Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I'm just wondering what might've caused the discoloration on the bottom of this '74 Ric 4001. It looks almost as if they started finishing it Autumnglo, but changed their minds midway. Not that I believe that happened- the control cavity is clean mapleglo. I'm thinking the bottom of it might've gotten some water damage or something, but it almost looks like smoke as well. Any thoughts?









Thanks!!!

Kevin

I'm nowhere close to an expert on the subject but, it looks like it was deliberately painted that way. By who or why is a completely different question.

I'd say someone took a brush to it too....

yes it is not discoloration - it is coloration. the bottom gets most beating so perhaps someone gave it a shot of paint from wrong container so it would not be exposed there.... because when the wood is exposed to the moisture the paint peels around the bottom starting at the strap knob and then the laminations open sometimes there. it is usual result of root cellar storage approach .... the lesson here is: don't store your rics with carrots and parsnip over the winter and take your reading glass when choosing from multiple cans of colors.

grazioso wrote:...the lesson here is: don't store your rics with carrots and parsnip over the winter and take your reading glass when choosing from multiple cans of colors.

I'd guess that this was done deliberately as Scott, Andrew, and Dusan have suggested to cover up marks left by a stand or some other damage that the owner didn't like.

If only the owner of this Rick had purchased the AxeGlove! http://rickresource.com/forum/viewtopic ... 2&t=385911

Also, Kevin, the jackplate is installed upside down (from normal). Don't know about the jacks themselves. Usually the Ric-O-Sound is the forwardmost (neck side), with normal toward the butt end.

I'm not sure it's a paintbrush- just judging by the fade from the end to the side of the bass (as seen in the second photo). Also... the spots where the lacquer is chipped off shows no sign of the original finish underneath the dark part- which leads me to believe that something's stained the original finish.

Also, what would be an appropriate value for this instrument?

It's possible someone tried their hand at refinishing it, starting with a less visible part (the bottom in this case) and either didn't like the results or simply never proceeded.

Kevin, does this 1974 have Red Dot position markers on the neck?

Yes, it has the red dot markers.

Is that a less common thing? I hadn't seen them before...

Red dots were unique to 1974.

That almost looks like heat damage to me. I'd think the binding would be destroyed though.

Heat damage?

It's paint, done deliberately and not too badly, but of course why did they stop there? Prtobably done to hide some sort of damage, which MG would, of course, not hide.