Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hey folks. I'm really glad to have found this forum! I am a senior member (2000+ posts) at the HC forums, and was directed here by another HC forum member who's a Rickenbacker player/fan. Anyway, I am huge Beatles fan and a big Tom Petty fan, 40-ish years old & been playing guitar since I was 13, play in a "classic rock" band, and have finally just now gotten a Rickenbacker. Playing it pretty much exclusively now for several days I'm feeling like I should have done this sooner.



Anyway, I have an '89 Jetglo 620, bought off ebay (for a "song" relatively speaking), and I love it. I does have some finish issues that I want to ask about. I bought it from a guy in Colorado, and it was apparently allowed to experience some significant temperature extremes. The finish has hairline cracks running across the body in several (numerous) places. It looks fine, as none of the finish has actually separated from the wood. My concern and question is this: what do I need to be doing to help this finish stay in as good a condition as possible? I have some Gibson (sorry if mentioning the G-word is a no-no here) finish designed for their nitro lacquer, but I don't know if using it is actually good for my Rick, or not.

Thanks for any help and/or advice you can share! Peace!

Me & the 620, btw...

Welcome Lawton. Nice guitar! I've not had my hands on a 620 yet (I have a 650 along with my big Rickies). You're wise to realise 'why didn't I do this sooner?!?!'. Rics are where it's at.

As for the finish, Rics use conversion varnish, I believe. I don't know what terrible things would happen if you put nitro-cellulose atop it.

Stick around. Cheers, Noel

Noel, Thanks for the response. I should have said that I have some Gibson polish, not finish. Yikes. That would be a mess.



I imagine that I will stick around. I am gassing for a 320/5, too, now that I see what great instruments these Ricks are. I might just become a Rick junkie!

Lawton,

Welcome to the club, "Rickenbackers Anonymous."
You just found out that you're not alone in being a Rick Junkie!!!!

Hi Lawton, I don't know what's in the Gibson polish, but polishes with silicones are not recommended. RIC CEO John Hall recommends regular liquid Turtle Wax (the bottle with the white top) diluted 50/50 with water. If you wish, do a search here for Turtle Wax and read his comments.

But if the cracks go all the way through to bare wood, I would be very careful. Polish or other moisture that gets under a surface finish can possibly cause it to lift.

Welcome Lawton, Carnauba paste wax also works well and is recommended especially if the finish is dull. I also read that here someplace, there is a wealth of information in the Vibrola Archives.

Hey guys. Thanks much for the responses. None of the finish cracks apparently goes through to the wood. They're not even visible from 2" away unless really bright light hits the guitar at a certain angle. I'd love to keep it that way if at all possible.



I will get some Turtle wax per Mr. Hall's recommendations.

Congratualtions Lawton and welcome to The Rickenbacker Forum. The Model 620 is a beautiful instrument and you will become more fond of it with each playing. Pure Carnauba wax is most effective. Be sure to stay away from waxes that contain silicone. Thanks for the nice photo.

Welcome to the club, Lawton . I think that you've just joined the most comprehensive bunch of the guitar fraternity! Don't worry about talking of your Gibson experiences ( most of us has commited the sin!)... We all know, now, that you have discovered the Rickenbacker joy of playing guitar!! Enjoy the forum as much as you can...it sure will help you appreciate your guitar the way we all do and share it! cheers! Dan

Lawton, welcome to the 1989 620 Jet-glo club, mine is a twelve string. I just use a RIC Polishing cloth & that keeps the finish looking good.

I hope your new guitar serves you well & gives many pleasurable moments.