What makes a nitro finish go soft and tacky?

[Rebop]

Hey all,

The shop I work at just got in a 2000 Rickenbacker 4003. The finish looked dull from afar and almost like it had smears of sweat on it, and I noticed the finish is so soft that I left a palm print in it from just picking it up to look at it. I also noticed that I can leave a dent/gauge in the finish just by gently pressing my fingernail into it. Just touching it with my nail, I feel like I can scrape all the paint off with just my fingers.
What has caused this poor bass to become tacky and almost like the finish isn't cured anymore?

The bass is a 2000 or so and it feels like the paint was applied about an hour ago. We can't figure it out.

[recreate.me]

I am no expert, but nitro is general soft, i think things like using a cleaning agent to wipe it down can cause the finish to become softer. Like someone tried to clean it with pledge or something haha

[90k]

I have a Chinese squire Musicmaster that had the same issue when Bought it.. It finally got hardended up after a year or so..
sucks having a bass you can't play comfortable. now I enjoy it with no issues

[darkstorm]

Ive never had a nitro finish instrument that didnt feel tacky and draggy on the neck etc. part of why I dislike nitro finishes in general. Nitro finish gear Ive owned was all gibson products btw.

[cassius987]

Originally Posted by Rebop

Hey all,

The shop I work at just got in a 2000 Rickenbacker 4003. The finish looked dull from afar and almost like it had smears of sweat on it, and I noticed the finish is so soft that I left a palm print in it from just picking it up to look at it. I also noticed that I can leave a dent/gauge in the finish just by gently pressing my fingernail into it. Just touching it with my nail, I feel like I can scrape all the paint off with just my fingers.
What has caused this poor bass to become tacky and almost like the finish isn't cured anymore?

The bass is a 2000 or so and it feels like the paint was applied about an hour ago. We can't figure it out.

First of all, that's not nitro! That's conversion varnish if it's a c. 2000 Rickenbacker. Now they use a UV-cured poly but back then it was conversion varnish or CV.

Contact Paul Wilczynski (I hope I spelled that right) at the Rickenbacker corporate forum for the most sage advice you could possibly get about restoring this. His handle is "jingle_jangle". Ultimately I believe you'll have to refinish it but he may know a thing or two you can try first.

I do know that before they switched to their new finish around 2008, Rickenbacker was frequently having finish issues because someone had played their guitar immediately after, say, cleaning up something with bleach. Certain chemicals would react with the CV moreso than they would have with nitro or poly.

[Rebop]

Thanks. That so far is helpful.

I just looked up the serial number and it is actually a 2006.

Funny. I've been playing bass for a long time and have worked in quite a few music stores. This is probably the first Rick I've ever played. lol

[Jeff Scott]

Yes, PW is quite the expert on finishes and materials. Definitely contact Paul.

Tell him Joshua & I sent you............or maybe not.

[Rebop]

Thanks everyone.

I've been messing with it a little and after taking the truss rod cover off I've found the same issue with the finish under there so it's most likely not from some sort of cleaning product being used on the finish.

I'm starting to suspect that the finish reacted with the adhesives used in the lining of the case (the case reeks like "fumes" and the bass smells pretty stong just like the case). But honestly I've only heard of that for nitro finishes; since this is not nitro...