Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hello all.

Long time (7 years) lurker, first time poster.

A question to Paul W. (or any other): how do I yellow the horrendous pickguard of my Hofner Icon bass? Disclaimer: I've been told many times that the perfect product would be "Kiwi shoe polisher", but this one is NOT available in my country (Brazil).

Any other advice?

Thanks,

Ivan.

Oi, Ivan, todo bem?

Welcome!

My mind is going through options of things available in Brasil that would work to do this...I am not sure of your city.

Kiwi Brown works very well for this purpose; are there any brown paste shoe polishes available in your city? I think the best bet would be Hiper or Bompreco, which carry some American brands.

Another thought: One of the better paint/home inprovement stores (it is Saci in my city)will carry penetrating wood stains for furniture finishing and restoration. These generally have an alcohol base and also work well on this type of pickguard. You'll need a color that's like a dark amber in the can and on the sample chart.

If you use a paste polish, wipe it onto the guard somewhat thickly. Let sit for 10 minutes or so, then wipe off. If it's a liquid type stain, fill a tall, narrow container with the stain, run a piece of stiff wire through the hole in the guard, dip and let sit awhile, wipe off.

Oi, Paul, tudo bem! Espero que você esteja ok.

Thanks for the prompt answer. Here in Fortaleza we do have some Bompreço stores, as well as Pão de Açucar e Carrefour stores. For what I have researched, neither have the kiwi shoe polisher, but I'll search for similar products.

Um abraço,

Ivan.

I can easily get some Kiwi Brown..... guess the hard part might be getting it to Ivan.

Paul: Would it be the regular shoe polish in the small flat tin or the cream in the plastic container?

"I can easily get some Kiwi Brown..... guess the hard part might be getting it to Ivan."

Not hard at all. The REALLY hard part was to transfer my money to your account in the US! Now THAT'S a bureaucracy you couldn't imagine (been there, done that). Since I wouldn't accept giving anyone any financial backlash, I rather try to get something similar in here - where I will not have to bother anyone.

In spite of this, I thank you for your kindness, Howard.

Aitch is in Australia, Ivan.

You can set up a personal Paypal account in Brasil through Paypal. This makes money transfers easier than Western Union, and cheaper, too. Last time I checked, WU would not send money TO Brasil, because of "currency instability". Somebody ought to tell them that 1992 is over and the Real is more stable than Bushie Bucks!

Geez, last time at Galeão I tried to get rid of all the left over Reais I had in my wallet at the duty free shop and the beggars would only take dollars ... not taking their own money was a bit crook I thought.

This is not surprising. Merchants there are nothing if not opportunists. But the second you know someone personally, you cease to be a stranger, and you are family. Then they'll bend over backwards to make you happy. This makes my own visits back to my old stomping grounds (we keep an apartment there and have some land, too) very pleasant; we are treated in the best possible way.

Oh yes great people of course! What else would I say, since one of my sisters is a Carioca by birth!

Muito simpáticos!

Strange. It seems that Western Union doesn't accept to send money TO Brazil, but they do accept sending money FROM Brazil (I did that to order my 4001c64lh an year ago).

As for the PayPal thing, I'll see if I can get something from here, for I don't know how PP works in regard of our taxation system (is it necessary to declare it to the IRS? Our tax laws are insane... even tax lawyers doesn't know them fully).

Anyway: I usually buy strings and accessories easly through the internet. Is there any company that sends the Kiwi Shoe Polisher to Brazil? I've tried Amazon dot com once (when I was after a bottle of Turtle Wax), but they do not send this type of item to here.

As for brazilians, well, it's true: we are very warm and good-willing, but we do have our problems. Serious problems. But I digress.

So far, Paypal has been left alone by the IRS, at least with regard to individual transactions.

With regard to how Brasilian law works with Paypal, I'd contact Paypal themselves. They can at least tell you haw it's been handled from experience.

I'm not concerned about the money, Ivan. The polish is only a couple of dollars. My concern is more related to whether it would get to you..... things like customs and the efficiency of your/my postal systems.

Perhaps I could take a couple of tins to SoCal.... Paul may be able to advise me regarding posting goods to Brasil.

"With regard to how Brasilian law works with Paypal, I'd contact Paypal themselves. They can at least tell you haw it's been handled from experience."

"I'm not concerned about the money, Ivan. The polish is only a couple of dollars. My concern is more related to whether it would get to you..... things like customs and the efficiency of your/my postal systems."

Thanks Paul and Howard. I think the easiest way to solve this would find some store that sells this item and sends it to Brazil. This way I would not have to worry about Pay Pal, and neither to ask someone to spend money on a personal issue: I'd buy it myself, from my computer, and no one else would have to bother sending me anything.

If you guys don't know any on-line store that does this, I'll see what I can find in here (and if this fails, I'll study the Pay Pal thing).

Best wishes,

Ivan.

Not a problem, Ivan. I'll still be here if you find no alternatives.

Brasilian postal system...don't get me started.