NBD! Clean-or-Return Thread

[Inara]

The Ray34CA is an awesome discontinued bass and not the easiest to find. If the action will get where you want it, there's no way I'd send it back.

 

[bassman10096]

Quite a few years back I did a lot of buying and selling used basses. Apart from satisfying curiosities about what a lot of uncommon models played and sounded like it taught me a ton about getting all sorts of garbage off instruments. That turned into a very useful skill. Your Ray is not in bad shape at all. Clean it up and you may find a new friend.

 

[40Hz]

A new pick-guard and pot plus a decent cleaning and setup should be neither difficult nor expensive.

If the price was right, the neck is good, and you like, it I’d be inclined to keep it if it were me.

 

[Texaspandj]

I'd use wd40 for the PG.
Your volume pot may have been put on at an angle if it's just a press on. Or Remove and carefully reinstall but don't let it touch the PG before you tighten knob screw.
Finally, a complete 6 point spec setup will likely fix your high string action.

 

[JW56789]

IF the deal makes sense money-wise, and you otherwise really like it, a pickguard (replace or clean), a pot, and a setup are small, small potatoes, ezy-peezy fixes.

IF the price is too high and it feels wrong, period, return it.

Pick one !

 

[DrBnz]

Goo-B-Gone or WD-40 (on a rag) works well. I've done it.

The volume: I'd investigate a LITTLE. Take the knob off - try it - is it different? Take it apart only enough to look inside: Does it feel/work better with it apart? Is the wiring interfering? Should be an EZ.... no cost..... repair.

Set it up and lets get jamming.

 

[fauxtoe]

If the deal was good then all of that sounds like an easy fix. I've bought used basses with WAY worse issues at good prices knowing the savings would help to offset anything drastic that needed to be done. A little elbow grease goes a long ways sometimes to really get something cleaned up to your liking.

 

[M.R. Ogle]

To remove sticker residue, I always try the MILDEST solvent first... dish soap and a little water, if that doesn't do it, try WD-40. If that doesn't work.... try denatured alcohol (NOT rubbing alcohol!). That takes a LOT of gunk off, and won't damage the finish. I do a LOT of work cleaning up/setting up guitars for a local pawn shop, and I have to deal with stickered-up guitars and basses ALL the time!

 

[Grahams Groove]

Maybe the volume knob is only making contact with the scratch plate or fixing nut underneath it.

See if you can remove the knob and then reattach it a fraction of a millimetre higher on the shaft.

This is worth checking for sure. I've replaced the knobs on both of my EBMM basses. Seating the knob too low on the pot and tightening will cause it to press against the body/plate and feel like it's resistant to turning. Just grab an allen wrench and you'll be able to check this in 30 seconds.

 

[JTE]

Also ''Rays with that vintage 'burst look very good with no pickguard.

 

[Gothic]

First thing to check with a new/used instrument is if it can be set up to your liking. Does the truss rod work? Is the neck ok? Are the frets good? Can you get the action how you want it? Does it perhaps need a shim?
Even a single negative to those would be reason enough to return it.

Sticker residue and a bad volume pot are so easily fixable that they're not even worth mentioning. YMMV.

 

[Leonid Nidis]

For a used bass it's ok imo.
If you can get the action right just clean it.

 

[Pizza1988]

View attachment 4384740 To remove sticker residue, I always try the MILDEST solvent first... dish soap and a little water, if that doesn't do it, try WD-40. If that doesn't work.... try denatured alcohol (NOT rubbing alcohol!). That takes a LOT of gunk off, and won't damage the finish. I do a LOT of work cleaning up/setting up guitars for a local pawn shop, and I have to deal with stickered-up guitars and basses ALL the time!

I want to meet the person who plastered an 80s looking guitar with Brittney Spears stickers.

On second thought, no. No, I don't

 

[lark_z]

If you get desperate with the goo, CAUTIOUSLY try either fingernail polish remover (methyl ethyl ketone) or acetone. They might soften the PG, so be wary. Other posts are spot-on. Go easy and work your way to the more aggressive solvents.

 

[Dirk Diggler]

Try Iso for goo removal, or just get a new pickguard.

Replace the volume pot.

Setup the bass, and enjoy.

 

[WarwickE36]

I would use rubbing alcohol on the pickguard. I use it all the time getting sap off of cars...and stickers off of everything I purchase that has a SKU sticker in the worst possible place.

 

[stingray69]

View attachment 4384740 To remove sticker residue, I always try the MILDEST solvent first... dish soap and a little water, if that doesn't do it, try WD-40. If that doesn't work.... try denatured alcohol (NOT rubbing alcohol!). That takes a LOT of gunk off, and won't damage the finish. I do a LOT of work cleaning up/setting up guitars for a local pawn shop, and I have to deal with stickered-up guitars and basses ALL the time!

Holy cow - talk about freeing Brittany!

 

[haggardPHUNK]

Good one is safe to use in the pickguard. Should take that ‘funk’ right off.

not sure it should be used on the wood finish

 

[Aqualung60]

I'd use wd40 for the PG.
Your volume pot may have been put on at an angle if it's just a press on. Or Remove and carefully reinstall but don't let it touch the PG before you tighten knob screw.
Finally, a complete 6 point spec setup will likely fix your high string action.

I had a similar problem once with a Bass having issues with the knobs, took them off and reset them a little higher and problem solved. That's a nice looking Bass, if it sets up with no problems i'd keep it.

 

[scowboy]

It has been probably more than 15 years since I have purchased an instrument at GC. But, back in those days I found some great deals on basses in particular that needed a bit of clean up. None of them too different from what the OP has gotten. I always looked at the clean up work as part of the bonding process with the instrument and got couple of nice basses as result. Clean it up and keep it. Nice looking bass man!