Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hi Paul... welcome back from your southern sojourn!

You're probably sick to death of answering the same questions over and over, but could I bug you just one more time on this subject?

I now have the necessary products and I want to attack (right word?) some of my guitars - specifically the Jetglo ones. Could you help me with the following?:

1. When should you use Scratch-X before Zymol? Most of the marks on my guitars are small scratches from over-zealous use of cloths. There are polishing swirls as well. They are all really only obvious under certain light conditions.

2. Should I remove the strings, tailpiece and pickguard for easier access?

3. How should the products be applied (I know about the clean soft cotton cloths) and over what size areas in each step.

4. Should I try the back of one of the guitars first in case I stuff it up?

5. Should I start on a guitar that is not Jetglo (just to get the feel of it?

6. Why am I so nervous about doing this?

Any other tips/suggestions would be most welcome (of course!).

Thank you in anticipation.

Cheers......... H

1. Anytime it's the first time you're doing a particular instrument. Anytime the instrument has fine scratches, swirl marks, etc. If the Scratch-X doesn't remove the imperfection, then you need to go back one step to Perfect-It III rubbing compound to take the imperfection out. Then use Scratch-X to take out the ultra-fine hazing left by the Perfect-It III, then Zymol.

The instrument you describe should use Scratch-X first. Work a small area--a couple of square inches--at a time.

2. The first time I do any pre-owned guitar, I'll disassemble the entire instrument, including unsoldering the pup wires from the switch and pots. Don't forget the ground wire sitting under the bridge. On new guitars, I'll wait until the first string change, and remove strings, bridge, bridge plate, tailpiece, and knobs only.

3. Apply and rub hard. Support the guitar on a flat surface which is also covered in soft cloths. Keep rubbing until the compound has broken down and dried, or until you can feel that it's stopped working. Then renew and start again. STAY AWAY FROM SHARP EDGES AND CORNERS with the abrasive compounds. Do 2 square inches with Perfect-It III and Scratch-X, and an area abut 4" X 4" with the Zymol. Zymol should be put on sparingly; you can mist on some water to help buff it. It is not necessary to wait for it to dry.

4, 5. Whatever makes you feel comfortable.

6. Don't be a Nervous Nellie. The most important thing if you are nervous, is not to stray from the prescribed regimen. It is most important that the cloth is absolutely soft and clean. The tiniest bit o' grit will cause heartaches. You'll develop a feel.

Paul, I went looking for cloth diapers yesterday (to use on silver, not guitars!) and everyone at the various hardware stores looked at me funny. Where do you get yours? I thought of the obvious- a baby goods store- but don't have one nearby.

Babies "R" Us in Tustin Marketplace, Bergstrom's in Irvine.

Now that you mention it, though, silver cloths and flannel shirts--sans buttons and labels--would also be good for guitar finishes.

The RIC polishing cloths are of similar manufacture to silver polishing cloths...

I buy mine at Target in the automotive section.

Seriously.

They have several different types of bundled rags - terry towels, shop towels and diapers.

I get mine at K Mart. My wife complains that she can't get my skid marks out. Go figure.

It sure is intuitive to look for diapers in the automotive section. So, should I look for the Valvoline in the baby section?

Your what? TMI, IMO.

Nobody uses diapers for bottoms anymore except Maiorana, it seems. Maybe I should tell him about Pampers?

But they're so comfy. I wouldn't use anything that I wouldn't buff my guitar with!

Er.... thanks for the info, Paul. I'll have a go at it this coming weekend. Now, back to the diaper debate (we call them "nappies" here, BTW)........

Nae prob, Aitch.

BTW, back in the mid-'60s, we were getting a car ready for a custom car show, buffing out the new lacquer paint. Middle of the night and somebody forgot the diapers. We were working in the mechanic's bay of our gas station...

What to do? Well, we got our quarters together and raided the Kotex machine in the Ladies'. The nice, big ones were cotton fluff wrapped in cheesecloth in those days, with long cheesecloth handles. They did the job just dandy. Our shiny '55 Chevy won second prize!

Now this line of products are all synthetic microfibers and would scratch a guitar or car like crazy. That's progress, I guess...

an absorbing story I must say

I've just gone off my pizza!

Better get back on.

I know, they can be slippery buggahs.