Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hi lads,
I knew it was coming but now here it is: the neck of my 620 is getting sticky, no matter how hard I try, washing it every 20mn, it goes sticky too quickly than I can bear.

So, as my 360, refinishing is the next step...
But it's clear coat has yellowed - or is it the maple. Or both?

The question is : does the wood under a clear coat get darker/yellower or is it only the clear coat?

Since it is going to be refin, I'd like to have it the same shade as the 360. Will that be possible or will I get the same color as I see now?

btw, i clean the axes with some "pétrole désaromatisé" (if that ever translates to english) ; since refin, the 360 never gets sticky - and I play/record 4/5 hours a day.

When I stripped the "walnut" finish off my bass you could see where the scratchplates etc had been - in these areas the finish was quite clear and the wood underneath had "faded" where it was not covered. The extent of this must be quite deep as a generous amount of sanding only slightly evened it up.

Also, I noticed the finish was very yellow on the fretboard, but I didn't own it 19 years ago so I don't know if it has yellowed over time or if it was originally like this.

I believe that both the conversion varnish and the wood have yellowed. When I get a finish chip on my '75 360MG, both the finish that comes off and the wood under the finish are yellowed. Also in the cavity under the pickguard the wood has that same nice mellow yellow color to it. It is not the almost stark white color of my '95 or '99 mapleglos.

You are washing these babies down with low odor mineral spirits.... dang, you are braver than I am. I use water and mild detergent.

I just refinished a 360 that had been midnightglo into mapleglo, and I got a pretty good match to a mid 80's mapleglo color (just starting to pick up some yellowing). By mixing tints and experimenting on a fine sanded piece of maple, you should be able to make it darn near any color you want.

here's a pic:

the clear part is about the same shade as my refin'360, natural wood ; the darker part is what I don't want it to look like when refin... cute color on a picture, a bit heavy in real life.
Will I be able to lighten this up?

btw, this 620 was made in nov. '90.

the "pétrole désaromatisé" works wonders on the 360 although no wonders are required since refinishing.
I can't remember at the moment what type of clear coat finish the luthier used, but the simple RIC cloth will make it look as new, unlike what was happening with the original finish..

"pétrole désaromatisé" seems also the only thing that'll keep the 620 clean enough for an hour
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