Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Mateybob wrote:

I haven't tried playing it that high yet - it looks pretty cool.

When you've got a belly you will! I know I do!

scotty wrote:When you've got a belly you will! I know I do!

Wouldn't it kind of hang underneath?

Sandpaper?

Is it that bad?

Wont the Xzymol take the scratches off?

Mateybob wrote:Sandpaper?

Is it that bad?

Wont the Xzymol take the scratches off?

The #1000 to #2000 grade sandpaper was the "ammo" if the T-Cut, Scratch-X and Zymol didn't work. I just tried the T-Cut on one of the worst scratches and it worked a treat (PW is a genius). I going to strip it right down and take my time with this one to get it looking as good as it plays.

Here's the before -



I'll try to get a good shot of the after when I complete (hopefully) at the weekend (...need daylight).

The plectrum scratching looks like it's caused by someone holding the guitar in a really high "George" style position. I would have thought that with a pickguard that big it would be pretty difficult to hit the body that much

It won't ever be mint again, but I dig it!

Mine has very similar scratches that Zymol has lessened, but not taken care of fully. Scratch-X is the next stop.

sloop_john_b wrote:Mine has very similar scratches that Zymol has lessened, but not taken care of fully. Scratch-X is the next stop.

John, PW recommended 3M Perfect-It 3000 or T-Cut - I could only get T-Cut, but it really works.

And only one type of T-Cut; most are rubbish on guitars, some being too coarse and others being polymeric coatings.

Zymol has an abrasive that's so fine, it doesn't do much except make very fine scratches which make the wax "seat" and bond better with the paint surface.

Scratch-X has a superfine abrasive that pretty much takes out any "haloing" type of scratches and some, not too deep, pick scratches.

Perfect-It 3000 or the T-Cut I recommended to Mark ("T-Cut Original"), will take out 1000 grit scratches, as RIC's conversion varnish is a fairly soft and malleable surface. It's also good to restore oxidized and dull conversion varnish.

1000 Grit Wet-Or-Dry will take out most scratches that are worth taking out; anything deeper would risk sanding through the varnish into color, which is only a couple of thousandths thick, and then it's bare wood and the possibility of alcoholic regret...

So, these steps taken in reverse order, depending on how deep your scratches are, should put everything right with a bit of time and care. It's a Zen thing, too...once you've completed one, your collection will no longer be safe from messing about.

I just got one too. I had to change the bridge pins so they would not gouge my hand. I love mine it's gorgeous. My very first Rickenbacker in 1981 was very similar but it was a 3/4 scale.

I had 2 of these. One in JG and one in BG. I think the one Paul has was mine for a short time. Anyway they are lovely guitars. Wonderful tone.

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/jQJsPGD1t0g&hl ... ram><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/jQJsPGD1t0g&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>[/youtube]

Sweet Mateybob!

That floats my boat of several different levels.

Nice 450 - I want one!

I finished buffing my 425 and hope to re-assemble tomorrow. The weather is terrible here at the moment, so I'll try to get the "after" shots here shortly. It's not perfect, but it's pretty good and boy does it shine.

Must watch that YouTube just one more time...

Yeah, give or take a couple of knobs it looks the same as yours, very cool!

Looking forward to seeing the pictures.

Check out Chris Stein.

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/oUG0GjdoGHE&hl ... ram><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/oUG0GjdoGHE&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>[/youtube]