Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Right Robert and Paul......I've looked at several of my guitars and it varies considerably, so I agree that
the spacer paint is not necessarily an indicator of a refin. From everything I've checked, it sure looks like
I've run in to a factory yellow 330.

Whoa...if that's "Harngelb", then why does it say, "WHT" (WHiTe) in magic marker under the paint?

Are you implying that my yellow guitar is white? Eek!

wittyair wrote:From everything I've checked, it sure looks like
I've run in to a factory yellow 330.

I still don't get how you're coming to this conclusion Craig. There are examples of Rickenbackers that are more yellow under the pickguard/TRC. See here. Painted spacers too.

Looking at the picture of the inside of the control cavity - isn't there supposed to be something written inside? I mean, both my Rics have a spot which is not painted with something marked like a number or some other scribbles. Do they ever spray this bit over as well?

You'd have to see this one, John......I've had my share of white Rics and have seen what it looks
like under the guard.......this one is quite different.

sloop_john_b wrote:

wittyair wrote:From everything I've checked, it sure looks like
I've run in to a factory yellow 330.

I still don't get how you're coming to this conclusion Craig. There are examples of Rickenbackers that are more yellow under the pickguard/TRC. See here. Painted spacers too.

Wow, you're right----that looks just like Craig's under the guard.

Strange that they yellow more OUT of the sunlight.

Who has a pic of the Harngelb 4001? That was the instrument that everyone talked about a couple of years ago....

collin wrote: Wow, you're right----that looks just like Craig's under the guard.

Strange that they yellow more OUT of the sunlight.

Here's a current example on the 'bay of the "yellow under the guard" phenomenon.

I just took delivery of a '90 RED 610 with paint on the spacer, so that shoots down my conclusion!

It appears to me that not only is the spacer pained but the washers and the ends of the truss rods are also painted. Since I don't have first hand knowledge of the process that RIC uses I don't know if this means anything at all. Do or did they paint the guitars with the nuts off and the rest masked or not masked at all. I don't see how the nuts would be the only part without paint unless they were replaced or they have paint on the bottom side that was once up..

ken_j wrote:It appears to me that not only is the spacer pained but the washers and the ends of the truss rods are also painted. Since I don't have first hand knowledge of the process that RIC uses I don't know if this means anything at all. Do or did they paint the guitars with the nuts off and the rest masked or not masked at all. I don't see how the nuts would be the only part without paint unless they were replaced or they have paint on the bottom side that was once up..

100_1648.jpg

The paint would flake off the nuts the first time they were adjusted. Too, the nuts could have been replaced, although this is not too likely. The presence or absence of paint anywhere on the adjusting hardware is no indication of whether it's a factory paint job or not.

That having been said, the more I look at these photos, the more I think, "refinished". But I'd really have to see the guitar in question in person to say with certainty.

Yellowing under the guard could be a reaction between the clearcoat (and also possibly the color coat) to the normally acid pH of maple. Most older MG Ricks I've stripped (and these have nothing but filler and CV over the wood) show darker wood under the guards and hardware, which can't entirely be attributed to the lack of the sun's bleaching effect.

The guy I bought it from claims it has not been refinished at any point.....he is the second long term owner,
the first being a recording artist by the name of Rick Biron. His release "Treble Rebel" has a picture
of him with this guitar........you can google it and see it although that in and of itself doesn't
really shed much light on the subject. If it is indeed a yellowed white guitar at least it had the good
sense to yellow evenly.....it's really a nice looking, pale yellow guitar! I had a 72 Buick 455 convertible once
with very similar paint.

That would have been "Sunburst Yellow", which first turned up on GM cars in 1964. Chevrolet called it "Butternut Yellow". It's a pastel yellow that's easy on the eyes.

Actually Paul it was called Sandalwood.