Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hi- So I have a 4001C64S. LOVE this bass. Such an awesome instrument. It's had rounds on it for the last 5 years. I gotta wild hair and decided to try Flats (TI JF344- yikes, pricey!). Changing the strings right now. All of my Rics have a lacquer (?) finish on the necks (I've gotta 360 12 and a 610). On my bass, I'm noticing that the lower frets have the shine, but the upper looks like the lacquers worn off. This bass is only about 5 years old. Should that be happening? I play it a ton, but I'd think that she'd hold up a bit better than that. I know that with the Flats, this probably won't get worse, but still, this kinda alarms me a bit.

I've had two. The finish does that with prolonged use... It's totally normal

Thanks Rick. It's my first bass and because it's a Ric, I'm super paranoid about it.

brywool wrote:Thanks Rick. It's my first bass and because it's a Ric, I'm super paranoid about it.

No worries. It's just a little "patina". Proof you're enjoying your instrument.

...and string type has nothing to do with it. That's all "finger-friction".

Mine has done that too. It's inevitable. What's going on is that the whole bass including the fretboard was finished in that clear matte sealer coat. The more you play it (and they DO love to be played), the more your fingers buff out that matte finish and make it shiny. Mine is also getting shiny on the top edge of the body where my right arm rests on it.

brywool wrote:Hi- So I have a 4001C64S. LOVE this bass.

Hi brywool,

As an aside, I had thought that the 4001 C64S fingerboard is not glossy, but satin finished.

Is yours a 4001 C64 (no "S")? I have a pair of them, and they've got the gloss fingerboard. Love both.


bluewhale

The guitar comes out of the factory in a satin finish... Prolonged use add a bit of shine from friction.

congerz83 wrote:The guitar comes out of the factory in a satin finish... Prolonged use add a bit of shine from friction.

Observe...