Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hi all,

Just got myself a 4001 BT that hasn't been particularly well looked after by the previous owner. See the first pic below for the amount of grease and crud it came with. I've stripped it down and cleaned it up, including a couple of passes with the scratch remover, which has improved things considerably (see pic 2). But I'm kind of bothered by the quality of the finish, there seems to be considerable areas of haziness and patches with a kind of rough surface appearance, almost like the orange peel effect. Its almost as if its behaving like a nitro lacquer. Is this a possible poorly done rattle can refin? Or do I just have to keep polishing? Any opinions and advice welcome. Thanks in advance.

It’s hard to tell from the straight on view but does the body have binding that’s been painted over!
It also looks like the clear lacquer has been removed from the fretboard.
At this point I’d suspect it’s been refinished, but I could be wrong!

Uffingdon wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 12:05 pmIt’s hard to tell from the straight on view but does the body have binding that’s been painted over!

Yes, it does.

Uffingdon wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 12:05 pmIt also looks like the clear lacquer has been removed from the fretboard.
At this point I’d suspect it’s been refinished, but I could be wrong!

The lacquer is still on the fingerboard, although its not in great shape. Plenty of cracks. Will need to see if they can be sanded out when its refretted. I agree, a refinish would explain the issues but I can't see any evidence of one anywhere on the instrument.

Its difficult to get a good pic of the imperfections in the paintwork due to angles, reflections etc. This is probably the best example (see attached photo). Check out the front of the headstock to the right of the truss rod cavity, that 'spotted' effect is what I'm referring to. Is it that the grain hasn't been filled correctly? Or the final buffing hasn't been thorough enough? Or something else has caused it maybe? I dunno.

Another thought re: possible refin. Note that there is black overspray on the tension bar (?) of the truss rods. Would the guitar have been sprayed after the truss rods were installed? Is that how they did it in the RIC factory? Surely not, as that would put the threads of the rods at risk of being filled with successive coats of finish and lacquer? Also, I would have expected some areas under the truss rod nuts where the colour didn't reach.? Any thoughts on this? Thanks all.

That's a horrible less-than-amateur re-fin job. Send the bass to someone who know how to do proper finishing jobs, say, Larry Davis, and have that bass made good looking again.

jps wrote: Thu Aug 01, 2024 11:48 amSend the bass to someone who know how to do proper finishing jobs, say, Larry Davis

I'll look into it. I'm in the UK though, so won't be able to use any in the USA.

Ah! Do you know of any good refinishers in the UK? The finish in the era of your bass would be conversion varnish, but I suppose a well done poly (if thin enough) would suffice if you can't find anyone to do a proper CV refinish.

jps wrote: Wed Aug 07, 2024 9:56 am Ah! Do you know of any good refinishers in the UK? The finish in the era of your bass would be conversion varnish, but I suppose a well done poly (if thin enough) would suffice if you can't find anyone to do a proper CV refinish.

Dan McPherson of DM Guitars (who were recommended by John Hall himself on this very forum) has unfortunately quit the guitar business, apparently to move to Canada and work within the far more lucrative business of fitting out luxury yachts. I've had good reports about both RF Customs and TDog Customs, so am looking into both. TDog Customs is apparently Toby Diggins, grandson of legendary luthier John Diggins (JayDee Guitars) who had Tony Iommi and many others of the Birmingham rock royalty as regular customers.

Tache3 wrote: Wed Aug 07, 2024 11:56 am

jps wrote: Wed Aug 07, 2024 9:56 am Ah! Do you know of any good refinishers in the UK? The finish in the era of your bass would be conversion varnish, but I suppose a well done poly (if thin enough) would suffice if you can't find anyone to do a proper CV refinish.

Dan McPherson of DM Guitars (who were recommended by John Hall himself on this very forum) has unfortunately quit the guitar business, apparently to move to Canada and work within the far more lucrative business of fitting out luxury yachts. I've had good reports about both RF Customs and TDog Customs, so am looking into both. TDog Customs is apparently Toby Diggins, grandson of legendary luthier John Diggins (JayDee Guitars) who had Tony Iommi and many others of the Birmingham rock royalty as regular customers.

Would Toby turn your bass into a "Mark King" Special?

jps wrote: Wed Aug 07, 2024 5:15 pm

Tache3 wrote: Wed Aug 07, 2024 11:56 am

jps wrote: Wed Aug 07, 2024 9:56 am Ah! Do you know of any good refinishers in the UK? The finish in the era of your bass would be conversion varnish, but I suppose a well done poly (if thin enough) would suffice if you can't find anyone to do a proper CV refinish.

Dan McPherson of DM Guitars (who were recommended by John Hall himself on this very forum) has unfortunately quit the guitar business, apparently to move to Canada and work within the far more lucrative business of fitting out luxury yachts. I've had good reports about both RF Customs and TDog Customs, so am looking into both. TDog Customs is apparently Toby Diggins, grandson of legendary luthier John Diggins (JayDee Guitars) who had Tony Iommi and many others of the Birmingham rock royalty as regular customers.

Would Toby turn your bass into a "Mark King" Special?

Pointless. I ain't got the thumbs for it...

Tache3 wrote: Mon Aug 12, 2024 8:43 am

jps wrote: Wed Aug 07, 2024 5:15 pm

Tache3 wrote: Wed Aug 07, 2024 11:56 am

Dan McPherson of DM Guitars (who were recommended by John Hall himself on this very forum) has unfortunately quit the guitar business, apparently to move to Canada and work within the far more lucrative business of fitting out luxury yachts. I've had good reports about both RF Customs and TDog Customs, so am looking into both. TDog Customs is apparently Toby Diggins, grandson of legendary luthier John Diggins (JayDee Guitars) who had Tony Iommi and many others of the Birmingham rock royalty as regular customers.

Would Toby turn your bass into a "Mark King" Special?

Pointless. I ain't got the thumbs for it...

I think only one thumb of special talent would be required, not both of them.