neck if these other techniques fail?

[sebgreen]

I might one of these days but I won't do it myself. I might have it poly'd. The poly finish on my Epiphone would survive a nuclear blast and, because it is like glass, it don't stick

[jingle_jangle]

Poly what?