Polishing & conditioner for Ric 4003

[supremo]

What's the best conditioner oil for a Rickenbacker's 4004 fretboard?
And what's the best for the body and neck?

 

[iiipopes]

Zymol. Go to rickresource.com and you will find several threads on Zymol.

 

[Ric5]

Is it a Cheyene or Laredo? The newer Cheyenes have an unfinished fretboard. For an unfinished fretboard use lemon oil or similar, Zymol on the rest of the bass.

You can also use carnuba wax but zymol works better.

 

[Hopkins]

Zymol as in the blue cleaner wax? I wouldn't use that to often or you will sooner or later rub right through the finish. That stuff is pretty abrasive, its designed to get oxidation out of a cars paint job. And absolutely do not use it on an unfinished fretboard. You will never get it out of the grain.

 

[JimmyM]

Just wipe it with a clean rag. So many people hear the "oil your fretboard" stuff, then they grossly over-oil them till the wood is soggy. Meanwhile, I never oil any of my rosewood fretboards and they're all humming right along after decades.

 

[miholc]

This is what I use for my 4003 (gloss neck&body), this very two products.

First I take scratches out with Meguiars x2.0

I then apply Zymol's wax:
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I do it with clean cotton rag. I am not affiliated with any of the above, I'm just pointing out what I've read on rickresource and it works great for many, including me. Dont forget to put on some shades after you're done

 

[Hopkins]

This is what I use for my 4003 (gloss neck&body), this very two products.

First I take scratches out with Meguiars x2.0

I then apply Zymol's wax:
Invalid Link Removed

I do it with clean cotton rag. I am not affiliated with any of the above, I'm just pointing out what I've read on rickresource and it works great for many, including me. Dont forget to put on some shades after you're done

How often do you use these products?

 

[Immigrant]

Title says 4003, post says 4004.

My 4003 had a glossy fretboard (don't they all?) and I used Dunlop 65, same stuff I used on the body.

 

[supremo]

Title says 4003, post says 4004.

My 4003 had a glossy fretboard (don't they all?) and I used Dunlop 65, same stuff I used on the body.

Sorry, I meant 4003 not 4004!

 

[miholc]

How often do you use these products?

Once, max twice per year is more than sufficient. It keeps or brings back that mirror like finish which Ric is known for.

 

[iiipopes]

Zymol as in the blue cleaner wax? I wouldn't use that to often or you will sooner or later rub right through the finish. That stuff is pretty abrasive, its designed to get oxidation out of a cars paint job. And absolutely do not use it on an unfinished fretboard. You will never get it out of the grain.

You must be thinking of something else, because it is not abrasive. It is one of the softest fluid waxes out there in the classic light blue bottle posted above. And remember, older Rickenbackers have conversion varnish, and newer Rickenbackers have UV-cured finish, so they need what Zymol has to offer. The finish is NOT nitro or any other old-style finish.

 

[Hopkins]

You must be thinking of something else, because it is not abrasive. It is one of the softest fluid waxes out there in the classic light blue bottle posted above. And remember, older Rickenbackers have conversion varnish, and newer Rickenbackers have UV-cured finish, so they need what Zymol has to offer. The finish is NOT nitro or any other old-style finish.

I used it on a Mustang I used to have. By the end of the job the rag would be the same color as the car. It is a cleaner wax, so yes it is abrasive. If it wasn't abrasive ot wouldn't remove swirl marks and light scratches.

 

[happyg]

Check out zymol music. Can't say enough good stuff about their line of cleaners and waxes for insturments. Expensive but worth it in my opinion.

 

[Dave W]

Virtuoso is great stuff. I have used the cleaner and polish on a few of my bodies and they come out great!

 

[JaminTravis]

I work for Zymol, so I couldn't NOT hop into this conversation after seeing the Zymol name brought up.

It's important for everyone to know that Zymol launched "Zymol Music" last year, with products specially designed for instruments. These are not the same formulas used in the automotive products.

 

[walterw]

+1 to rics almost uniquely having fully finished-over dark wood fretboards, so there's no "oiling" or "conditioning" involved!

clean it with regular guitar polish, that's all you're doing.

 

[thiocyclist]

I used it on a Mustang I used to have. By the end of the job the rag would be the same color as the car. It is a cleaner wax, so yes it is abrasive. If it wasn't abrasive ot wouldn't remove swirl marks and light scratches.

Zymol is almost not abrasive at all in my experience, whereas Meguiar's definitely is. Both have been okayed unofficially for use on Rickenbacker finishes which are a type of varnish.