Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hey there Paul,

I finally got around to giving my 325 its first good Scratch-X/Zymol treatment last night, and the finish has never looked so shiny and deep. However, I noticed afterward that my cloths were covered in black smudges. Would it be possible for some of the finish to come off during polishing, or is that just dirt? Anything to worry about? Thanks.

Dan, It's very unlikely that you've got paint on the cloths. Much more likely that it's from the frets or simply dirt.

Thanks, Paul. I figured it was unlikely to be the finish, but I wasn't 100%. It sure looked like it, though!

JG is a very thin finish, the CV is 10X thicker in most places. The factory doesn't buff through the CV. Scratch-X is a very mild abrasive, though I suppose that with a lot of pressure on edges, where paint and CV is thinnest, it could cut through the CV into the JG color coat. Anyway, should you in subsequent polishings, cut into bare maple, it would be time for a CV touch-up.

To check this, you can put a bit of Scratch-X on a soft cotton cloth and work it into the weave. now, stroke along the suspect edge area, rubbing lightly. If you see the smudges (and they'll be streaks, since you're rubbing along the edge!), then stop. You've rubbed through in that area. 99% of the time, it's edges that rub through.

If you don't get smudges, it was something else staining the cloth. In Aitch's case, it would be chicken grease.

This method can be used for any color, not just CV.

Fix for rub-throughs is nothing less than a CV touchup. In the case of JG, best to re-CV the whole instrument.

jingle_jangle wrote:
If you don't get smudges, it was something else staining the cloth. In Aitch's case, it would be chicken grease.

Fretboards are usually dirtier then you realize...

If you don't get smudges, it was something else staining the cloth. In Aitch's case, it would be chicken grease.

Haven't had roast chicken within 30 feet of any of my Ricks since that episode, Paul!!

ozover50 wrote:

If you don't get smudges, it was something else staining the cloth. In Aitch's case, it would be chicken grease.

Haven't had roast chicken within 30 feet of any of my Ricks since that episode, Paul!!

Oh this sounds like a great story Aitch................

Yes, do tell!