Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Mark,

I am a new Ric owner - I recently bought a 1992 360/12 (jetglow) off of ebay. I love it.

A weird thing happened as I was tuning last night. A 1 inch section of neck binding (high-E side) fell off in my hand. This is surprise, since the guitar is in gorgeous shape.

Any thoughts on how to reattach the binding? Suggestions on adhesive? I also now see 3 hairline cracks in the binding on the high-E side. Any thoughts on how to prevent this binding from falling off?

Thanks. Jeff

You need a glue that is either an acetone based ,like Duco-cement or Sigment.Both of these can be found in art supply stores or College book stores.
I would use this way before anything else.

If you can't find these glues ,then and only as a last resort would I use Cyano-acrylate glue.
And then only the medium viscosity type .NOT the water thin stuff.
By the way ,yellow wood workers and white Elmers type glues will NOT work.
Epoxy is a waste ,it takes plastic type glues.

These glues can also react to the finish and they tend to be runny.There fore proceed with extreme caution.

The binding is an ABS type plastic and the factory softens it with a solvent based glue .This 'melts' the material and it oozes into the pores of the wood.
As it hardens it 'Sticks'.Actually it is fused the pores.The piece that fell off wasn't gooed enough (was what is know as a dry bond) .I use several solvent based glues for this.You must be extremely careful doing this job as it is really easy to screw up the finish.
A little dab will do you .

I recommend that you take it to a repair shop that has lots of experience in acoustic repairs.
Or to an established maker that uses plastic bindings.

Stay away from the average store guy that borrowed his Dads tools (he's a plumber and what does he know about guitars?)

Anyway,this is an easy repair but it is also very easy to make into a nightmare.