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5 string Ricken-Musicman Bass.
- Thread starter Videojunkie
- Start date
I spend most of my time playing reading the letters in the music (i don't really read notation) , so I rarely look at my bass, unless I hit a wrong note, or getting setup for something intricate that's not in the music (e.g. an octave run, or a high part outside the home frets). So I'm probably ok without dots. Eventually I think that certain patterns will wind up being the "dots" for this bass.
This is my concern as well.
For side dots, personally I've found I can't manage without them. I also feel like I never look at my fretboard, but when I've had basses with no dots, I've regretted it. 
For an "elegant" solution on that abalone, maybe try finding an aluminum tube and then put a black rod inside it, or a black abs tube and a white dot inside it. The latter would really offset the black and white binding nicely.
Not sure what you have around you, but our local hobby shops carry all of that stuff. 
For an "elegant" solution on that abalone, maybe try finding an aluminum tube and then put a black rod inside it, or a black abs tube and a white dot inside it. The latter would really offset the black and white binding nicely.
Not sure what you have around you, but our local hobby shops carry all of that stuff.
Off topic, but I am a huge Caps fan (you might have noticed from my avatar) , and that Ovechkin kid (who's pretty good at this hockey thing) just scored his 801st and 802nd goals!
Sole possession of 2nd all time scoring record. He only trails Gretzky by 92 goals.
Sole possession of 2nd all time scoring record. He only trails Gretzky by 92 goals.
Fellow Caps fan here (nice weagle mask!) I can't believe it. Gretz' record seemed impossible for so long, now it seems inevitable. We're so lucky to be able to watch it!
Thanks!
It really is hard to believe that the all time record is possible. We are so lucky as sports fans to have this kind of thing going on at all, let alone on our favorite team!
He would need 2 more 40ish goal seasons to get the record.
Think he has it in him?
Thinking about it, someone like McDavid would have to score 50 goals p/yr for 18 consecutive years to beat the record.
I'm not sure I'll see anyone get to 900 again in my lifetime. Goalies and defense are just too good now. Better than Gretzky's era and getting better all the time.
I mean, they had to tighten the rules up, just to see more goals scored. You can't sneeze on someone while they have the puck without a penalty. 50+ goal scoring is rare now.
Think he has it in him?
Thinking about it, someone like McDavid would have to score 50 goals p/yr for 18 consecutive years to beat the record.
I'm not sure I'll see anyone get to 900 again in my lifetime. Goalies and defense are just too good now. Better than Gretzky's era and getting better all the time.
I mean, they had to tighten the rules up, just to see more goals scored. You can't sneeze on someone while they have the puck without a penalty. 50+ goal scoring is rare now.
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Congrats
I’m a poor Red Wings fan, but can appreciate Ovechkin. Love to watch him play.
I’m a poor Red Wings fan, but can appreciate Ovechkin. Love to watch him play.
I believe he has 3 years left (after this season) on his current contract. Assuming he scores another 20 goals this year (which he is on track for), he only needs something like 25 goals per season to catch Gretzky. A 40+ goal season next year makes it possible to catch Gretzky in 2 seasons, which is mind blowing.
- Apr 18, 2008
- 16,011
- 1
- 31,720
- Disclosures
- I'm highly opinionated and extremely self-assured
Materials update, I believe all the remaining parts are on order and will be here this week!
Pickguard material, pickup, jack, and strap-locks.
I decided to use the recessed Dunlop strap locks on this bass, as I think it will give me a super clean look. I use the Dunlop strap locks on my Spector and electric guitars and love them, this is the first time using the recessed ones.
I have one minor issue to resolve this week. The binding at the "corners" of the cutaway at the ends. The fists as @Beej called them. It currently overhangs the mahogany body, which is rounded underneath it. If I sand the points of the bindings to match the body, I'll lose the nice matching layers, but to fix the body adds a small glue seam where I will add a small block of the mahogany. I think adding the small bit of extra wood is worth the effort and minor blemish.
Pickguard material, pickup, jack, and strap-locks.
I decided to use the recessed Dunlop strap locks on this bass, as I think it will give me a super clean look. I use the Dunlop strap locks on my Spector and electric guitars and love them, this is the first time using the recessed ones.
I have one minor issue to resolve this week. The binding at the "corners" of the cutaway at the ends. The fists as @Beej called them. It currently overhangs the mahogany body, which is rounded underneath it. If I sand the points of the bindings to match the body, I'll lose the nice matching layers, but to fix the body adds a small glue seam where I will add a small block of the mahogany. I think adding the small bit of extra wood is worth the effort and minor blemish.
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Spent some time today leveling the frets, used a 6" sharpening stone and some 400 grit paper on a sanding block to get everything leveled.
I wound up ordering a fret crown file in order to fix some of the frets after leveling. Especially on the ends, it seems like they didn't lay as flat as I hoped they might. Ah, well it's the 3rd fret job I've done ever, and it's better than the first 2....
I wound up ordering a fret crown file in order to fix some of the frets after leveling. Especially on the ends, it seems like they didn't lay as flat as I hoped they might. Ah, well it's the 3rd fret job I've done ever, and it's better than the first 2....
Strings came in today. These are some cheap strings for setup, but it allows me to get a real sense of how this is going to play. Did some rough setup on the nut, and found out I have some work to do on the fretboard to get it leveled completely. (This was completely expected)
I also fixed the corner of the lower bout. Honestly, unless you're looking for it, it's almost invisible.
I also fixed the corner of the lower bout. Honestly, unless you're looking for it, it's almost invisible.
I keep forgetting you have that other section of the headstock and when I see a picture only the orange / red registers and for a moment I think “Dang, those tuners are close to the edge.” Then it all registers… “Oh yeah!”’
