Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I just busted out my old c. 1986 4003, for the first time since 1993, to discover that the truss rod cover plate is warped. I was thinking of softening it in boiling water and putting a heavy block on it. Is that foolhardy? Is there a better way?

I have used that method on guitar plastic parts for many years and it works! Have all your ducks in a row first and after removing the T.R. cover from the hot water, get the weight on it quickly and allow plenty of cooling time. Good luck!

Jim

Great to hear, Jim. Thanks for the feedback.

I might suggest using hot water, not boiling. You don't want the paint coming off, and too hot may loosen the binding of the paint. Try using hot tap water first. All you need to achieve is the softening of the plastic. I don't know the "melting point" of acrylic (if this is an old-style, back-painted TRC), or styrene (if it is the new-style, raised-letter type), but you don't need to get to the melting point to make it soft enough to gently press out the warpage.