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Sticky Gummy Finish on UNPLAYED 1999 Rick 4003 Curly Maple Fireglo :(

ggoat!!!

ggoat!!!

Inactive
Apr 6, 2008
1,095
1,019
Lousy-Anna
#1
I have over 25 Rick basses, and never had a problem like this. All of my basses are kept in their original cases, and some (the more valuable/rare ones) are in their original cases and original boxes.

Back in 1999 I got an amazing deal on 3 new Ricks from American Musical. I bought two fireglo's and one mapleglo. One of the fireglo basses was SOLID CURLY MAPLE including the neck. It has always been the most amazing 4003 I've ever seen.

I decided to keep it unplayed...a museum piece.

The bass has NEVER been out of the room that it is stored in. It has not been gigged. It hasn't had an entire song played on it. It has NEVER been wiped down, polished...I was keeping it absolutely as new...factory fresh. It has NEVER been left sitting on a stand, it has NEVER left the case except for a handful of times literally showing it to people...never played, and promptly packed back up in the case. The only other thing in the case is the original case candy.

I opened the case yesterday. Factory Rick SKB case, blue plush lining. First thing I noticed was that some fuzz from the case was sticking to the bottom edge of the bass...hmm, I thought that was odd. I figured all these years storing the bass standing up in the case simply caused some of the fibers to come off. Then, as I lifted the bass up, my hands and fingers actually felt STICKY. I could not believe it. The entire bass...some areas more than others...are GUMMY, soft, and STICKY. Several areas are splotchy regarding sheen/gloss. Areas that NEVER get touched are the WORST...such as the back of the headstock between the tuning keys...totally non-glossy flat splotchy finish, sticky, and soft enough that if you merely TOUCH it with your fingernail it leaves an imprint. Some parts of the bass are not as bad as others...and it has NOTHING to do with where it may or may not have been touched before.

There is no "chlorine" anywhere around this bass. As a matter of fact, stored RIGHT NEXT TO AND TOUCHING THIS BASS'S BOX/CASE are two Ricks, a 1999 figured maple V63 and a 2005 fretless fireglo 4003fl. They are in the factory cases, in their factory boxes, they have both BEEN PLAYED, and they are PERFECT with NO signs of sticky gummy finish whatsoever. I checked ALL the basses stored in the exact vicinity of this bass...absolutely NO OTHERS have this problem...I'm talking Ricks going back to 1986, all stored within 5 feet of this bass. The other mapleglo and fireglo purchased at the exact same time, with serial numbers that indicate all these basses were made within the same month, kept in their original cases and boxes, are FINE...absolutely no signs whatsoever of the gummy finish.

I would like an honest answer of what is going on...it is NOT due to handwashing, chlorine, polishing, temperature, or ANY of the usual "reasons" given for this. This bass has been kept absolutely as new, unplayed, kept in the original box for YEARS literally next to completely unaffected basses. And now, the finish seems RUINED...and it is the most beautiful 4003 curly fireglo I have ever seen.

I'm thinking it is something to do with the SKB style case. There is absolutely no other explanation that I can fathom...if this happens to any of my Bluebursts, Blueboys, or SeaGreens I'm literally going to explode. I want to know how to stop it and more importantly how to KEEP IT FROM HAPPENING. Several of these Color of the Year basses are unplayed as well. I'm fearing it's just a matter of time...I want an honest answer as to what I can do to keep this from happening...ditch the SKB cases? Hmmmm...someone please let me know.

:(
 
#3
Well, the only problem there is that the last time I opened the case was about 4 years ago, and it was perfect then...it was built in 1999. So 12 years later the problem has developed, and 8 years ago it was still fine.

Very very strange. :(
 
#4
Wow,I feel for you,for sure. I'm no chemist or anything,but,do you think the glue or something in the case that may have not been COMPLETELY dry? Hey,just a suggestion. I've seen some pretty weird chemical reactions in my day,when I was the main meth cook:hiding: for the cartel. BTW,I've NEVER,EVER seen (or heard) of meth in my area!!! Thank God.....












JOKE!!! It's a joke,people!!!
 
#6
I can't offer any help as to why but, I can't help but be a little curious about the next step.

Are you going to leave it or get it refinished?

Given that you have many kept under the same condition, it seems logical that it is a case issue or a finish issue. Of those two, the finish seems to be the obvious culprit.
 
#10
Steve said:
I can't offer any help as to why but, I can't help but be a little curious about the next step.

Are you going to leave it or get it refinished?

Given that you have many kept under the same condition, it seems logical that it is a case issue or a finish issue. Of those two, the finish seems to be the obvious culprit.
Click to expand...

I'm thinking it has something to do with the case...either the foam or glue they used. It must be emitting something slowly over the years that with never opening the case in some time (to effectively "air it out" I speculate) has attacked the finish. The older Rick conversion varnish is susceptible to all sorts of things...but I never thought their OWN CASE would ruin such a beautiful bass. The bass was received sealed from AMS in 1999...it wasn't handled by anyone but me since it left Rickenbacker. And, it wasn't handled any differently than any other bass...except the fact that I barely touched it and never played it (or even set it up) choosing to leave it absolutely as new.

I don't know what I'm going to do with it yet. I was keeping it as new due to the rarity of the solid curly maple and the fact that it is completely NOS...but now I don't know. If I refinish it I may not even do fireglo as it's value will be ruined anyway.

I posted about this on the Rick forum. I'll bet John Hall gets on there and tells me it's something I did or washed my hands wrong or something...and that simply isn't the case here.

Still pissed.
 
#11
ggoat!!! said:
I decided to keep it unplayed...a museum piece.

The bass has NEVER been out of the room that it is stored in. It has not been gigged. It hasn't had an entire song played on it. It has NEVER been wiped down, polished...I was keeping it absolutely as new...factory fresh. It has NEVER been left sitting on a stand, it has NEVER left the case except for a handful of times literally showing it to people...never played, and promptly packed back up in the case. The only other thing in the case is the original case candy.
Click to expand...

I really hate to see instruments neglected like this.

Damnit play that sucker!

Take off all of the hardware and get a bottle of Zymol. Give it a good wax and polish job. If you are not going to play it then polish it and store it a good coat of wax. This will make it last longer.

Also you should play it set it up and adjust is once in a while. Because if you don't store it in a completely climate comtrolled room with constant 35% humidity that never changer all year you could end up with a bowed neck that may not adjust straight.

Do you really want to be the guy in Spinal Tap who bought the new guitar and never took off the price tag. You remember ... he said don't touch it ... don't even point at it.

Don't be that guy.
 
#13
ggoat!!! said:
So 12 years later the problem has developed, and 8 years ago it was still fine.

Very very strange. :(
Click to expand...

Wow, that really sucks. Sometimes when enclosures are really air-tight, the air inside is infused with whatever chemicals are being released, usually from the wood drying, varnish/glue solvents, etc. I've heard of the air inside museum displays of ship models corroding the lead parts.
Invalid Link Removed

Look at that list, quite a few familiar materials, yeah? However, I can understand if it attacked the metals, but the finish. :confused:

Sounds like your bass is getting a paint stripper action happening from the air in the case. Its time for a refin, or a strip to natural. Sucks, but at least you'll end up with a player and not a surrealist piece of art.

I want an honest answer as to what I can do to keep this from happening...ditch the SKB cases?
Click to expand...
Airing the cases and the basses regularly would probably prevent it from happening to the other bases, if what I think is happening.
 
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#14
Ric5 said:
I really hate to see instruments neglected like this.

Damnit play that sucker!

Take off all of the hardware and get a bottle of Zymol. Give it a good wax and polish job. If you are not going to play it then polish it and store it a good coat of wax. This will make it last longer.

Also you should play it set it up and adjust is once in a while. Because if you don't store it in a completely climate comtrolled room with constant 35% humidity that never changer all year you could end up with a bowed neck that may not adjust straight.

Do you really want to be the guy in Spinal Tap who bought the new guitar and never took off the price tag. You remember ... he said don't touch it ... don't even point at it.

Don't be that guy.
Click to expand...

+1
 
#15
I have to agree with the majority; the fact that this has been sitting in its case not only closed but if I understand correctly the case in the original box for 8 years, taken out for a short look and then back in for another 4 years could have very well caused this.
To quote Ric5 "Because if you don't store it in a completely climate comtrolled room with constant 35% humidity that never changer all year you could end up with a bowed neck that may not adjust straight".
I would think that even if the room was kept at 35%, the bass being double boxed (sealed if you will) would not benefit because it is so shielded.
Get into the habit of opening up and airing out the cases on a monthly schedule. Also speak to Rick and see what they recommend, or who they would recommend near you that can look at the bass.
My Condolences bro.
 
#18
I have to admit that does suck but I have one question:
How can you have a ric for 12 years and not even use it? Bassists all over the world would kill for a rickenbacker and those who got one would play it till their fingers bled.
 
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#20
it's ironic that you stored it to preserve it and doing so came back to bite you. IMO, it's never a good idea to store a bass without at least taking it out every 6 months and playing/adjusting it to give it a thorough checkup. to me, otherwise it makes no sense to own it.

in this case, i don't think that it's rickenbacker's fault, since storing them for years in a box unopened is never a good thing for any instrument.
 

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