5 string Ricken-Musicman Bass.

[ctmullins]

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

My wife would kill me.

Tell her you bought it for her! So every time you play that bass it reminds you of her!

 

[Slidlow]

Musing about a future P-bass build.

View attachment 4801771

Make the bottom of the body wider the the upper part.

 

[Videojunkie]

Make the bottom of the body wider the the upper part.

Totally a concept sketch just to get the ideas out of my head and onto paper. Final design (assuming I ever act on it) will likely be much different.

 

[Videojunkie]

Materials update,

All of the inlay material is here. I will probably need to buy some more binding material when it comes time to do the body, but at least I can get started with the fingerboard inlays...

The router base should arrive tomorrow..

Really happy with the color of this material. I just thought .2mm would be a little thicker.

 

[Videojunkie]

That, I think will do nicely. Ready for chroming.

 

[Videojunkie]

Wiring up the switches and blend pots. I've either done it exactly right, or exactly backwards...

I've left loops of wire for the JST Connectors that I plan to use for the pickups. The red and green wires are (supposed to be) the hot and ground from the switching/ blending contrivance.

 

[Videojunkie]

And just like that, with the exception of the battery pack and jack, all of the wiring harness is complete!

Now I just have to build the bass that this belongs to...

 

[Videojunkie]

Played some more with the single cut P-bass design...

Thinking about cutting it back to a 20 or 22 fret fingerboard.

 

[Videojunkie]

This looks like a game changer for doing the inlays!

Cordless dremel with the fixed base!

 

[Gilmourisgod]

i'm waiting for delivery on the same router base, first impressions?

 

[Gilmourisgod]

BTW, than single cut looks pretty cool. I havent worked up the nerve to even attempt scroll carvings like that.

 

[Videojunkie]

i'm waiting for delivery on the same router base, first impressions?

First impression. It is a solid piece of gear. It screws together nicely, and holds the dremel securely. I added a drop of blue loctite to the base screws, as I've read reviews (on the Amazon one) that those screws come loose during use. Getting this leveled and square is going to be a bit of a chore as there are no markings of any kind. The one idea I had is to use my digital inclinometer to set it up with the dremel removed, and then install the dremel. But I'm not completely sold on that...

My 1/8" router blades show up tomorrow, so I threw in a burr to test it out, and I gotta say, I'm impressed.

The battery powered dremel is awesome! I've had it for several years, And it is just as powerful as the corded model (for the duration of the battery). For this application it's perfect, because there won't be any cords in the way, and it super light so I am hoping to have really good control.

I think I will have to make a square base for it for cutting the inlays, as the odd shape will make it hard to keep things squared up the way the planned inlays are. I also have an idea for an arc cutting base for the vine inlays.

I'll detail those as I build this!

 

[Videojunkie]

BTW, than single cut looks pretty cool. I havent worked up the nerve to even attempt scroll carvings like that.

Thanks! I'm still playing with the idea. It could look really dumb or very cool.

One of the concepts is to place sliders in the side recesses like @Slidlow did on his ebony bass to keep the face very clean.

I am also thinking this will be a bolt on neck instead of a neck through, and I need to think through all the mechanics of that connection.

The biggest problem with this thread becoming a dual build is that at the moment, I don't have the extra $3-400 to throw at it. Ironically it would be the least expensive bass I've considered building. We'll see how things go this fall...

 

[Slidlow]

Thanks! I'm still playing with the idea. It could look really dumb or very cool.

One of the concepts is to place sliders in the side recesses like @Slidlow did on his ebony bass to keep the face very clean.

I am also thinking this will be a bolt on neck instead of a neck through, and I need to think through all the mechanics of that connection.

The biggest problem with this thread becoming a dual build is that at the moment, I don't have the extra $3-400 to throw at it. Ironically it would be the least expensive bass I've considered building. We'll see how things go this fall...

Sliders…sliders…sliders!

 

[Max Bogosity]

I have what looks like the same router base. It’s been a while since I last used it, but my recollection is that it will indeed let you set it up crooked. I think I ended up measuring from the bottom of the base to the top of the crossbar on both sides to make sure it was level. It is a bit tippy because the base is so small, but sometimes you may need it small to prevent interference depending on what and where you are cutting. An auxiliary base is a good idea.

BTW, than single cut looks pretty cool. I havent worked up the nerve to even attempt scroll carvings like that.

Go for it. I was not at all confident about carving the scroll on my EUB, but it really was not bad.

 

[Videojunkie]

Sliders…sliders…sliders!View attachment 4807090

Working out the geometry so that 60mm sliders fit in the recess along the top side, with enough space to mount the block they need to fit into. Nevermind how I am going to be able to drill out the cavity for them along the edge of a curved instrument, between the two ears.


Yeah... that's going to be interesting. I suppose I could switch to 45mm sliders, but I wanted the extra length.

Initial thought would be a 5 string SD quarter pounder with passive volume and tone controls on sliders...

I was toying with the idea of adding piezos to it, but decided that for this instrument, simple is better.

 

[Videojunkie]

Go for it. I was not at all confident about carving the scroll on my EUB, but it really was not bad.

The scrollwork on my EUB wasn't too bad either. This would be more like carving an F5 mandolin top though. I have some ideas, but first I need to finish (start) working on the Rick-man...

 

[Slidlow]

Working out the geometry so that 60mm sliders fit in the recess along the top side, with enough space to mount the block they need to fit into. Nevermind how I am going to be able to drill out the cavity for them along the edge of a curved instrument, between the two ears.


Yeah... that's going to be interesting. I suppose I could switch to 45mm sliders, but I wanted the extra length.

Initial thought would be a 5 string SD quarter pounder with passive volume and tone controls on sliders...

I was toying with the idea of adding piezos to it, but decided that for this instrument, simple is better.

This is how I set-up for the threaded jack in my drill press. Did a similar thing to drill the slot for the sliders. Best to drill for it before gluing up.

 

[Videojunkie]

Bits arrived for the dremel. 2 flute 1/8" bits. I'm going to need to add a base plate to the dremel base as these bits are a bit longer than I want my routes to be, and I've reached the top of the travel for the height adjustment. That said, they cut super cleanly, and came in a 10 pack in case I break one, or have some other issue.

In other news, the knobs all showed up, so I can fully mock up the control plate. My only complaints are that the center detent on the stacked pot is "mushy" and the fit of the larger stacked knob as when tightened down it's slightly off center. I'll figure it out.

 

[Videojunkie]

One of the things that I love about doing all of my design work in Autocad is that when you print things at 100%, they are actual size. So the nut I ordered fits the drawing exactly!.

Now that I can print this, I can get started on cutting out the headstock patterns.

I also got to play with pattern routing for the first time ever, as I work on completing the hammock stand. (Last 2 pieces just need finish sanded and 3 coats of spar urethane) I should be able to get that done before the end of this week.

Then I can start the bass in earnest.

I also found a local guy who will resaw the remaining chunk of walnut so that I can use it as the top on the single cut. (Yes, this is morphing in to a dual build thread.) I figured out that the GB-707s for the single cut were cheap enough that I will just order them with the GB-11s for the Rick-man.

I figure between the single cut P-bass, the Rick-man, and my Spector (plus the EUB) I will be covered for basses. The only archetype bass I won't have is a jazz bass, but with the coil tapping on the Rick-man I will be darned close.