RickenFaker

[aborgman]

So I've always wanted a Rickenbacker - but as I'm poor and play only 5 string basses, a real 4003s5 is about $2500 out of my price range.

So I'm thinking I'll build my own clone. It won't be anywhere near identical, but hopefully it'll have a bit of that vibe/tone.

My plans -

Copied body shape
Similar body wood
Similar pickup locations
Bolt on neck


Issue #1

Recommendations for a thin and narrow five string neck. I'm looking for something similar to the neck on my MIJ Fender MB5... and cheap.

I've currently got a line on a Ibanez SR505 neck, which would be perfect (almost identical to the MB5) - if I can get it.

Ibanez SR505 specs:
Width at nut: 1.75"
Width at last fret: 2.65"
Thickness 1st Fret: .77"
Thickness 12th Fret: .85"

If I can't get the Ibanez I'm also looking at a Kramer Striker 522 neck, a SX 5 string Jazz neck, or an Eden A model. They all fit the narrow part of my requirement, but aren't SUPER thin - although I admit I really don't have any issues playing my SX jazz.

Anyone have any recommendations for a narrow/thin, bolt-on, 5 string neck? Anyone have one for sale cheap?


Issue #2:

Body wood.

A real Ric is maple - anyone see any problems with doing the body out of soft/western maple? I believe the wings on Rics are sometimes soft/western maple, but the center/neck section I think are hard/eastern maple.

According to the Warmoth wood guide, western/soft maple is the closest in tone to eastern/hard maple. Any other wood suggestions?

[mikeyswood]

Welcome to the LC.

I am frustrated to read cheap anywhere in your thread. We are here to discuss construction of what I hope to be quality instruments. Expect to pay over $1000 for a quality build if you have not built before.

Have you used the search function?

[aborgman]

Originally Posted by mikeyswood

Welcome to the LC.

Thanks...

Originally Posted by mikeyswood

I am frustrated to read cheap anywhere in your thread. We are here to discuss construction of what I hope to be quality instruments.

Quality can be pretty cheap.

My main bass is Fender MB5, I think I paid $400 for it. My backup is an SX Jazz5, I paid $100 for it. Both are perfectly acceptable quality instruments.

Originally Posted by mikeyswood

Expect to pay over $1000 for a quality build if you have not built before.

Well, I'm not going to build the neck - and I've done a good bit of wood and metal working before, so I don't expect to have to much trouble cutting a body.

I can get a neck I know is acceptable to me for ~$60, if not cheaper.

I can get a body blank for $50.

I think I have some pick guard material sitting around, I'm sure I have some pots, and I have piles of wire and caps.

Tuners - $60

That pretty much leaves pickups and finish - I don't think I'm going to spend anywhere near $1000. Shouldn't need any tools I don't already have other than probably a bit of sandpaper.

Originally Posted by mikeyswood

Have you used the search function?

Of course - but I didn't find anything which specifically addressed my questions. A few things that lightly touched on them tangentially, but no real answers.

[Beej]

Although I don't think your topic frustrates me near as much as mikey ( ), I have to agree with him that it won't be super cheap and be a quality instrument. That said...

If you can get the SR505 neck, do it, its probably the best bet, otherwise for cheap, the SX 5 neck will probably do you. You can always shave it down some if its not quite thin enough for you.

Searching and reading will help you decide what wood you want to use for the body. If you're after a Rick tone, then consider getting Rick pickups (or should that be Rickups?) and a Rick bridge. Those alone aren't going to be cheap though. You might want to check out this thread for inspiration: Ricky build

I can certainly empathize with your desire to keep it cheap, but its going to add up over time. The good thing about that though, is that you can acquire parts and pieces over time as you can afford them and by the time you have pulled it all together you should have a nice bass for a reasonable price...

[mikeyswood]

That is a very good link

[jugoziithouu]

If you change the a letter ¨a¨ in the title of this thread to a ¨u¨ it would become a really interesting thread.

But more on topic, i would seriously ask myself do i really need a rickenbacker? do i really want a rickenbacker? why? why not a *insert less expensive bass with the traits that the rickenbacker has that i like* ?

[aborgman]

Originally Posted by jugoziithouu

But more on topic, i would seriously ask myself do i really need a rickenbacker?

Of course not - I've already got two basses. I don't NEED another one.

Originally Posted by jugoziithouu

do i really want a rickenbacker? why? why not a *insert less expensive bass with the traits that the rickenbacker has that i like* ?

Well. that is basically what I'm trying to build...

[deepwaves]

Aborgman, Hi...you and I share the same goal...I have not started mine, but, plan to do similar to what you are doing. I have always like Ric's, but, cannot afford the price. Very true...most projects add up to more than what was anticipated in material cost...let's not even include labor time value (ha-ha).

I think there are many pickups that give a bright ric sound and I have seen some used ones floating around for sale. Hard maple is a good choice to get a bright sound. Since that can be found as a domestic wood should not be an issue (seems like you already have a slab).

The fretboard is most important for the sound character...I am going to use a maple fretboard.

My search is to find a nice body-shape template...know of a source?
JP

[aborgman]

Originally Posted by deepwaves

Aborgman, Hi...you and I share the same goal...I have not started mine, but, plan to do similar to what you are doing. I have always like Ric's, but, cannot afford the price. Very true...most projects add up to more than what was anticipated in material cost...let's not even include labor time value (ha-ha).

I figure I'll be able to get by with somewhere between $200-$400 for materials.

If I counted labor time, especially at the rate I get paid for my real job, it certainly might exceed $1000 total pretty quick.

Originally Posted by deepwaves

I think there are many pickups that give a bright ric sound and I have seen some used ones floating around for sale.

Any examples in mind? Specifically 5 string models?

Originally Posted by deepwaves

Hard maple is a good choice to get a bright sound. Since that can be found as a domestic wood should not be an issue (seems like you already have a slab).

I haven't been able to find a good hard/eastern maple slab yet - I do have a line on some soft/western maple though, and that was why I asked the question in my original post.

According to Warmoth, soft/western maple is closest in sound to eastern/hard maple - so my thought is to use soft/western maple because (according to Warmoth at least) it is the closest thing sound wise - and I can get it for a reasonable price.

Originally Posted by deepwaves

My search is to find a nice body-shape template...know of a source?

I'm figuring I'll just enlarge a photo to actual size and use that in CAD/Photoshop to draw a body outline.

[vbasscustom]

maple isnt that expensive, unless you live somewhere that is doesnt grow very plentiful, not like here in Nova Scota, we have loads of maple, and ash. so im all set really!!

[Al Heeley]

Dont go for a maple fretboard - the old rics used bubinga, now they seem to use rosewood which stops it sounding too thin and harsh on the treble. Keep maple for the bulk of the body, or a thick cap , and maple for the neck.