I need a competant builder to make me a finger ramp!!

pablomigraine · #1 10-04-2009, 05:24 PM

I'm linking to my thread in basses, which I probably should have put here in the first place.

I need an inexpensive ramp built for my jazz bass. Cant afford the $75 + shipping for a Skjold-built.

Anyone?

HERE is the original thread.

THANKS!

humpy thumb · #2 10-06-2009, 11:54 PM

Rob Elrick or Jon Maghini could make ya one.I have no clue about cost tho.

PasdaBeer · #3 10-07-2009, 12:40 AM

I dont mean to make this sound negitive, But most pro builders wont even walk into their shop and turn on the lights for 75 bucks, when you considering finishing, radiusing, and shipping and what not, its just not worth it.

mikeyswood · #4 10-07-2009, 07:30 AM

^What he said!

You are asking for someone that is "competant" to build a ramp. I can assure you that a "competent" builder will ask ~$100.

Rickett Customs · #5 10-07-2009, 07:35 AM

If you're a Lakland endorser, why don't you talk to Dan about it?

**Bryan R. Tyler** · #6 10-08-2009, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PasdaBeer

I dont mean to make this sound negitive, But most pro builders wont even walk into their shop and turn on the lights for 75 bucks, when you considering finishing, radiusing, and shipping and what not, its just not worth it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeyswood

^What he said!

You are asking for someone that is "competant" to build a ramp. I can assure you that a "competent" builder will ask ~$100.

I can assure you both that you're WRONG!

As remarkably cheap as it sounds, I've ordered three ramps from Jon Maghini and they were $50 each, and all extremely well done with nice ebony. I used to get ramps from Rob Elrick for just a little more (between $50-$100), but he had to up his prices quite a bit. I don't doubt that Jon will have to up his prices, but as of a month or two ago, they were still $50.

$75 from Skjold is more than fair though.

PasdaBeer · #7 10-08-2009, 05:43 PM

sounds like the exception, not the rule Bryan : )

**Bryan R. Tyler** · #8 10-08-2009, 06:01 PM

Very true, but it doesn't need to be the rule so long as there's an exception out there that you can use

I've had two luthiers say that they're a good thing for them, as they can knock one out in an hour or less, so even selling one for $50-$75 wields them a better dollar-per-hour rate than their custom basses do.

Pete skjold · #9 10-08-2009, 07:52 PM

I don't make ramps anymore unless it is for a bass I am building for a customer. But in the case of making a ramp to work with the screw tabs of a jazz bass pickup, to do that right takes some time and very acurate measurements if you want it to look like it was done compitently. Alot more goes into these than you might think, I radius mine and polish it to 1200 grit, but some people are happy with a flat piece of wood so that wouldn't be a big deal.

Hope you find someone to do this for you at the price you are wanting to spend. Check out the luthier's corner, there are talented guys there who might be able to help.

Pete Skjold

Pete skjold · #10 10-08-2009, 07:54 PM

LOL!! This is the luthier's Corner

My bad!

waynobass · #11 10-08-2009, 08:01 PM

Seems like it wouldn't be that hard to make one yourself. Plywood... sandpaper... varnish.

mikeyswood · #12 10-08-2009, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by waynobass

Seems like it wouldn't be that hard to make one yourself. Plywood... sandpaper... varnish.

SHHHHHHH!

That is the secret to all of Woodsmithing.

pablomigraine · #13 10-08-2009, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PasdaBeer

I dont mean to make this sound negitive, But most pro builders wont even walk into their shop and turn on the lights for 75 bucks, when you considering finishing, radiusing, and shipping and what not, its just not worth it.

Right.... if I was looking for Kevin Brubaker to make me a permanent install ramp out of Macassar Ebony with a hand rubbed oil and wax finish this theory is sound....

I'm looking for any woodworker, whittler or amateur carpenter with the right tools and knowledge of a measuing tape to cut me a block of hickory and throw it in the mail. The finishing, sanding and attachment I'll do myself....

This isnt intented to sound demeaning, as Ive already made clear that the minimal skill required for this kind of task are well beyond my capability...

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeyswood

^What he said!

You are asking for someone that is "competant" to build a ramp. I can assure you that a "competent" builder will ask ~$100.

Yep. You can get some very very nice ones for $75 - 100. I just want one that's made out of something harder than balsa and fits reasonably well.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alembicplyr

If you're a Lakland endorser, why don't you talk to Dan about it?

It's not for a Lakland.......TB rules stipulate that you have to disclose if you've received industry compensation to any degree whatever.... I do not have an "endorsement deal" with Lakland per se.

That being said Dan is an awesome guy and I'm sure he would do this kind of work for any Lakland owner..... but you don't ask the Rolex guy to polish your Bulova....

Quote:

Originally Posted by PasdaBeer

sounds like the exception, not the rule Bryan : )

I think $75 - $100 is probably pretty close to the rule. You can get a custom designed ramp made from your choice of exotic woods, custom carved to fit over and around your existing pickups from Windmill for about $275 - $300, and thats after a nasty currency exchange rate.....

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete skjold

I don't make ramps anymore unless it is for a bass I am building for a customer. But in the case of making a ramp to work with the screw tabs of a jazz bass pickup, to do that right takes some time and very acurate measurements if you want it to look like it was done compitently. Alot more goes into these than you might think, I radius mine and polish it to 1200 grit, but some people are happy with a flat piece of wood so that wouldn't be a big deal.

Hope you find someone to do this for you at the price you are wanting to spend. Check out the luthier's corner, there are talented guys there who might be able to help.

Pete Skjold

Thanks Pete, great to hear from you! I dont know if you remember but we spoke on the phone for a few hours last year. I decided not to go with a custom build at that time but youve been on my mind.....

I think maybe I didnt really explain the situation well enough in the opening post..... this is for a mexican fender cheapie! Any old block of wood will do so long as it fits reasonably well and is radiused. I'll sand the thing and paint it. The pickups dont even look like they were fit in the routes competently.... I dont care if the ramp looks perfect!

Quote:

Originally Posted by waynobass

Seems like it wouldn't be that hard to make one yourself. Plywood... sandpaper... varnish.

Hahaha like I said... I can do a lot of things quite well; develop commercial real estate, identify and utilize complex market trends in multiple industries, calculate the impact of emerging technologies into currency exchange forecasts.... I can take down and replace all the sheet rock in an entire house, wire the place up and paint it beautifully.... but the last time I tried my hand at the complexity of framing a doorway.... I ended up with a trapezoidal doorway and a trip to the emergency room.

Brad Johnson · #14 10-08-2009, 11:06 PM

The ramps Kevin Brubaker made for me were scrap Maple. I've had him match Spalted Maple tops on a couple of my basses and that's very time consuming. Now I just go for basic black. He attaches the ramps with double sided tape and they don't move until you try to remove them.

If you weren't going to be fitting this to the tabs on the J bass pickups, you could likely just go to a Home Depot and get them to cut a piece of tight grained scap lumber to the general size that you want. Buy some sandpaper and a sanding block, mark the curvature at the end of your fretboard on a piece of cardboard and transfer that to the end of the block and sand away.

Since you want it to fit around the tabs, you could trace that area on your bass where the ramp will be and transfer that to the top of the block. You could then file the tabs out. Pretty DIY. Finish sand it and paint it.

For a builder who has pride in their work, it's much more involved that that (more angles, etc)... but this should accomplish what you're trying to do. How "homemade" it looks will be entirely up to you.

pablomigraine · #15 10-11-2009, 08:54 AM

Turns out my Guitarist's Father used to be a custom cabinet maker. Charging me One Venti Caramel Machhiato.

Will post results tomorrow!

scsm · #16 10-12-2009, 12:26 AM

I'm sorry if this is a silly question but what does a finger ramp do?

**Bryan R. Tyler** · #17 10-12-2009, 02:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scsm

I'm sorry if this is a silly question but what does a finger ramp do?

http://www.bryanrtylermusic.com/ramps.html

ErnieD · #18 10-12-2009, 06:01 PM

but just bought a TBers MTD KZ5, came with a ramp that about matches the light gloss burl top. I felt the ramp getting in my way as I tried the bass out the first couple days, I dig in abit. I was wondering if I'd damage the top by removing the ramp to compare with and without.

Well this bass shipped from Olympia, WA. A couple days in this Houston, TX humidity and the ramp slid off into my hand as I practiced, HA! The glue just gave up. I was gonna post it for sale on accessories but may try it on another bass to see if I can get used to it. Otherwise, y'all be on the lookout for it to sell down the road. I actually just read a local Craigslist ad of a bassist looking for one to buy, that's gotta be a rare coincidence that I may have one for him.

Now how can I get all the gummy glue residue off the bass between the pups without damage to the burl top?

**Bryan R. Tyler** · #19 10-12-2009, 06:58 PM

Is it residue from double stick tape, or was it actual glue?

Zombbg4 · #20 10-12-2009, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ErnieD

but just bought a TBers MTD KZ5, came with a ramp that about matches the light gloss burl top. I felt the ramp getting in my way as I tried the bass out the first couple days, I dig in abit. I was wondering if I'd damage the top by removing the ramp to compare with and without.

Well this bass shipped from Olympia, WA. A couple days in this Houston, TX humidity and the ramp slid off into my hand as I practiced, HA! The glue just gave up. I was gonna post it for sale on accessories but may try it on another bass to see if I can get used to it. Otherwise, y'all be on the lookout for it to sell down the road. I actually just read a local Craigslist ad of a bassist looking for one to buy, that's gotta be a rare coincidence that I may have one for him.

Now how can I get all the gummy glue residue off the bass between the pups without damage to the burl top?

Yo Ernie! It's just double sided tape, some guitar polish (or similar) and elbow grease will clean it no prob.

Since I'm here, check this out...

So I Made a Ramp Today...

It's super easy, especially having the bass in front of you. It'll take a little patience getting it to fit just right but that's about it. I'd make one for you for free if I had a radius block.