5 string Ricken-Musicman Bass.

[Gilmourisgod]

Ha! I ordered the same one from Amazon, at the higher price, and it never showed up! Lucky accident, I guess.

 

[TerribleTim68]

I too bought the Dremel one and then my good friend Rockhewer said "Throw that POS in the trash! Thank me later."
I'll probably pay slightly more for the Amazon one because my wife has this general disdain for Ebay as a whole.

 

[Videojunkie]

My only thought is if there is a circle attachment for it. Because then those connecting arcs will be super easy to route...

Maybe I can come up with something.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Seek and you shall find.....
ElmerGuitar Guitar Soundhole & Rosette Routing Jig + Precision Router Base Combo | eBay

 

[Videojunkie]

Also available separately!

ElmerGuitar Guitar Soundhole & Rosette Routing Jig, Works w/Dremel | eBay

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Ok, this one is pretty slick, but the price...... $185V The built-in light is great, maybe I'll wait for Elmer Guitar to knock this one off too...
StewMac Plunge Router Base - StewMac

 

[Videojunkie]

I'll let you guys know when it arrives what I think about it.

 

[Videojunkie]

Special shout out (again) to @Gilmourisgod for his Autocad assistance. Im now able to print some full scale drawings so that I can start making some templates!

 

[Videojunkie]

Ok, this one is pretty slick, but the price...... $185V The built-in light is great, maybe I'll wait for Elmer Guitar to knock this one off too...
StewMac Plunge Router Base - StewMac

Although watching the video, that's awesome! But not $200 for a one off awesome.... ask me again if a line forms of people wanting a copy of this bass...
I watched the crimson guitars guy, and he couldn't figure out why you needed a plunge base on a dremel.

 

[Videojunkie]

Materials update:

All the electronics are here. (Sans the 2nd pickup) holy smokes that SD pickup is HUGE!

Going to test fit all the electronics into the plate (pictures to come).

Question on knobs. The blend pot is the only knurled shaft, and I was planning on getting

Guyker 3Pcs Potentiometer Control Knobs with 6mm(0.24”) Dia. Shaft Pot - High Grade Knurled Volume Tuning Audio Knob Replacement for Electric Guitar or Precision Bass - CNC Machined(Chrome) https://a.co/d/ewiSD0N

Guyker Dual Concentric Control Knobs - Dome Volume Tone Speed Stacked Knob Replacement for Electric Guitar or Precision Bass(2 Piece, Chrome) https://a.co/d/2tZwfnk

As the knobs are for smooth shafts, do I need a bushing for the 1 knob that is knurled, or will the set screw be adequate?

 

[Videojunkie]

Things that are missing materials wise...

2nd pickup (on hold)
Fretwire
Side dot materials (might use that brass rod again?)
Knobs
Screws for control plate
Block Inlay material (in transit)
Inlay materials for the logo
Tuners GB-11
Chrome plating of Control plate

I think that's it. Tuners and pickup are the big $ items, other stuff will get ordered in the next few weeks.

Tools I still need:
Dremel Router Base (in transit)
Binding bit set
Inlay saw blades
Good coping saw (for above blades)
Router Base circle attachment
Inlay Router Bits for dremel.

Probably a few other things that I'll wind up picking up along the way...

 

[Videojunkie]

I'm considering going ahead and getting one of these to provide solderless connections between the controls, pickups, and batteries.

JST SM Crimper Connector kit, PEBA Crimping Tools AWG 30-20 with 920pcs 2.54mm Pitch 2 3 4 5 6 7 Pin JST SM Connector Male&Femal Plug Housing Connectors Adapter Assortment Kit, Crimp Terminals https://a.co/d/iT88VoW

 

[Videojunkie]

As promised, a teaser picture of the control plate. In hindsight, I probably should have given myself a few more mm of material for that end screw next to the first switch.... as hoped, there is plenty of room for all of the pots to fit behind the plate opening.

The switches are 3-way for each pickup, controlling north coil solo/ humbucker/ south coil solo. The knob between them is a blend pot (MN 500K) then Volume (with push/pull to activate the "slap eq" for the preamp) , stacked controls, solo control.

I'm debating bass/treble mid vs mid/treble bass for the stacked/ solo eq controls. I'd love to hear arguments as to your preferences, as I've never had stacked controls before. Both layouts make sense to me, and seem to have their pros and cons.

Knobs will be chrome as will the plate (eventually...)

 

[NKBassman]

As promised, a teaser picture of the control plate. In hindsight, I probably should have given myself a few more mm of material for that end screw next to the first switch.... as hoped, there is plenty of room for all of the pots to fit behind the plate opening.

The switches are 3-way for each pickup, controlling north coil solo/ humbucker/ south coil solo. The knob between them is a blend pot (MN 500K) then Volume (with push/pull to activate the "slap eq" for the preamp) , stacked controls, solo control.

I'm debating bass/treble mid vs mid/treble bass for the stacked/ solo eq controls. I'd love to hear arguments as to your preferences, as I've never had stacked controls before. Both layouts make sense to me, and seem to have their pros and cons.

Knobs will be chrome as will the plate (eventually...)
View attachment 4800288

I love the way that control plate came out. Nice work!
Bass/Treble and Mids makes sense to me. I suppose it's too late to consider doing a stacked Mid control as well with variable frequency?
Is the "Slap Switch" a mid scoop?

 

[Videojunkie]

I don't think the Seymour Duncan preamp will do the mid sweep. What I wish I could find was a push pull potentiometer for the solo control that would allow me to use the switch on the volume knob as an active/ bypass switch. (I spent more than a few hours looking for a linear taper, 100K, center detent, push/pull potentiometer. Even Mouser doesn't carry one. If I didn't care about the center detent, they have several...)

But that gets into some crazy amount of controls for such a small plate.

 

[Videojunkie]

Musing about a future P-bass build.

 

[Videojunkie]

Opinion question.

I am doing abalone for the outside layer of the bindings on the fretboard.

What the heck should I use for side dots?

 

[ctmullins]

24k gold, of course!

Each piece of abalone is unique, and can be predominantly dark, or predominantly light. Depending upon the pieces you use, choose a dot that contrasts.

Or, use dots that are larger than the width of the abalone binding, so they visually “stick out”.

 

[Videojunkie]

24k gold, of course!

Each piece of abalone is unique, and can be predominantly dark, or predominantly light. Depending upon the pieces you use, choose a dot that contrasts.

Or, use dots that are larger than the width of the abalone binding, so they visually “stick out”.

I considered using brass like I did on the eub, but I am concerned that when I sanded /ground it flush, it would melt/discolor the bindings.

 

[Videojunkie]

@ctmullins Lol. 10 carat gold bar, 3mm x 6 inches? $800...

My wife would kill me.