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Sticky Gummy Finish on UNPLAYED 1999 Rick 4003 Curly Maple Fireglo :(
- Thread starter ggoat!!!
- Start date
I understand the warranty is expired. But if RIC would be willing to take the bass back and do a factory refin,, it wouldnt devalue the bass at all.
You want it as a Museum piece right????
You want it as a Museum piece right????
My dad's 4003 has the exact same issue. His has only been lightly played since he got it in 2006. He never had much room to leave it out on display, so it stood in it's case whenever he wasn't playing it (which was always around the house). It was in the case for maybe a year before we moved, and when I took it out of the case to play it one day the finish was exactly like the OP described. There are even little marks on the finish from the fibers of the case. This bass was played only a handful of times and otherwise stored in it's factory case.
Oh and also, the neck pickup either doesn't work or more likely has a wiring issue. The bass was never plugged in until recently when i discovered this. It would have been noticed sooner but my dad mostly plays unamplified in his office. Really disappointed with this bass.
Oh and also, the neck pickup either doesn't work or more likely has a wiring issue. The bass was never plugged in until recently when i discovered this. It would have been noticed sooner but my dad mostly plays unamplified in his office. Really disappointed with this bass.
Regarding warranty, I wonder if Ric would consider leaving a bass in the case and not playing it for 12 years to constitute "misuse." I think manufacturers assume that instruments are going to be played and the case used for transport and design for that. Will be interesting to hear what Ric says.
I had two Gibsons do similar issues. One was a $2800 335, the other was a 2005 LP Black Beauty. I guess they just don't finish them like they used to 
So the older cases would be fine, right? I keep my 1981 4003 in its original case, but usually no more than a week at a time.
I would say that I'd hate to have the OP's problem, but I'd be lying. My other 69 basses would remind me that everything's gonna be okay.
BTW, did Rickenbacker ever put in their two cents about this?
I would say that I'd hate to have the OP's problem, but I'd be lying. My other 69 basses would remind me that everything's gonna be okay.
BTW, did Rickenbacker ever put in their two cents about this?
I had two Gibsons do similar issues. One was a $2800 335, the other was a 2005 LP Black Beauty. I guess they just don't finish them like they used to
What type of cases do your afflicted Gibsons have? Are they old school plywood/tolex cases or are they plastic/foam formed SKB type cases?
Also, btw...I also have posted on the Rick forum as well as Rickresource. A couple people have expressed they have had the same problem...with Ricks and now Gibson. I'm still suspecting the type of case as the culprit combined with leaving them in the case for long periods of time.
No word from Rick yet.
ggoat!!! said:
They really should make this right for you, even if the bass is out of warranty. A bass that is that expensive should NOT have problems like this, ever.
I understand the sentiment but I disagree. Having a bass *never* come out of the case is not a good representation of the normal range of behaviors that a bass is built to withstand. I feel the pain on this but c'mon, you can't blame Rickenbacker.
+1. Do you think a car manufacturer would warranty the finish on an 11 year old car...even if you swore up & down it sat in the garage? Or a furniture manufacturer, whose wood tables sat in an unused room? Even manufacturers whose instruments come with a "lifetime" warranty (Ric's do not) only stand behind the finish for "X" months...
...absolutely amazing that people think the manufacturer would even consider this a warranty claim, regardless of the reason for the claim
I'll tell you one thing though...
I have a beautiful old Rickenbacker myself (fretless in my case) and as of today, it is out of the case! Bass can be seen here;
Vintage Rickenbacker Fretless Bass Brown Eyed Girl Cover - YouTube
I have a beautiful old Rickenbacker myself (fretless in my case) and as of today, it is out of the case! Bass can be seen here;
Vintage Rickenbacker Fretless Bass Brown Eyed Girl Cover - YouTube
I really hope you get this problem figured out.
I'm a long time Rick owner, and have delved as far as I could in the past 7 years to find anything of interest of me about them, and have never heard of this issue before now.
I think John K hit the nail on the head: since you have gummy residue on the tailpiece, it's likely that the lining glue in the case is the cause, or possibly reacting with the clearcoat on the bass.
I would first of all contact RIC, if there's been a few of these incidents reported thay may be able to correlate the manufacture dates and possibly the case batches used to see if there's a pattern.
If it's their finish that's at fault, they need to know about his to correct any problems.
Similarly, of it's the case, SKB needs to make sure this doesn't happen.
There's potentially a lot at stake here for a lot of people.
Then ask as many luthiers and refinishers who are familiar with the RIC type finish what their opinions are on the subject before taking any further steps.
Good luck!
I'm a long time Rick owner, and have delved as far as I could in the past 7 years to find anything of interest of me about them, and have never heard of this issue before now.
I think John K hit the nail on the head: since you have gummy residue on the tailpiece, it's likely that the lining glue in the case is the cause, or possibly reacting with the clearcoat on the bass.
I would first of all contact RIC, if there's been a few of these incidents reported thay may be able to correlate the manufacture dates and possibly the case batches used to see if there's a pattern.
If it's their finish that's at fault, they need to know about his to correct any problems.
Similarly, of it's the case, SKB needs to make sure this doesn't happen.
There's potentially a lot at stake here for a lot of people.
Then ask as many luthiers and refinishers who are familiar with the RIC type finish what their opinions are on the subject before taking any further steps.
Good luck!
pringlw said:
I suppose, but the OP has clearly been a long time Rick player, he has 25 of these basses. The least they could do is cut him a deal on a factory refinish on the bass.
It doesn't matter if it was in the case or not, there is really no reason that the bass should be doing this. They're not cheap basses, it's really not acceptable IMO. The bass being in the case all of its life shouldn't matter, how do you keep a collector bass in good shape?
I have 2 little kittens at home, they love to cause trouble, so my Spector is always in the case, unless I'm playing it. I dont want to risk my cats and dogs knocking my bass over, scratching it, etc. The case is for the bass to sit in.
