RIM Custom "BIG TONE" 5 string for Tony Mac

[mcdade]

HI All,

Well Im already onto my next build,its for a local bassist called Tony.He started making the body last year but couldn't find the time to finish it.So I offered to get the project rolling again.

The Spec,

Tony's Custom body shape of one piece mahogany
5 piece bolt on neck of maple and Purpleheart
Custom headstock design
Bubinga fretboard 35" scale 24 frets
MOP side markers
Custom volume location
6 machine bolts with thread inserts in neck

Seymore duncan MM pickup
Aguilar OBP-3 preamp 9v
Shaller roller bridge
Custom wooden control covers
Hipshot ultralite tuners
JD flush mount straplocks
Oiled finish







More updates to follow in the next few days,

Cheers,

Robbie.

[superbassman2000]

that will look pretty cool

[JSPguitars]

I like, I like, ........definitely Ritter-esque, which is fine by me!

Got a question about your "R" inlays on the headstocks----how exactly do you execute these inlays? I like the idea of using wood (as opposed to pearl, etc.).....and your's just seem so exact. Do you have a machine at work that does this for you? Thx in advance....

[mcdade]

Hi JSP,

Yeah glad to see you like the wooden Logo,I basicly start of by machining some 25mm round wooden discs up of various woods.Then I send them to a local Laser cutting/engravers,they laser the R logo into the discs.Once I get them back its the simple task of machining a counterbore of 25mm dia by 5mm.Then sand any sharp edges,I like to sand a slight chamfer on the 25mm holes edge.I then drop the wooden disc in with a little titebond on the underside and leave it about 1mm lower than the top face of the headtsock,this gives me another the effect like this,



By the way,this is the trussrod going in yesterday afternoon,should be getting the carbon fiber rods in next week and tapering the neck etc.

Cheers,

Robbie.

[bassjamm]

Hi Robbie...looking good man!!!

Can't wait to get my hands on mine when you get it done

And to everyone else...i put an order in for a RIM Marseer yesterday...i played the one Robbie's just finished...it's awesome...he's a really talented luthier, and a top chap!!!

Get your orders in now people!!!

[mcdade]

Hi All,

Ive got the trussrod and carbon fiber rods in.Also I glued the Bubinga fretboard on tonight before I went home,



Also I received some nice maple tops in the post from canada,







cheers,

Robbie.

[Phil Mastro]

Ain't nothin' quite like Canadian maple, eh?
Don't answer that.

I dig it by the way, smooth looking body, can't wait to see the board.

[mcdade]

For sure Its the best,when I go over to Canada next year to visit family I'll have to bring some more back.

Today we started getting the neck shaped up and the bass is taking shape,



Cheers,

Robbie.

[mcdade]

Hi All,

Got some more work done on the neck today,









Cheers,

Robbie.

[Fasoldt Basses]

Robbie,
That bass is looking fantastic.
I for one am very envious of your speedy work. It seems like just a couple months ago you were introducing yourself and showing your first project, and now you are whipping through one project after another and doing a fantastic job. Keep up the good work!

[mcdade]

Cheers Karl,

Things are going great,and Im really enjoying the work.Its good to see the customer happy also.This bass is a little easier to build which give me a little break before I get into a 5 string Singlecut Jazz and another 6 string fretless Marseer.By the way mate,I loved your last bass with the maple top.

Keep in touch,

Robbie.

[g00eY]

wow... i don't really like the shape of the horns, but the quality and beauty of your work just blows that all away. great job!

[Geoff St. Germaine]

Looking good Robbie! I'll have to live vicariously through you for the next year or so until my thesis is done and I finish flight school and I have some time to build again.

[Yvon]

I like it, I like the shape and I like mahogany also.

The question is:
Why the custom volume location?

[mcdade]

Cheers for the kind words Lads,about the custom volume location.Well its what the customer wants,he likes the idea of quick adjustments during his sets.It should look interesting for sure,

Cheers,

Robbie.

[mcdade]

Today we got the first few coats of padding Lacquer on the bass body and it looks great! Also Ive put the MOP side markers in and 12" radiused the fretboard.So things are going well,

[mcdade]

Hi All,

Well its been a few weeks since my last update,things are going well.The neck is nearly finished just got to buff it out,gonna be putting some wax on the body and then fit the preamp and hardware.So here's the lastest pics,

[Geoff St. Germaine]

Beautiful work Robbie!

[JSPguitars]

Originally Posted by Geoff St. Germaine

Beautiful work Robbie!

No Doubt!

PS--good luck with the thesis and flight school Geoff!

[Greenman]

I love to watch you work. You are very talented.