I'm curious whether you made it through the entire thread in one shift. I remember that thread as long, dense, with long posts and lots of discussion about every aspect.
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5 string Ricken-Musicman Bass.
- Thread starter Videojunkie
- Start date
I'll be perfectly honest and say that there was a lot of skimming involved. I was mostly looking for the process/build posts (especially those with pictures), especially since I probably will never be on this/that kind of level.
I will say that I couldn't build this one without having built the EUB. I learned a lot during that process.I'll be perfectly honest and say that there was a lot of skimming involved. I was mostly looking for the process/build posts (especially those with pictures), especially since I probably will never be on this/that kind of level.
There was a ton of things I didn't know that I didn't know before I started.
Yes, I distinctly remember you asking people to tell you what you didn't know, what you hadn't considered, what you weren't taking into account.
You knew very well how much you didn't know, you just had no idea what it was.
I wish I knew what I didn’t know, knowing which unknowns were important to know would be helpful.
the LC is a fun place to get those lessons without too much pain or expense.
the LC is a fun place to get those lessons without too much pain or expense.
Yup, that's why we're all here.....To encourage each other to push farther into the unknown, and share the knowns that you uncover!
Played with the truss rod cover design today.
Based on everyone's feedback I like this version. I have a 1.5mm bit for my precision router to carve this out of the pickguard material.
Based on everyone's feedback I like this version. I have a 1.5mm bit for my precision router to carve this out of the pickguard material.
Yup, that was my choice too, but everyone else had already stated it so I didn't bother adding. It looks good.
Also, my first build I had no clue what I didn't know and I also knew a huge list of things I didn't know. But you guys were all "don't let that stop you...." so I didn't.
The LC and the people here are great...or a collective sickness....I can't tell which one. Either way, it's always fun!
Also, my first build I had no clue what I didn't know and I also knew a huge list of things I didn't know. But you guys were all "don't let that stop you...." so I didn't.
The LC and the people here are great...or a collective sickness....I can't tell which one. Either way, it's always fun!
Also, my first build I had no clue what I didn't know and I also knew a huge list of things I didn't know. But you guys were all "don't let that stop you...." so I didn't.
The LC and the people here are great...or a collective sickness....I can't tell which one. Either way, it's always fun!
Our mode here is: Don't stop moving forward into the unknown! But watch your speed. Dive into the unknowns at a reasonable rate that you can handle. Don't get overwhelmed by the unknowns.
That works. Maybe just a little less curve on it?
That was the stuff I KNEW that I didn't know.
Not the the stuff that I didn't know I didn't know...
Working on fretting today. It's going OK so far. Definitely not really in my wheelhouse but I'm making progress. A little over 1/3 done.
Finished the fretting. Got them all rough beveled (it was easier before I glued the fingerboard to the neck) went ahead and glued the fingerboard to the body.
I'll see what I think after the fretboard is attached. I may wind up going back and taking another 1/16 - 1/8" off the neck. It's feeling a little chunky with everything attached. I also have to blend the neck into the fretboard. It's very close, but with the fretboard finally installed I can make it perfect.
Next up, finish, electronics and setup.
I'll see what I think after the fretboard is attached. I may wind up going back and taking another 1/16 - 1/8" off the neck. It's feeling a little chunky with everything attached. I also have to blend the neck into the fretboard. It's very close, but with the fretboard finally installed I can make it perfect.
Next up, finish, electronics and setup.
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For those of you (like me) who are intimidated by fretting, here is the exhaustive list of specialized tools I used:
Fret bending pliers. (StewMac)
Everything else is pretty standard stuff. I used the fine nippers to bend the tang of the frets and break it off. I found that if you alternate directions the tang breaks off pretty cleanly and a few quick strokes on the bastard file cleans the bottom up pretty nicely. The linesman pliers were great for easy cuts. I used a tack hammer to set the frets.
The pre-radiused frets from philadelphialuthiertools worked great!
The sharpie was used to mark the fret ends for cutting.
Fret bending pliers. (StewMac)
Everything else is pretty standard stuff. I used the fine nippers to bend the tang of the frets and break it off. I found that if you alternate directions the tang breaks off pretty cleanly and a few quick strokes on the bastard file cleans the bottom up pretty nicely. The linesman pliers were great for easy cuts. I used a tack hammer to set the frets.
The pre-radiused frets from philadelphialuthiertools worked great!
The sharpie was used to mark the fret ends for cutting.
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Today's brief forays into the shop (-7°F!!!!) were to address the neck. Not a particularly photogenic activity as it is just fine tuning the joint between the fingerboard and the neck. I'm also reshaping the neck slightly. All of this is improving the feel of the bass (to me) but isn't really changing anything visually.
As my daughter says, Merry Christmas Adam to all you fine folks. (There's a Christmas Eve, and Adam came first right? - her logic as a 2 year old is still impeccable... 9 years later..)
I hope you all have a most excellent holiday this weekend.
Here's where I'm at. Some final sanding and scraping and then onto finishing.
One unanswered question is do I need side dots? I still don't know A, if I actually need them, and 2, what works with this binding.
I hope you all have a most excellent holiday this weekend.
Here's where I'm at. Some final sanding and scraping and then onto finishing.
One unanswered question is do I need side dots? I still don't know A, if I actually need them, and 2, what works with this binding.
That is so beautiful I would leave it.
There is so much action in the binding and the wood that I would be afraid the dot would either disappear into it, or worse May clash.
What would really look cool on that is LEDs under the abalone shining through and illuminating the shell at the dot locations.
I’ll try to remember that idea for a future build.
There is so much action in the binding and the wood that I would be afraid the dot would either disappear into it, or worse May clash.
What would really look cool on that is LEDs under the abalone shining through and illuminating the shell at the dot locations.
I’ll try to remember that idea for a future build.
If you can keep track of where you are without dots (not sure if I could) I’d say leave it. If not, I’d use black or, better, a thin W/B/W stripe or triangle instead.
