Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

RIC_FACTORY wrote:

jingle_jangle wrote:

paologregorio wrote:You can also console yourself with the fact that your guitar will be finished with the new UV coatings, which look amazing, especially the Jetglo; more depth, no shrinkage, and no white in the grain on the fretboards.

The white in the fretboards is from the old filler that was used. The new UV-cure filler is translucent.

As of August, the new UV system was not yet being used on a production basis. Has it since come on-line, Paul?

UV coatings have been used in production for over a year now. The primer coats are UV cured and superior to our old vinyl sealer in that they are much higher in solids, thus less shrinkage. The only use we have for vinyl these days is as a washcoat that we are able to spray quickly and scuff up to smooth the surface for UV coatings. This process is de rigeur for every instrument manufacturer that sprays UV.

Moreover, I expect to see UV top coats replace conversion varnish in a matter of weeks. In our most recent test, it beats the conversion varnish for durability and glossiness by a mile.

This is as I remember it, Ben, the last time we spoke. UV filler and sealer were in production use, but conversion varnish was still being used as a topcoat, now to be replaced by UV topcoats "in a matter of weeks". Great news!

Thanks for the clarification. The UV topcoat will be a huge step forward.

fatcat wrote:One year wait? It could be worse--I'm 19 months awaiting a 381-12V69 AFG that the dealer ordered in 2006.I wonder which will arrive first-my guitar or my casket.

{:=)

Don: Good things come to those who wait. One way or another there is definitely conversion varnish in your future.

Apologies for the confusion regarding my finish comments. The Halls have mentioned here and on the RIC forum that they were in the process of going to complete UV coatings, and everone involved's gone over the superiority of UV coatings to CV. I thought this process was complete, though obviously I was mistaken-oops...

Based on my misunderstanding, I made my initial comment, though since Ben's mentioned that UV's going to be on all the coatings in a few weeks, it looks like I'll be right anyway about the type of finish that will be applied to lyric_girl's guitar when it gets built, given the estimated wait period.

I suppose what I'm really getting at is that, given all the great improvements to an already great guitar and manufacturing process, if I were waiting for a new Rick, I'l almost want to wait longer to make sure my guitar had all of the latest and greatest refinements.

I honestly don't know why some of you put yourselves through the agony of waiting 12-18 months for a guitar. No offense to anyone here, but some of you seem like gluttons for punishment.

There are Ricks available used right now, there are Ricks available from dealers across the country. Maybe you won't get exactly what you want, but is that worth have to wait so long? I say no. Find a guitar that's available NOW that's close to what you want and buy it! You'll grow to love it.

Just a minute there Matey....ain't everybody can just cough up $2K on Tuesday and buy that guitar before the close of business that day. The Wait is a very good strategy for saving up the cash. Now do you get it?
JimK

RIC_FACTORY wrote:

jingle_jangle wrote:

paologregorio wrote:You can also console yourself with the fact that your guitar will be finished with the new UV coatings, which look amazing, especially the Jetglo; more depth, no shrinkage, and no white in the grain on the fretboards.

The white in the fretboards is from the old filler that was used. The new UV-cure filler is translucent.

As of August, the new UV system was not yet being used on a production basis. Has it since come on-line, Paul?

UV coatings have been used in production for over a year now. The primer coats are UV cured and superior to our old vinyl sealer in that they are much higher in solids, thus less shrinkage. The only use we have for vinyl these days is as a washcoat that we are able to spray quickly and scuff up to smooth the surface for UV coatings. This process is de rigeur for every instrument manufacturer that sprays UV.

Moreover, I expect to see UV top coats replace conversion varnish in a matter of weeks. In our most recent test, it beats the conversion varnish for durability and glossiness by a mile.

NICE!

drumbob wrote:IMaybe you won't get exactly what you want, but is that worth have to wait so long? I say no.

But if you are looking for a particular model that falls outside of RIC's 'bread and butter' line, there's little choice but to order one. In my case, I wanted a 360/12C63 specifically. RIC had not produced any for quite awhile, and every dealer had waiting lists of people wanting C63's. So I joined the queue, and am glad I did. The wait was long and frustrating, but the end result was defintely worth it. The guitar is gorgeous, and I got it for a price that you couldn't begin to come close to today.

drumbob wrote:I honestly don't know why some of you put yourselves through the agony of waiting 12-18 months for a guitar. No offense to anyone here, but some of you seem like gluttons for punishment.

There are Ricks available used right now, there are Ricks available from dealers across the country. Maybe you won't get exactly what you want, but is that worth have to wait so long? I say no. Find a guitar that's available NOW that's close to what you want and buy it! You'll grow to love it.

+1

I'm a lefty and I can't even order one, but if I could I wouldn't wait two or more years when there are some on ebay. A Rick is a Rick and they're all good.

Bob, I used to wonder the same thing. But when I heard of the deals Jim and Kris here scored, I totally understood.

fatcat wrote:One year wait? It could be worse--I'm 19 months awaiting a 381-12V69 AFG that the dealer ordered in 2006.I wonder which will arrive first-my guitar or my casket.

Let's just hope that a casket for the 381v69 doesn't arrive first!

I do empathize with those who wait ... I have been in the queue for an acoustic 12-string now since around June of 2007, but I know the wait will be worth it!

Having done the wait once (and that was a little over three years!), I wouldn't join the queue again - Unless RIC were to come out with something really special. But then again, I already have the two Ricks I always wanted.