Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Just bought a Hofner Club, and I discover some finish abnormality on the back side of the body.
Some raised finish about 1/2 inch across.
The previous owner said it was from a guitar stand, but that can't be. I think it was some sloppy work at Hofner.
Anyway, I was thinking of sanding this out, and then apply some rubbing compound and buff out.
Is this something a totally inexperienced buffoon could do carefully, or best left to the pros?
I know Paul is about to have surgery, but if anyone else could lend some advise I would appreciate it.

I don't know Bob. I've built two bass bodies that I hand-sanded all the way up to 12,000 grit and buffed out by hand which came out very nice, but that one would scare the **** out of me. The mental images of accidentally going a bit too deep and making a light colored spot on the back the size of a half dollar or finding that the flaw goes all the way down just aren't pretty pictures. I'd take or send it to a pro considering how much cash you have tied up in it.

Hey, I'm back (sort of)...

Bob, you mention "raised" damage, but in fact what you have there is a sort of "puddling" of the finish. Imagine the stop-motion photos that you might see of something being dropped into a container of liquid--those Dove soap ads on TV are a great example--and you get an idea of what's happened. The plasticizer in the guitar stand cushion (this appears to have been from one of those body-only stands) has softened the finish on the Hofner. The finish was displaced (from the weight of the guitar) from the center of the area of pressure to the circumference, leading to the center being very, very thin and the outside ring being raised.

That is definitely guitar stand-type damage (the plasticizer in the pseudo-rubber tubing got to the Hofner's nitro finish).

Bob, this could be sanded if it didn't go so deep, but I'm afraid it would be dicey.

This is definitely a pro touch-up type of thing.

Not running yet, but crawling a bit. Lots of painkillers, so my spelig may be oph. I check in between naps...

Hey Paul. Glad you are feeling well enough to respond, and hope all went well for you.
I understood your explanation very well, and may leave this like it is, or save it for the pros.
I thank you and Todd both!
Oh, and go easy on the Percocet!

Yes, we all hope that everything came out all right (I just had to say it).

No Percocet, Bob, but Dilaudid-on-Demand.

I had Tylenol III (codeine) last time up to bat, and it was better at killing pain.