Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

First off, Hi to all, I'm rather new to the forum but I've had a few Rics. Can anyone tell me what the new material for fingerboard markers is? I had an '89 381 12 string that had sparkly material, the new 381 6 string has pearly looking inlays. Anybody know the history of the fretboard marker makeup?
Pete

Paul would be a great person to tell you as he builds and restores Rickenbackers. I think it is a form of crushed pearliod...

Pixelpete wrote:First off, Hi to all, I'm rather new to the forum but I've had a few Rics. Can anyone tell me what the new material for fingerboard markers is? I had an '89 381 12 string that had sparkly material, the new 381 6 string has pearly looking inlays. Anybody know the history of the fretboard marker makeup?
Pete

Welcome!

An '89 would have the same material as today, which is a plainer-looking poured resin material.

Ricks had full-width crushed pearl inlays until the early '70's (Spring '73 for the basses), and since then have had the poured type you see today.

Thanks John,
It really doesn't say on the RIC website what the material is.

There you go Pete,
Hang around here long enough and you'll learn quite a bit.

Thanks for the info, I guess my memory is a little sparkley... I don't have the '89 any more, the '07 is mighty fine though.
Pete

Current inlays are transparent polyester casting resin with powdered artificial pearl essence mixed in. The inlay recesses in the fretboards are painted light gray, and when this is dry, the catalyzed polyester is dribbled into the recess. The recess is over-filled, because this stuff shrinks noticeably. Once the polyester is cured, the fretboard is given its crown radius on a special sander.

The sparkly (crushed MOP) inlays are only from roughly 1964 (?) until '72. Early Capris had poured inlays that look much the same as today's, except that of course they were full-width.

Here are some examples of '60s inlays.....
http://web.mac.com/jc_williams/Site/Inlays.html

Thanks for that link John,

The 1964 365 really appears to have some sparkle in the light reflection.

Paul,

Thanks for the prompt and detailed response. Yeah, definitely poured acrylic. Definitely. Yeah. 'Course the fret inlay is painted grey, grey first... (Read like Rainman). Now quick... What is the square root of 72,864.6?

In an seriousness, the knowledge base on here is pretty incredible.

JKC

No, Jim...not poured acrylic. Poured polyester resin.

Sorry to be so picky/tech...

That's OK, Paul. Here's one for you. What is the average flight velocity of an unladden swallow?

OK, OK, I'll get back to topic. Seriously, thanks for your input. Why was the material changed? To be frank, I prefer the look of the late 50's and modern material over the sparkle look of the 60's. To me, the sparkle looks just too flashy. I do prefer the full width though. Any thought on why Rick changed to the inlays with borders? (When I get some money saved, I'm gonna convert mine to full width).

Thanks in advance for any feedback.

JKC

jcreasy wrote: Any thought on why Rick changed to the inlays with borders?
JKC

I've heard it said (maybe by JH) that having the inlays full-width weakens the neck, but I would think the fact that it's more labor intensive was a leading factor in switching them to the non-full width.

jcreasy wrote:That's OK, Paul. Here's one for you. What is the average flight velocity of an unladden swallow?
JKC

Surely you mean "unladen", Jim?

Paul,

I do mean unladen... Wiseguy! I guess if I can dish it out, I need to take it!

Nyrkickazz1,

Weakening the neck? Hmmm. I'd be a little surprised at that too, but I'm not a luthier. Seems to me almost all the strength comes from the laminated maple and walnut, not the rosewood on top, but I'm really guessing. I'm guessing JH doesn't answer these types of questions anymore, so if anyone else has some info, much appreciated.

I always thought it was just a style change.

Thanks in advance,

JKC

jcreasy wrote:Paul,

I do mean unladen...
JKC

African or European?