Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Bill, Nu-Finish (the stuff in the orange bottle, right?) is loaded with silicone. Draw your own conclusions and tread carefully there.

Bill, I've got my 381 partially disassembled right now and am photographing details before reassembling it. The pictures speak volumes and Forum members already know what I think of Ricks in general. As soon as I get done with the pics, I'll attempt to do a concise "review" with a lot of links to my pics, which will be on Photobucket to help Peter to keep his bandwidth within reason.

Peter, to each his own, including JH. I was not trying to convert anybody (as I sometimes do); merely expressing my horror. And regarding balance, you can bet I'll continue my occasional use of Dr. Stringfellow in order to maintain mine.

Thanks very much, all.

I guess two thing come out of this thread:

1. - keep away from silicone!!
2. - Now I AM confused!

I've looked at the labels on the products that I have used on guitars in the past (Finger-ease, Planet Waves guitar polish & Jim Dunlop ultraglide string cleaner) and none of them tell you what's in it!!

That's disappointing because you wouldn't have a clue whether it's safe to use on any particular finish. If you manufactured a product of this type in Australia you'd have to list the active and /or toxic ingredients (chemicals) used in the product on the label. It's a requirement by law.

Seems I'll have to use a glove (a-la Barry Gibb!!!). Hmmmmm...... More thinking to do - I can only handle so much!

Cheers

Thanks all.

Two rhings come out of this:

1 - keep away from silicone!!
2 - I'm confused

I've had a look at the products I've used on guitars before (Finger-ease, Planet Waves guitar polish and Jim Dunlop ultraglide string cleaner) and none of them tell you what's in it. If you made a product of this type in Australia you'd be legally bound to list ingredients (chemicals) that may be toxic or dangerous in any kind of way on the label. Sheeesh!!

Now I REALLY don't know what to do. Maybe I'll play wearing a glove - Barry Gibb does!!!

Hmmmmm........ Cheers!

Sorry guys - just realised I posted twice. Didn't think the first one went in. Shows you how confused I am (well it is 7.45am Sunday morning!!)

Nu-Finish or Turtle Wax? Decisions, decisions. Which one beads up better on your Ric if it's left out in the rain?
I was trying to get this mental image of Lennon sitting around polishing up his 325 with a bottle of Turtle Wax...never got it.
Sorry, couldn't resist.

Har. Stan, I'm in stitches.

We're sort of in a split here between play the darn thing and admire its perfection. Either or both ways, avoid silicone. That means NO NU-FINISH! It has silicone and other complex polymer molecules, similar to those in Armor-All, which is every refinisher's nightmare. Anybody who brings (much less sprays!) Armor-All within 100 yards of my spray booth is a candidate for termination with extreme prejudice...

If JH says "Turtle Wax", then that's about as good a blessing as you need.

John polishing his guitar? That's like MacCartney answering capacitor value questions. Not in this universe. They were musicians, not guitar techs, thank gosh.

Can't get one past you, Paul. They were musicians, even McCartney. (Kinda thought that was the reason to have a guitar, even if you're a wannabe musician). Must have missed Mr. Hall giving the nod on Turtle Wax. But like someone said in some in another thread, 'each to their own'.

Stan, JH has said it in this Forum, but thread escapes me. It was in the last couple of months, though. The old (black and white) Care and Maintenance Manual just specifies "any non-abrasive pure carnuba(sic)-based auto wax". The new (color) manual recommends Turtle Wax T-123, mixed 50-50 with water, as being superior to most guitar polishes for use on Ricks.

Now, should we use tap or distilled water???

Hey, where could one get a copy of the color manual, id like to have one

Here: http://www.rickenbacker.com/manual.pdf
Pretty sure that's the new one... It was mentionned in a thread not too long ago, I have no idea which one.