Cleaning a Ricky

Kelvin Monaghan · Post by **Kelvin Monaghan** » 11 Jan 2007 1:24 am

Just picked up a 1937 Ricky model 59 in Ivory Crinkle wondering how to clean the ingrown grime on the paint work.Quite a surprise this steel compared to my post war B it has a much fatter mellower sound great for blues yet still very clear and sustains for days not at all as metallic as I had been led to believe.The bigger pickup certainly packs a punch.I had always thought the Metal Bodies were inferior but not this baby.Does anyone else have any opinions on the metal bodies I think these steels are very underestimated. Cheers from OZ

John Dahms · Post by **John Dahms** » 11 Jan 2007 3:40 am

This was covered in an earier post as I remember. The crinkle finish is pretty tough. I would remove the electronics and use a soapy or even spray type cleaner (no paint disolving chemicals) and give it time to work. Gentle work with a toothbrush can clean the hard to get stuff. Do a small section at a time and it will come up looking 70 years newer. Invest a few hours and subtract the decades. Mine came out fine.

Dave Zielinski · Post by **Dave Zielinski** » 11 Jan 2007 6:12 am

Kelvin,

You are right about the tone of those things! And you can pick them up for cheap! They are hardly inferior, as you found out.

I cleaned mine up with a combination of naptha (lighter fluid) for the harder areas and simple green for the easier areas.

As recomended, do a small area at a time.

Good luck and happy playing!

Terry Wood · Post by **Terry Wood** » 12 Jan 2007 6:34 am

I have a 1937 Silver Ricky and I love it! In fact, I have layed my pedal steel aside the past few weeks and I'm recording an all Gospel Steel CD on it. It is challenging but very rewarding for me. I need to clean my steel up too. Does anyone have recommendations for that?

GOD bless!

Terry Wood

Rick Aiello · Post by **Rick Aiello** » 12 Jan 2007 6:52 am

I have a 1937 Silver Ricky ..... Does anyone have recommendations for that?

Mother's Chrome Polish

Terry Wood · Post by **Terry Wood** » 12 Jan 2007 1:04 pm

I figured some sort of a chrome polish but don't want to aggravate the metal and cause pits in it. It is to nice a guitar to mess up.

Of course I have seen guys put cigarette burns, crave in the wood etc. on their guitars.

Terry

Terry Wood · Post by **Terry Wood** » 12 Jan 2007 1:06 pm

Oops I meant carve in the front of the wood on their guitars. Of course if Buddy done that on my steel, I guess it woud be alright.

Terry

Kelvin Monaghan · Post by **Kelvin Monaghan** » 12 Jan 2007 2:13 pm

Thanks for the tips,the more I play this the more I realise how underated these Metal Bodies really are.Another Question has anyone found a way to free up a tight pot,the vol pot works fine no noise etc, but it is extremely tight and I would prefer not to change it if possible. Cheers Kelvin

Joseph De Feo · Post by **Joseph De Feo** » 17 Jan 2007 7:18 am

I also have a 37', and my volume pot is very tight. I just
leave it as-is, cause I don't want to change anything.
I did stuff the inside with terrycloth, which cut down
on bad overtones. It now sings deep and clear! What a
great guitar. It was my first lap steel.

It's tone got in my ear and I ended up with and 8 string and
a Pro II. Contact Rick A. of SGF for more model 59 help.

Kelvin Monaghan · Post by **Kelvin Monaghan** » 21 Jan 2007 12:13 am

Love the red colour Joseph, never seen one like that before.Did the terry towel make much difference.Kelvin

Joseph De Feo · Post by **Joseph De Feo** » 22 Jan 2007 4:59 am

Hi Kelvin,
I have to say, I didn't think it would, but after getting the
idea from more than one Forum bro (whom had more years
at it than me), I gave it a shot and it did help. It smooth'd
out the tone quite a bit. But if you you don't like it, no harm
done, just pull it out. If you do stuff it, use a coat hanger
or somthing, to push it all the way up the neck caviety.
Make it nice and solid (I hear some guys used sand!) so
you fill all the voids.

I don't think it started life as a red 59'r. When I pulled the
P/U, I could see a little bit of white. I thought in 37 there
was only one or two color choices, but red was'ent one.
I like the red all the same.

Bill Creller · Post by **Bill Creller** » 22 Jan 2007 2:08 pm

I have always heard they didn't sound all that good, but never really heard one for myself, so don't have an opinion.
But if the guitar sounds good the you, that's the bottm line isn't it......beauty in the ears of the beholder, so to speak.
Play and enjoy!!

BILL