Rickett Customs
Commercial User
Yeah, that's something i've been big on, especially since they're just waiting to be shown. I can hear the veneer talking about it now
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4 string build Nomad98
- Thread starter Nomad98
- Start date
Yeah, that's something i've been big on, especially since they're just waiting to be shown. I can hear the veneer talking about it now
A little more progress.
I added the block in the truss rod cover. It worked just how I hoped it would. Holds the cover in place and the only way to remove it is to pull straight up.
I also put a 12.5 inch radius on the fingerboard. Got the tuners drilled out and refined the truss rod cover carving a little more (still has a way to go). Also sliced the old finger but did not bleed on the maple.
There will be no space for slapping on this bass. I measured where the pickup covers will go and the split-P will have to go .5 inched back towards the bridge (from the traditional "P" location) to clear the truss rod cover. I don't think it will affect the sound but I will have to see?
I am going to make one large pickup cover that could hold 2 PUP's if I want to add down the road. It will also double as a ramp. I really like the idea of being able to completely swap out pickup configurations without having to re-route.
I added the block in the truss rod cover. It worked just how I hoped it would. Holds the cover in place and the only way to remove it is to pull straight up.
I also put a 12.5 inch radius on the fingerboard. Got the tuners drilled out and refined the truss rod cover carving a little more (still has a way to go). Also sliced the old finger but did not bleed on the maple.
There will be no space for slapping on this bass. I measured where the pickup covers will go and the split-P will have to go .5 inched back towards the bridge (from the traditional "P" location) to clear the truss rod cover. I don't think it will affect the sound but I will have to see?
I am going to make one large pickup cover that could hold 2 PUP's if I want to add down the road. It will also double as a ramp. I really like the idea of being able to completely swap out pickup configurations without having to re-route.
Got the neck/fret markers all into place. The top fingerboard dots I made out of rosewood with a plug cutter. I then took a drill bit and ground down the end so it was a custom pilot tip drill bit. That way the fingerboard markers will fit flush with the board when you glue them in. With a standard bit you get a little pocket below the dots.
Got the idea here: Invalid Link Removed
The side dots are black outer with glow in the dark centers... got them off ebay. Not sure how they will work (glow in the dark part) but they serve there purpose as-is.
Also got the pickup cover made and the body routed out. I wanted the covers to match the body woodgrain so I used the left over wood from the tops treble side... I wanted one large cover that could allow me to play with the pickup placement and be sort of a ramp. The covers will adjust from the back of the body. I did this in my last build and really liked the way it worked, looks clean from the front and adjustment is no problem
As always thanks for looking - Nomad
Got the idea here: Invalid Link Removed
The side dots are black outer with glow in the dark centers... got them off ebay. Not sure how they will work (glow in the dark part) but they serve there purpose as-is.
Also got the pickup cover made and the body routed out. I wanted the covers to match the body woodgrain so I used the left over wood from the tops treble side... I wanted one large cover that could allow me to play with the pickup placement and be sort of a ramp. The covers will adjust from the back of the body. I did this in my last build and really liked the way it worked, looks clean from the front and adjustment is no problem
As always thanks for looking - Nomad
usually not a fan of single cuts, but that is a gorgeous bass, looking forward to seeing it all finished up.
looks good except the carving still freaks me out. I think that combined with the pale color, it reminds me of the eye-less monster in Pan's Labyrinth 
Really love that black accent line running down the length of the neck. Plus, the new TR cover shape looks much cleaner and less like... yeah. I think it fits the body's design and asthetic better than before. This thing is going to belong in a museum when you're done! =p Cant wait to see it with some finish on it. 
How are you getting on with this instrument Nomad? I really like the single pickup cover/ramp idea - it's both clean and very functional!
Haven't had time to do any work on this for about a week... I was in Seattle.
I did manage to get the holes drilled for the ramp/pickup cover before I left town. I also managed to break a screw off in the cover. I had to dig the screw out, "UGH!" Lucky for me it will not show from the outside and I am hoping after a little creative drilling/glueing it will not be seen at all.
Nomad98
I did manage to get the holes drilled for the ramp/pickup cover before I left town. I also managed to break a screw off in the cover. I had to dig the screw out, "UGH!" Lucky for me it will not show from the outside and I am hoping after a little creative drilling/glueing it will not be seen at all.
Nomad98
Well it's been a busy spring with not a lot of time to devote to this bass but in the last few weeks I have gotten some thing done...
I put a slight contour into the back. The chamber is not allowing me to go too deeply into the tummy cut but I wanted to add what I could...
I also have been wanting to put an angled jack into the side of the body. I clamped the body to the drillpress at a 45 degree angle and lined up the angle with the drill bit. I had marked the jack angle with pencil. First drilled with a forstner bit, then finished off with a regular bit that would fit the jack.
Finally, I finished the carving on the body and I started to do the final sanding. I am starting to taste the finished bass... Tastes like wood.
As always, thanks for looking. -Nomad98
I put a slight contour into the back. The chamber is not allowing me to go too deeply into the tummy cut but I wanted to add what I could...
I also have been wanting to put an angled jack into the side of the body. I clamped the body to the drillpress at a 45 degree angle and lined up the angle with the drill bit. I had marked the jack angle with pencil. First drilled with a forstner bit, then finished off with a regular bit that would fit the jack.
Finally, I finished the carving on the body and I started to do the final sanding. I am starting to taste the finished bass... Tastes like wood.
As always, thanks for looking. -Nomad98
Wow...
Really like the input jack. The black accent lines throughout really bring it all together.
Really like the input jack. The black accent lines throughout really bring it all together.
Wow, that's looking great. The carving is fantastic, I love art nouveau. There's an office desk and chair on display at MoMA that you should see.
This Bass is becoming more and more of a piece of art by the day 
How long did it take you to carve those details, Nomad98?
Those black veneer accent lines are gorgeous too - it's very cool how you've followed the stripes through the body with the ramp/pickup cover!
How long did it take you to carve those details, Nomad98?Those black veneer accent lines are gorgeous too - it's very cool how you've followed the stripes through the body with the ramp/pickup cover!
Thanks for all the positive comments...
Dan, the carving has been fairly quick. The spruce is soft and very easy to work, the maple fingerboard is a little slower to work because the wood is much harder.
What really takes time is planning out what to carve. When I started the build, carving was not even in my mind. When I started to carve, it was really aimless dabbling. The next bass I carve will be thought out/sketched out beforehand. Then it will go really quick.
Nomad98
Dan, the carving has been fairly quick. The spruce is soft and very easy to work, the maple fingerboard is a little slower to work because the wood is much harder.
What really takes time is planning out what to carve. When I started the build, carving was not even in my mind. When I started to carve, it was really aimless dabbling. The next bass I carve will be thought out/sketched out beforehand. Then it will go really quick.
Nomad98
headlikeahole
Commercial User
I love this bass. I had wondered about this bass this past weekend wondered if it had been finished. The only thing I see that doesn't look right to me is where the small horn hits the neck. I think if you made that curve just continue its natural path to the neck it would look better. Instead of having that bump up there. This is one of my favorite builds on the site I love the originality.
Yes, I know what you mean about the "bump"... the maple body core was going to be for a 6 string and the angle/bump by the lower horn and the angle where the neck meets the body by the e string were going to be under a wider 6er neck. I put the body core aside for a number of years and when I resurrected it I decided it was going to be a 4 string (thus the bump exposed).
I have come very close to loosing the bump by the lower horn but the thing that makes me keep it is that it goes with the angle where the body and neck meet at the e string side. I feel there is some odd balance between the two angle/bumps, "should it stay or should it go?"
I will most likely chop it off.
Thanks for your comments, I have been wondering when someone would bring up the bumps.
Nomad98
