My Latest Project: Behold the "Rickenberger" :D

[Bottoms_Up!]

I'm a big fan of Steinie XM2's and have owned quite a few in my day. I still have a white one with black binding. just a wonderful instrument. Effortless to play and beastly sounding to boot.

I'm also a huge fan of the Rickenbacker design and lately I've been wondering how cool it would be if Stienie and Ric got together and produced an offspring.

This:

+ this:

If you will.

I know Bill Wilkat out of Montreal has built a few...


...but I was thinking I'd produce an XM bass with a scaled down Ric shape, but keep the binding, electronics, hardware, contours, and all positions true to the XM2.

So, having an XM2, a Ric (Frankenbacker actually), and Adobe CS at my disposal, I started measuring and plotting and here's what I came up with:


Now, I was really intriqued, only where to get ahold of a cheap XM2? Firstly, they're not cheap, and secondly, surely I would not harvest my prized beauty!

In my searches, I happened across one of these for a SONG through GC in Denver:

Same graphite neck, and hardware, but to my surprise, this had the HazLab pre! Score! And I didn't feel too badly about parting it out. I kept what I needed and sold the body, pickgaurd, leg-rest, and gig bag and actually made a profit. LOL! Now I had the goodies to get the ball rolling!

So, I ordered a barrel input, flush mount straploks, PUP rings, a bunch of nitro products from ReRanch, some 1/4" black vinyl pinstriping from AutoZone for my "faux" binding, new string claws to rebuild the bridge, black plexi for the rear electronics cover, and lastly, a slab of basswood...

I took my Adobe file to work and digitally printed the template and "Rickenberger" logo on label stock:





I then applied the template applique to the basswood slab and cut out the shape with my scroll saw (not easy!!) this morning. Thank goodness I cut outside of the line as I would have been ordering another slab. I ordered a drum sanding attachment for the drill press at work. I'll neaten that hot mess up when that arrives. I also cut the electronics cover, but have scrapped that version for a smaller rectangular cavity (XM2's are famous for their overexaggerated cavities) and separate battery box.





So that's where I am at the moment.

Stay tuned...

[RickyGedde]

Can't wait to see the results

[panama]

wow

[synaesthesia]

It looks like it's just a re-shaped body of an XM 2. A Ricky pickup layout or electronics might be more equitable as a Rickenberger.

[Bottoms_Up!]

Originally Posted by synaesthesia

It looks like it's just a re-shaped body of an XM 2.

That's exactly what I'm going for. Right down to the contours. The Ric design shape speaks for itself and I love the clean look of the XM2.

[abarson]

Genius! Subbed.

[Johnny Crab]

Nice, VERY nice!

[BassCycle]

I like it! I might have replicated the neck-through construction of the Ric. Then you could make some kind of Ric-like faux headstock.

[Stealth]

Holy *BLEEP*.

This is awesome, off the scale. Subbed.

[F-Clef-Jef]

Okay I gotta know, you scored that XP2 for how much???? I'm jealous.

[Bottoms_Up!]

That's just a stock pic I posted, but they were asking $495 and I was able to get it for $450 shipped to Boston. It was in pristine condition through and through as was the gig bag. I was completely surprised as GC (outside of my local area) NEVER answers my used gear inquiries. Musta been hanging on the wall for a while. I was also surprised to discover the active HazLab pre (I think) as it had passive EMGs. I think I pocketed around $10 or $15 bucks after auctioning everything I didn't need.

I must say, I had a friggin blast playing it before I dismantled her too! It sounded killer.

Project update: Just picked up a bench-top spindle sander and a disk/belt sander today, so I should be able to knock that excess wood off and get it into shape soon.

[Bottoms_Up!]

BTW, thanks for the enthusiasm everyone!

[Bottoms_Up!]

Set up my spindle sander and what an acquisition. $119 @ Harbor Freight with a 20% discount. Fun stuff and a nice 90˚ sand to kill my newbie scroll saw attempt.




Now to set up the 1" belt sander to take care of that ghastly neck pocket.

[Bottoms_Up!]

Here's a question: Should I move the neck pickup closer to the neck in Ricky fashion, or keep to my original plan?

Also, I was toying with the idea to put a subtle Ricky scroll (a-la Ricky headstock) to the control-side of the tuner cutaway in lieu of said missing headstock detail. What says you?

[Wademeister63]

Originally Posted by Bottoms_Up!

Here's a question: Should I move the neck pickup closer to the neck in Ricky fashion, or keep to my original plan?

Also, I was toying with the idea to put a subtle Ricky scroll (a-la Ricky headstock) to the control-side of the tuner cutaway in lieu of said missing headstock detail. What says you?

I think your tuner cutout looks right. If I really felt like it needed the Ric hook, I'd prefer to have it opposite the control side. I'd also leave that neck pickup where you have it now. It looks to me like it will be pretty weak if you make the pickup rout too close to the neck.

How many logos do you NEED? lol...

I like this project, looks great!

[blendermassacre]

I really need a spindle sander...

[PilbaraBass]

The work is great and I dig the techniques used...

one potential issue I see is the classic ricky body is based on set neck and you're using a bolt on neck...

so your design has not accommodated much shoulder in the neck pocket to aid in lateral neck movement.

Should be OK, but just something to be mindful of.

Fantastic idea, by the way...

[BassCycle]

Originally Posted by Bottoms_Up!

Set up my spindle sander and what an acquisition. $119 @ Harbor Freight with a 20% discount. Fun stuff and a nice 90˚ sand to kill my newbie scroll saw attempt.

Yeah, I got mine there too. A great tool at a great price!

Tips:
Never try to saw right up to the line, always leave room for error. You can clean it up on the spindle sander.

Even better, make a template out of plywood or plexiglas, attach it to your trimmed body using some double-stick tape, and use a router to clean up the edges.

[M0ses]

Originally Posted by PilbaraBass

one potential issue I see is the classic ricky body is based on set neck and you're using a bolt on neck...

Nice.

[Demonator]

Very nice.