Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

i have owned a few ricks in my life my latest one a 330x12 from last year, although a fine player i cant help but notice that the pickgaurds and truss rod cover don't have that transparency or translucence to the plastic that i have had on other ricks . i have read some where on a different (but the same without colour ) forum and mr hall talking about the difficulty in sourcing plastic for the gaurds etc...has anyone else encountered this and not being to happy with the quality ? i have decided to see if i can change the gaurds and nameplate for a black set, i have read that this can be done and can send the originals to check accuracy and prove covenece. i live in the u.k and i have noticed due to franchise restrictions that options are limited. anyone know where i can sort this out....

Anthony, this is not a quality issue, per se. The acrylic used on Rickenbacker pickguards is the same high quality as the old days, and much higher quality than the typical Fender or Gibson material (celloloid, which shrinks and curls).

The primary difference is in the translucence. Older Rickenbackers had guards which were less opaque, and that is because the sheet stock from which the guards are cut, has had its formulations changed a few times over the years.

The newer stuff appears "whiter" because it's more opaque.

The TRCs with the raised painted lettering are not acrylic. The TRCs that are lettered and painted from the back, are.

thanks paul ..your right..i think that the stark whiteness has blinded me a little .. but i can see a difference in the plastic. my others (previous) being a 1989 330x12 in jetglow, a 2000 4003 bass in maple and a 1996 model 1997x6 in jetglow all with a nicer soft look to them.. i just think the plastic deos not look as good as my previous models.. i would still like to change it though since i saw that 340x12 in azure blue with black trim on p-bay....

The 360/12c63 has the semi-opaque pickguards - much nicer and brings a bit of depth to the composition.

The basic problem is that Rohm & Haas, the suppliers of Plexiglas brand acrylic, left the marketplace some years ago now. Virtually all acrylic is now produced in Asia and Mexico. Every batch is just slightly different and the basic choices of "white" are very limited now to begin with.

Lucite is DuPont's brand of acrylic but has a different set of color ranges altogether.

For lack of a better description, I've always thought that the original material looked like non-fat milk whereas now it's more like cream.

Even clear acrylic varies quite a bit in its color.

For what it's worth: for my custom guards, I use CYRO Acrylite. They are located in Rockaway, NJ. The translucence is right on- absolutely perfect.

I noticed this on mine and wondered what the hell was going on! My 381 has a really stark opaque white s/plate whereas my 360 V64 has the paler transluscent one. They're both 1999 models too.

Bob, the distribution for Cyro is New Jersey but it's my understanding that their sheet acrylic is made in Mexico and Costa Rica.

If the color of the material you got is right on, it was a fluke- it won't be the same in the next batch you buy from.

Damn. I should have bought more.

When the term "acrylic" is used, does that include "polycarbonate" or are they considered different material?

My plastic story: I bought a guitar on Craigs list and the guy had me pick it up at his work, which turned out to be a plastics shop (only a few blocks away). He gave me some scrap 3/16 inch Sheffield polycarbonate Hyzo?. He also said they have 1/8 inch Sheffield Makrolon polycarbonate, but did not have any scrap (price quote was $108, for a 4x8 foot sheet). He said they also have an "acrylic" for $48 for a 4x8 foot sheet.

The Sheffield product is covered by a nice heavy paper on both sides. I had also worked with a product that I did not like, that was covered by blue plastic film. I assumed that it was "acrylic" as opposed to "polycarbonate."

David, acrylic is a term for methyl methacrylate. Polycarbonate is a different animal entirely. Polycarbonate is easier to work, but much softer, which makes it more impact resistant. (You've heard of "Lexan" this is a brand of polycarbonate.)

Polycarbonate scratches very easily, but may be hard-coated to minimize this. So can acrylic, BTW. You can tell the two apart as follows: the edge of acrylic has a clear-to-yellowish cast; the edge of polycarbonate has a definite blue-gray tone to it. There are other ways, but this is the easiest visual.

Acrylic is a bit more difficult to work, but is more stable. If you didn't like working with it, you can download tips from the manufacturer. There are a few tricks and once you learn them, the stuff is very agreeable.

But, as John Hall mentioned, Asia has taken over as a source and quality and color varies.

Thanks Paul. I bought some new tools (Higgins wet sander, and router bit) so I will have a few questions soon. My problem with the acrylic was most likely due to poor tools and lack of skill. Attempt two should go better.

You're welcome, Dave! I'm waiting for your questions. Acrylic does require some minor special tools and a bit of a learning curve, but it's a great material. Here's a shot of the latest acrylic guards on my experimental 381V69:

Paul, that is one good looking guitar

Paul, how about a straight on shot? Looks nice.