Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
5 string Ricken-Musicman Bass.
- Thread starter Videojunkie
- Start date
Off topic a bit but as a homebrewer myself I'm curious how you achieve a gluten free mash. Do you use barley and filter it? Or something gluten free like rye or oats? Or is there such a thing as gluten free malt extract?
I do that because it is fun, and I can't afford a custom build.
I also have delusions that I can make something comparable to a $300 bass for 5x that...
There are a couple of gluten free malt syrups based on either rice or sorghum. All grain brews are usually a mix of rice, millet, quinoa, oats, and sometimes lentils.
It's the closest thing to alchemy I know of.
Template mounted through what will be the pickup locations.
Thanks, that's interesting. I've always felt like a bit of a mad scientist doing fermentation... GIVE MY CREATION LIFE! and all that.
Thanks for indulging in my diversion.
I finally have a BSO! Several passes with the router table, and some time at the oscillating spindle sander, and I have a pretty clean body shape.
I am definitely pleased with how this is coming along!
A quick wipedown confirmed that this mahogany just glows in a way I've rarely seen. The chattoyance is incredible, it looks like one of those old hologram stickers. It is frustratingly difficult to capture with a camera. Just for reference, this is just sanded with 80 grit. I can't wait until I get the finished surface done...
I am definitely pleased with how this is coming along!
A quick wipedown confirmed that this mahogany just glows in a way I've rarely seen. The chattoyance is incredible, it looks like one of those old hologram stickers. It is frustratingly difficult to capture with a camera. Just for reference, this is just sanded with 80 grit. I can't wait until I get the finished surface done...
What finish are you going to use?
I’ve had luck making chatoyance really pop with French-polished shellac over a penetrating oil, but I don’t think it’s as durable as modern finishes.
Debating that in my head could cause lost sleep.
I’ve had luck making chatoyance really pop with French-polished shellac over a penetrating oil, but I don’t think it’s as durable as modern finishes.
Debating that in my head could cause lost sleep.
Unless I get some convincing arguments against, I was going to dye the front (yellow/red sunburst) with either analine or leather dyes. My reference video used leather dyes. My friend who is going to help with the finish (he has an indoor spray booth with an HVLP setup) is suggesting the analine dyes instead. We'll do some test blocks as we get closer.
For top coat, I had planned on using Varathane Ultimate high gloss, both as sanding sealer, all the way up to finish coat. This is mostly based on the VU thread.
I won't rule out a French polish as my friend loves classic finishes. He runs a small business restoring antique hand tools (mostly planes and such). He is also a trained luthier...
I'm not sure if I posted this before, but I've got a faker 5-string conversion on the go.
If you haven't, you should do a build thread. We like those around these parts... preferably one with lots of pictures!
Last edited:
So, I have spent a few hours playing air guitar with the BSO.
First thing, it is super comfortable. Even squared off. I plan to do a bit of a belly carve on the upper bout, but I'm probably going to leave most of it alone. There is no indication that there will be any tendency for neck diving.
Secondly, the body is small enough, that I will probably skip doing an arm bevel. It will be like my PRS that way.
Lastly, this body is really light! I'm used to heavy guitars, Les Paul's etc., I know there's quite a bit of weight to go back on (the 2 pickups alone are .5 lb!) But I expect the bass to weigh right around the 8lb mark which is not shabby.
First thing, it is super comfortable. Even squared off. I plan to do a bit of a belly carve on the upper bout, but I'm probably going to leave most of it alone. There is no indication that there will be any tendency for neck diving.
Secondly, the body is small enough, that I will probably skip doing an arm bevel. It will be like my PRS that way.
Lastly, this body is really light! I'm used to heavy guitars, Les Paul's etc., I know there's quite a bit of weight to go back on (the 2 pickups alone are .5 lb!) But I expect the bass to weigh right around the 8lb mark which is not shabby.
Last edited:
Today's adventure was flattening the top so that the top piece fits below the fingerboard. I used my tablesaw sled as an improvised router jig. It worked ok. If I wind up doing a lot of this kind of routing, I'll need to make a dedicated jig.
Happy with the results though!
Next process was routing out the control recess and pickup locations.
First time I've had all of these parts on the bass at the same time!
Happy with the results though!
Next process was routing out the control recess and pickup locations.
First time I've had all of these parts on the bass at the same time!
Materials update: the 0.5mm dremel bits arrived. They work well to deepen the fret slots, but dang they are stupidity fragile!
I've got to think through the order of operations on the next few steps.
1, route the recess for the preamp board. This is complicated by the way the wiring harness comes off the control plate. The place the harness comes off is on one side of a screw hole, and the area big enough to insert the board is on the other side of the same screw hole. So that's going to become a little island in the middle of the bass. (I'll fish the wiring harness through from one side, attach it to the preamp, and slide the whole thing back into the bass... fun!)
I think the next big step once I get that done is to glue the top in place.
Then I can route the control cavity through the top, and the pickup locations. At some point I will go ahead and trim the top to shape.
Then I think it will be time to finish sand the top and body to at least 220.
then bind the top. But I am debating if I want to do the dyeing before I do the binding. There are pros and cons both ways.
I've got to think through the order of operations on the next few steps.
1, route the recess for the preamp board. This is complicated by the way the wiring harness comes off the control plate. The place the harness comes off is on one side of a screw hole, and the area big enough to insert the board is on the other side of the same screw hole. So that's going to become a little island in the middle of the bass. (I'll fish the wiring harness through from one side, attach it to the preamp, and slide the whole thing back into the bass... fun!)
I think the next big step once I get that done is to glue the top in place.
Then I can route the control cavity through the top, and the pickup locations. At some point I will go ahead and trim the top to shape.
Then I think it will be time to finish sand the top and body to at least 220.
then bind the top. But I am debating if I want to do the dyeing before I do the binding. There are pros and cons both ways.
Last edited:
Should I be concerned about shielding the electronics cavity? Specifically I am wondering about the part that will be basically inaccessible once the top is on.
Taking a minute on this Thanksgiving evening to thank all of you folks who have read, liked, and commented on this build.
I hope you all have had a marvelous day, and for those who celebrate Thanksgiving. I hope you have a happy turkey day!
I hope you all have had a marvelous day, and for those who celebrate Thanksgiving. I hope you have a happy turkey day!
Last edited:
Most of the today was spent decorating for the holidays, but I was able to briefly sneak out to the workshop and take care of the electronics routing. All of this is hidden under the top, so I didn't make any templates for it.
I also decided to go ahead and glue up the top as I am rapidly running out of excuses to not glue that in place next.
I also decided to go ahead and glue up the top as I am rapidly running out of excuses to not glue that in place next.
