Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

mapleglo in direct sunlight = yellowing of finish/wood/clear coat?

I think all Ricks yellow in time. Something in the clearcoat.

It's usually the laquer that yellows.

it is probably a good idea to keep your Rickenbackers away from prolonged exposure to direct sunlight ...

Something to think about when choosing a finish. I see blueboys, (2004 color of the year), already turning mint green.

Nice patina already......
Some companies put a toner in the laquer to do just that....
Cigarette smoke has an aging effect too.....

I love the look of the yellowed fireglos ....

fireglo looks great with a little yellowing ... http://www.3dentourage.com/425/68-ric-2.htm

JH has said here that the current finish materials are supposed to be sigificantly more resistant to yellowing. Only time will tell.

Let's back up a bit. The UV component of sunlight seems to be a yellowing accelerator, as MG guitars I've stripped still show some yellowing of the wood itself, which is absent from the areas under the TRC and pickguards. The Varnish (NOT "lacquer", unless you're talking about pre-'59 Ricks) does yellow. Varnish formulas have changed over the years, so the degree of yellowing varies depending on all of these factors. Older, nitro-finished Ricks would have yellowed, too, as paint formulas back then were not blended with UV inhibitors as they often are today.

I've seen a rack of new Blue Boys with variations in color from blue to mint green, and this seems to be due to a variation in paint formula, perhaps over the life of the cans of paint itself.

Yes, wood does "tan" when exposed to sunlight. Some woods, like mahogany, can get very dark.

I enjoy the yellowing of the wood. Does it affect the sound?

Perhaps but I would think not very much. It seems to be just oxidation of the outer layer.

Ted's correct here. This oxidation goes hand in hand, so to speak, with the aging of the wood and the corresponding mellowing of the tone.

My VWoodie, built in 1977 originally from a couple of hundred board feet of padauk, has been restored a number of times. Each time, the varnish was stripped and nearly black wood was exposed. A light sanding with #150 grit brought back the flame orange/red/brown natural coloring. The most recent restoration--in 2002--found me using conversion varnish on the wood, with a healthy amount of UV inhibitor. The car's woodwork has remained bright orange/red/brown ever since. I'm hoping for a slowing of the sunburn effect this time...

What would happen if you left a fireglo out in the sunlight would it fade or darken?