I just received my third Ricky the other day. I was fortunate enough to accuire a DMC 360 and after giving it a couple of days to get aquainted, it's a beauty. However there does seem to be an unpleasent oder. Now my first two Rickenbacker's (325 MG & 620) I bought right off the rack at the store so I am sure they were there for a while.
How long should I expect the new smell to last? Not sure if it is glue or lacquer, but it is quite strong.

Wow! I didn't realize that this was such a tuff one. I was almost certain that there would have been someone who received a guitar from the factory that would know what I was talking about and what to expect. I would hate to think that this was peculiar to mine alone. Oh well, I guess I will eventually find out for my self. Peace!

Is it the case or guitar? SKB cases have a distinct smell that is from the glue. They may be using a different glue now but you can go to a store that sells SKB cases and see if it is the same smell.

If it is indeed the case then they should stop using that application promptly. My guitar has been freestanding for three days now and is still pretty pungent. A product as nice as a Rickenbacker deserves only the best.

The odor is characteristic of the chemicals that make up the color, not the case.

There was a reformulation in the middle of the run which reduced this quite a bit.

I personally don't care for it but the first guitar to be painted with this finish travelled with the Jefferson Starship for a month or so. The guys all took turns enjoying the smell coming off this guitar!

It does go away after about a month.

My 650C JG still smells like vanilla or something similar after over a year (came with an original RIC case) ;) not that I mind really. It's quite a sweet smell. I haven't used it that much so far so I guess it has something to do with it.

I must warn all of you that sniffing a Model 360 is a felony in several southern states....

Use Zymol on it! I find the smell rather pleasant.

I thought this came up before & the smell was attributed to the case. I,personally,like the smell & lomg may it last.

It HAS come up before and generally it IS the case, but he specifically mentioned the DCM. These have a fairly strong smell on their own for a period of time.

All of the instruments do to some extent, a combination of the finish and polishing compounds but the DCM is quite distinctive.