Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Dots rule, but shark fins are cool! Options for all! Last weekend I was in a room filled with Rics, all different, all cool, all Rics... What a great company! Who could ask for more?

just_bassics wrote:Dots rule, but shark fins are cool! Options for all! Last weekend I was in a room filled with Rics, all different, all cool, all Rics... What a great company! Who could ask for more?

+1!!!

I'm told that the "sparkly" inlays were also cut from a sheet material (possibly a floor covering) and made to fit into cutouts in the bubinga fretboard material. It was then covered with a layer of clear resin. But it was a troublesome material and would sometimes pop off when the fingerboard was being sanded for final finish. The poured-inlay fix was also labor intensive; routing the cutouts, mixing the resin and pearl powder just the right way, pouring into the coutouts, waiting for the resin to set, sanding the overpour flush, etc., etc., etc.

If this new system (presumably CNC cut from sheet material, CNC cut recesses in the fingerboard resulting in perfect matches) is quick, durable, inexpensive, and looks better than the previous method (and it does in my opinion), then it's good for most everyone.

To paraphrase Lincoln: you can't please all the people all the time. But I'm happy!

Here's a closeup of the new material on Jeff Scott's new Jetglo 4003:

loks good to me!

bassduke49 wrote:I'm told that the "sparkly" inlays were also cut from a sheet material (possibly a floor covering) and made to fit into cutouts in the bubinga fretboard material.

Not a floor covering...but actual crushed shell material floated in a resin vehicle. It came from Japan, and the company that makes it is still in business. But the cost of this material is ridiculously high when multiplied into series production quantities. So the new swirly pearly is a terrific choice.

jingle_jangle wrote:

bassduke49 wrote:I'm told that the "sparkly" inlays were also cut from a sheet material (possibly a floor covering) and made to fit into cutouts in the bubinga fretboard material.

Not a floor covering...but actual crushed shell material floated in a resin vehicle. It came from Japan, and the company that makes it is still in business. But the cost of this material is ridiculously high when multiplied into series production quantities. So the new swirly pearly is a terrific choice.

I'd like a car wrapped in 331 Lightshow swirly stuff, with the sparkle inlay material used as trim.

Or not. It might look too, I don't know, Liberace or something.

Might look good on a drum kit though!

Wait, I've got it - each inlay, every two frets, different! Sparkle, then rounded triangle, then full-width, then dot... (Don't steal my idea, now!)

Just a couple of FACTS:

1. The new process is NOT less expensive. It IS much faster to do in production but the materials are an order of magnitude more expensive.

2. The new necks ARE significantly stronger. The sheet material can handle about 25 times the compression as compared to poured material. It is also fitted much more intimately since it does not shrink after pouring. It acts just like a wedge, because . . it IS a wedge.

3. We have been successful this year in recreating the shell material of old. Contrary to what was posted, the original manufacturer is long gone but another Japanese company researched, analyzed samples that we provided, and replicated the material quite accurately. Unfortunately it is crazy expensive and very difficult to cut. We tried conventional CNC with diamond cutters at 15,000 rpm and the material burned. We tried CNC with air driven spindle at 60,000 and it shattered. We even tried using the laser and it burned, as well as turning brilliant yellow and smelling awful.

4. Finally, we didn't HAVE to go full width as we made this manufacturing change but I honest felt that's what the majority of people preferred and I thought there was no downside to doing so. Thought wrong, I guess.

Thanks, John, for the details on this. I personally can't understand how anyone in his right mind can feel anything except that this is the best of all possible worlds with regards to inlays.

I think most people do prefer the new ones .

I do .

I think you have the majority for sure, John. Some, though, are still looking for ways to reinvent the wheel.

Some people just don't like change.

If Ric stood still we'd all still be playing frying pans.

Full length inlays do, and always will look better and more 'luxurious', regardless of the materials or manufacturing process used.

I can just imagine the new full inlays on a Candy Apple Red (COY?) 360/6.......... Gorgeous.

I just want to clarify that in my earlier post I wasnt knocking the new inlays. I simply stated that they've never really been a cosmetic priority for me. I realize alot of people were really 'jonesin for these, and JH heard their plea, and delivered.

Good for RIC.

johnhall wrote:Just a couple of FACTS:

...

2. The new necks ARE significantly stronger. The sheet material can handle about 25 times the compression as compared to poured material. It is also fitted much more intimately since it does not shrink after pouring. It acts just like a wedge, because . . it IS a wedge.

...

4. Finally, we didn't HAVE to go full width as we made this manufacturing change but I honest felt that's what the majority of people preferred and I thought there was no downside to doing so. Thought wrong, I guess.

Not for me, now I know the new way is in fact stronger and wasn't just done for the look or to save money. To be honest I'm not very picky about the look either way but I would always prefer the better engineering method. Thanks for posting that - I didn't expect the inlay material to be strong enough to be a factor.

johnhall wrote: Thought wrong, I guess.

No John, you thought right. You can't please all of the people all of the time, but I would venture that the vast majority of folks prefer the new inlays. I saw these for the first time this past weekend and thought they were a major improvement over the old inlays.

Mateybob wrote:Some people just don't like change.

I don't think it's so much that as it is simply not everyone likes every change to the same degree or at all. No biggie.