Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I recently bought an 82 Gibson Sonex on the cheap, and it is going to need a little love. Its a black finish with lots of little scratches in it. I'm wondering what the best course of action is for smoothing them out. This will remain a player, bur the stickers and scratches need to go.

The pups are also wired to only be on or off, but thats another thread. Any advice is welcome, thanks.

Polypropylene to remove stickers invisibly. I don't think scratches will ever fully go.

I've read a little about scratch x and zymol treatment, but I am having a hard time pin pointing Paul's step by step on how to do this to a guitar. I need some cloth diapers and those two products, and hopefully I can start fixing this one up. I'll post pics. any one with a tut on the scratch x/zymol process?

Bought the stuff, now I just need to know what im doing

C0ldf1re wrote:Polypropylene to remove stickers invisibly. I don't think scratches will ever fully go.

Jimmy, just try the SEARCH feature on this Forum; there have been many threads on this. Do not be afraid. It's not rocket science...

I found some threads last night. I'm glad I did, I would have started with some circular motions and just attacked the guitar. Now, I think I have a better idea how to get them out. Perpendicular to the stratches, small spaces 1-2", and a lot of patience...and a little zymol goes a long way. The problem was getting a lot of threads that just mentioned what I was using rather than the method. Once I searched "remove"+"scratches" (go figure) at least two really good threads popped up. I'm using this Sonex as a test drive into guitar maintenance. I'm never really adjusted truss rods and the action myself. Just started intonating myself 14 years into playing, so I have a little catching up to do.

I've been working 80 hours a week, so I haven't had a chance to dive in just yet. However, I was researching the Sonex and found that it is made from a "resinwood" (stupid Gibson portmanteau). This not being pure wood or pure plastic does this affect the process or equipment?

Anne hates the smell of Scratch X and zymol ive been told if i use it again in the house im done for

scotty wrote:Anne hates the smell of Scratch X and zymol ive been told if i use it again in the house im done for

Choose your weekend, send her out of town......

Ilikewater wrote:I've been working 80 hours a week, so I haven't had a chance to dive in just yet. However, I was researching the Sonex and found that it is made from a "resinwood" (stupid Gibson portmanteau). This not being pure wood or pure plastic does this affect the process or equipment?

Sonex is a mixture of resin and sawdust--sort of a higher-tech MDF...

It's not the substrate, however, but the paint itself that you'll be shining up. If, however, this is the Sonex surface instead of paint (I'm not up on this material), it's probably going to be a good deal more work to get it looking like new, involving using a buffing wheel instead of ol' elbow grease.

A urethane or nitrocellulose finish on this instrument will accept the Scratch-X / Zymol well, and show good results. Polyester is much harder, and a raw resinwood surface is harder still. The last two will require wheel buffing.

scotty wrote:Anne hates the smell of Scratch X and zymol ive been told if i use it again in the house im done for

Scratch-X does have a petroleum smell. Zymol is all natural oils, and smells pleasant.

I think it's more likely the time and devotion that she's losing to your Ricks, Scotty...

Maybe i should ask her if she needs some Zymo...... Nah best not

Now, Scotty, don't shine her on!!!

scotty wrote:Maybe i should ask her if she needs some Zymo...... Nah best not

Yeah, she might just give you a shiner.

Never know - she might like a good rub-down