Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I just flipped through the archives looking for information on the use of tung oil to maintain my 380L. There was a lot of very useful information available (thanks Peter, thanks John H.) but I couldn't find an answer for how often the instrument should be oiled and sanded. I expect that it really depends on environmental factors, but what sort of things should I be looking for? What would indicate that the instrument needs finish maintenance? Should I be looking for discolouration or a change in texture or is it something even more subtle that that? Is it a once a year ritual?

Do it when you are unhappy with the appearance of your guitar: there's no set schedule.

Personally, I have several of these and most have never been re-oiled even after years. But if I was gigging these nightly and wished to maintain the aesthetics, certainly I would have done this many times already.

I got a 4003s5 that had been refinished to oil finish ... I was worried about the wood ... the finish looked like one coat ... so I sanded it down and applied a few more coats ... it looks and feels nice ...