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3d Printed Rickenbacker 4003 Bass

Gojira72

Gojira72

Oct 18, 2018
37
116
Richmond, Va
#1
So recently I Embarked on a project to completely 3d printed Rickenbacker 4003 Bass Guitar. The Body, the Neck, the Fretboard, and the Headstock will all be 3d printed
Here are some stats of my build.
Filament: ABS, Woodfill PLA
Printer: Monoprice Dual Extrusion Printer
Slicing Software: ReplicatorG
Overall Length: 116.3cm
Scale Legnth: 34in
This bass will basically just be a Fender Jazz Bass living in the body of a Rickenbacker 4003. I plan to insert two Carbon Neck Rods into the neck to help with Strength, as well as some threaded Steel rods. I will also insert the rods into the body, as well as using acetone to weld the pieces together.

So with that in check, does anyone have any tips on how to do this.

Stop asking me to just sell the printer, it isn't worth the money to compensate for a Real Ric.
 

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#8
Gojira72 said:
So recently I Embarked on a project to completely 3d printed Rickenbacker 4003 Bass Guitar. The Body, the Neck, the Fretboard, and the Headstock will all be 3d printed … So with that in check, does anyone have any tips on how to do this.
Click to expand...

Do you have any experience 3D printing? I 3D print some parts for my microphone business and I can tell you I'm highly doubtful that you can successfully print a guitar with that printer. There are so many issues I don't know where to start … print quality, print bed size, print strength, …

Good luck.
 
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#12
Mushroo said:
Some of the kids at my school made a fully-functional 3D printed ukulele. The ukulele plans are freely available online. I'd recommend to start with a project like that, and then if you have success, modify and scale up the plans to make a bass. :)
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I printed a fully 3d printable Guitar that I gounf on Thingiverse, it went pretty well, till my cat knocked it off my shelf, and it shattered.
 
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#17
Mushroo said:
Some of the kids at my school made a fully-functional 3D printed ukulele. The ukulele plans are freely available online. I'd recommend to start with a project like that, and then if you have success, modify and scale up the plans to make a bass. :)
Click to expand...

A friend made me a 3D Printed uke for my birthday a few years back.

Let me tell you. It was very, very, VERY difficult to tune.

I can't imagine a bass would fare much better but I wish the OP luck!
 
#18
Hey gojira. I've that constant thought of making a printed bass too. My personal opinion is if you're going to do it, design it in a way which makes it special. Don't make a solid filled body. The center from neck joint to the bridge definitely requires reinforcement as you suspected but the wings can be played with.

That's a great example of what I mean but he didn't use any reinforcement I guess and so that thing isn't to be trusted like a wood guitar strength wise especially with bass strings, no chance.


2015-07-31-23.06_display_large.jpg

I also would suggest a thicker, faster hothead like a volcano for strength and speed.
 

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