Finish On Instruments

[ricplayer]

Your process;

"The buffing robot shines a Musicman guitar."


RIC's process;


"Following wet sanding, the guitar is meticulously polished to the glass-like perfection for which RIC instruments are renowned. While most companies spend only fifteen minutes at this stage, Rickenbacker devotes over an hour and fifteen minutes carefully cutting, buffing and waxing to produce an unrivaled finish." Hand polished by the way.


Maybe you're right. Unrealistic comparison.

 

[Musicman Nut]

Your process;

"The buffing robot shines a Musicman guitar."


RIC's process;


"Following wet sanding, the guitar is meticulously polished to the glass-like perfection for which RIC instruments are renowned. While most companies spend only fifteen minutes at this stage, Rickenbacker devotes over an hour and fifteen minutes carefully cutting, buffing and waxing to produce an unrivaled finish." Hand polished by the way.


Maybe you're right. Unrealistic comparison.

Yes but there's Only one Problem after all that Polishing, It's Still A Ric.

 

[Mobay45]

Your process;

"The buffing robot shines a Musicman guitar."


RIC's process;


"Following wet sanding, the guitar is meticulously polished to the glass-like perfection for which RIC instruments are renowned. While most companies spend only fifteen minutes at this stage, Rickenbacker devotes over an hour and fifteen minutes carefully cutting, buffing and waxing to produce an unrivaled finish." Hand polished by the way.


Maybe you're right. Unrealistic comparison.

Lot's of wet sanding and hand buffing happen before the body goes to "Ursala". There are some things that a robot can do better than a human. I work in the body shop business and I'll guarantee that "Ursala" does a better job of buffing than any human buffer that I've ever seen. And much faster too. I've seen this process in person at the Ernie Ball factory and I was extremely impressed with the results.

 

[Spudmurphy]

What else can Ursala do ? He! He!

 

[ricplayer]

What else can Ursala do ? He! He!

LOL....

 

[jongitarz]

Our guitars are buffed by hand after the robot does the initial buffing. I don't want to, but if this becomes another Ric vs MM thing, I will close this thread also.

 

[ricplayer]

Our guitars are buffed by hand after the robot does the initial buffing. I don't want to, but if this becomes another Ric vs MM thing, I will close this thread also.

I like BOTH basses. I AM buying another M/M, (honeyburst, rosewood). I just find it puzzling when I have brought up past concerns on a M/M forum, how defensive some seem to be. It's like if the old saying, "if you have nothing good to say, say nothing".



"Yes but there's Only one Problem after all that Polishing, It's Still A Ric."

See my point?

 

[jongitarz]

I like BOTH basses. I AM buying another M/M, (honeyburst, rosewood). I just find it puzzling when I have brought up past concerns on a M/M forum, how defensive some seem to be. It's like if the old saying, "if you have nothing good to say, say nothing".



"Yes but there's Only one Problem after all that Polishing, It's Still A Ric."

See my point?

This is the EB/MM forum. What did you expect?

 

[Golem]

Your process;
"The buffing robot shines a Musicman guitar."

RIC's process;
"Following wet sanding, the guitar is meticulously polished to the glass-like perfection for which RIC instruments are renowned. While most companies spend only fifteen minutes at this stage, Rickenbacker devotes over an hour and fifteen minutes carefully cutting, buffing and waxing to produce an unrivaled finish." .....

Gotta say that the hour more or hour less spent prepping an ax to go out on it's first 4-hour gig, where, if the good times roll, said ax may very well earn its first purple heart, is an hour's labor that I'd rather not be paying for in the purchase price.

The second thing I did to my Bongo, before gigging it, was to drill a 1/16" hole on its front side. This hole is larger than the chip that fell off of your MM's neck joint when you were polishing it.

The hole I drilled is to relocate the strap button to front, near the bridge, to reduce the reach and alter the balance. In due time the strap may begin to wear the finish on the front. Hopefuly, countless people will have been eating, drinking, and dancing to the Bongo's driving beat before the Bongo totally falls apart and rots.

 

[Big Poppa]

Ricplayer\
what are you trying to accomplish? Are you saying that the process is greater than the result? You bought a bass from Guitar Center that was damaged ( Im sure that you got a discount for the ding) and now we hear all of the negative stuff regarding our quality and processes.

 

[Dr Stankface]

What is the purpose of this thread? Really.

:: looks at StingRay 5 :: I think the finish on my bass is pretty freakin' good.

Not trying to jump on anyone or anything but this thread seems really pointless.

So simma down fellas!!

Andrew

 

[koogie2k]

ricplayer - thanks for the information on the RIC process. I happen to like that kind of info. However, your information on the EBMM process is incorrect as it was not fully stated. I know as I was at the Open House (the best party thrown by Big Poppa by the way!) and have several pictures of dedicated luthiers/employees hand finishing ALL of their guitars/basses. I personally saw the process and it was a lot more in depth than even I thought.

Might I make a suggestion. Please go to the Open House picture thread and find my post. It will direct you to the Open House pics. Look at the factory tour and you will see.

We do take pride in our EBMM's and for those of us that witnessed the process, we are RABID about it. Big Poppa is a friend and I tend to defend him and his employees as I know them personally.

You will find that you will love your EBMM and will become a believer in their quality as well. I never had a problem with their products and have even had one of my guitars fixed by jongitarz with extra love!

So, please take a look at the pictures and see the fun we had. BTW, it was a great time had by all paid for by Big Poppa and NO ONE in the business can throw a party like that for the "everyday man".

 

[Musicman Nut]

Ricplayer\
what are you trying to accomplish? Are you saying that the process is greater than the result? You bought a bass from Guitar Center that was damaged ( Im sure that you got a discount for the ding) and now we hear all of the negative stuff regarding our quality and processes.

Never Understand Somethings, When was the Last time you ever seen a Ric On stage, Second the only Ric's I've ever played that felt like a Bass was a 1964 Ric.

I've never seen anyone pop on a Ric. The Bottom Line is Play your music man bass and leave the Ric on the wall so one day you can say, See that bass up there, Dad once played that back in the seventies.

Music Man Basses Rock and If he Playes them to any extent he'll learn like the rest of us Have. EB is the only Bass ya Need

 

[TSanders]

Go find a Ric forum please.

 

[Dr Stankface]

Will someone close this thread please?

 

[ricplayer]

This is the EB/MM forum. What did you expect?

I expected some respect and straight answers. Instead I get "this is the M/M board, what did you expect". I guess if anyone has a problem with their M/M bass, don't come here to ask questions? Is this how M/M treats it's past/present and future customers?

I compared my basses. Forgive me.

 

[TSanders]

I guess if anyone has a problem with their M/M bass, don't come here to ask questions?

You hit the nail on the head, that why thers a customer service number on the EB website.

 

[todd4ta]

I am completely missing the reason for discussing Rics in comparison with Stingrays. Rics are probably the most un-Stingray-like bass I can think of. They are fine basses if that's what you need tonewise, but on the complete opposite side of the spectrum from Stingrays, Sterlings and Bongos. I wouldn't mind picking up an older Ric to add to my collection, but I honestly can't think of when I would ever play it.

I had a 4003 twenty years ago. I sold it and got a '78 Stingray, and I've been addicted to Stingrays ever since.

I've had close to 30 EB basses, and I've never had a single one that was lacking anything in the finish department. They were all 100%. I don't ever remember anyone else having any issues regarding the finish quality on basses from the EB factory.

To me, this is a complete non-issue. I could take any EB bass out of the case from the factory, tune it up, and jump on stage. I could possibly do the same thing with a Ric, but I wouldn't because I just don't like playing them (I think they look pretty cool - in a retro way - though)

 

[TSanders]

And for the record EBMM customer service is willing to go well beyond what other companies customer service will do.

 

[Dr Stankface]

Man, you just posted this thread out of nowhere. We take pride in our basses. We come here to talk about them exclusively. Not bash them. We show some respect to the people that PAY for these forums. My apologies. I'm usually a calm person but step back and take a look at it. Frankly, I don't think anyone cares to talk about Rickenbackers here. Take it elsewhere.

Andrew