8 String Build from Kit (any tips)

[Pirate Captain]

I'm going to attempt to modify a Pitbull four string "Ric" (cough cough) into an 8 string. I haven't started to build the kit yet...looking for any and all advice (except stuff like..."throw it in the garbage" or "that kit is an abomination to real Ric owners"...sorry, folks, I just don't have 4K to spend on an 8 string bass)

 

[bholder]

I bought my Rickenbacker 4003s/8 for $650. I got lucky.

Only advice I can think of: use a real 8 string bridge with separate intonation for each string. Don't attempt to use a real Rickenbacker bridge, whatever you do.

 

[lz4005]

Only advice I can think of: use a real 8 string bridge with separate intonation for each string.

Absolutely. If you can't intonate all the strings separately it's basically useless.

 

[bholder]

Absolutely. If you can't intonate all the strings separately it's basically useless.

The original setup on the 4003s/8, basically had to attempt to intonate the octaves by filing the bridge saddle slot. No fun at all. Still working on a replacement solution, I'm thinking it involves custom machine shop work at this point.

 

[Pirate Captain]

I bought my Rickenbacker 4003s/8 for $650. I got lucky.

Only advice I can think of: use a real 8 string bridge with separate intonation for each string. Don't attempt to use a real Rickenbacker bridge, whatever you do.

Yes...very lucky...and thanks (both of you)

 

[Gilmourisgod]

If I remember right, the Pitbull RC-4 is a set neck design. Id be worried about the extra tension on that neck pocket, not much wood under the pocket. Anything you could do to reinforce that joint would be good, but it may be impractical. The original 8 string Rics had serious structural problems, even though neck through, the neck pup hogs out a lot of wood right where its needed most. The Ric 8's had a tendency to develope "negative neck angle".

 

[Pirate Captain]

If I remember right, the Pitbull RC-4 is a set neck design. Id be worried about the extra tension on that neck pocket, not much wood under the pocket. Anything you could do to reinforce that joint would be good, but it may be impractical. The original 8 string Rics had serious structural problems, even though neck through, the neck pup hogs out a lot of wood right where its needed most. The Ric 8's had a tendency to develope "negative neck angle".

It is a set neck design. But if there's still a negative neck angle even with the neck through, then would reinforcing this neck help all that much? At any rate...thank you and will examine. Perhaps I'll go with very light gauge strings.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

I was trying to be nice , but yeah, I'm not sure how you are going to reinforce the neck pocket to resist that much force. I think there's only about 1/4" of wood under the pocket. Maybe some kind of longer tenon cut into the neck? Sounds iffy. The Ric 8 strings were notorious for structural failure, bad design unfortunately. I actually considered buying one of the RC-4 kits just to get the body wings, cutting them down a little along the centerline to make room for a neck-through blank. Carvin makes a pretty nice neck through "paddle" headstock blank, pretty much a drop-in deal except for headstock carve. You could use the RC-4 as your headstock template. The Carvin necks are dot inlay, so you'd lose the shark fin look, more like a 4001s.

Edit: I think the Carvin blank is 34" scale, so you'd have to move the bridge a little too. If you really want to try this, might be better off getting a Ric shaped neck-through "husk" (unfinished, no hardware) on Aliexpress for around $300. Keep the RC-4 for a fun 4 string project build:

 

[Pirate Captain]

I was trying to be nice , but yeah, I'm not sure how you are going to reinforce the neck pocket to resist that much force. I think there's only about 1/4" of wood under the pocket. Maybe some kind of longer tenon cut into the neck? Sounds iffy. The Ric 8 strings were notorious for structural failure, bad design unfortunately. I actually considered buying one of the RC-4 kits just to get the body wings, cutting them down a little along the centerline to make room for a neck-through blank. Carvin makes a pretty nice neck through "paddle" headstock blank, pretty much a drop-in deal except for headstock carve. You could use the RC-4 as your headstock template. The Carvin necks are dot inlay, so you'd lose the shark fin look, more like a 4001s.

Edit: I think the Carvin blank is 34" scale, so you'd have to move the bridge a little too. If you really want to try this, might be better off getting a Ric shaped neck-through "husk" (unfinished, no hardware) on Aliexpress for around $300. Keep the RC-4 for a fun 4 string project build:

That's actually not a terrible idea (either of them)...I'll check into both (do you have a link for the AliExpress husk?)

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Here's one, try searching for more under "Ricken Bass Unfinished", they seem to avoid actually saying Rickenbacker in the product titles. This one has no binding, but I've seen ones that do on a random basis. Most of these vendors will do a custom order in maple, with or without binding, no pup routes, etc. You might consider deleting the neck pup altogether for more strength, or at least having it in the 1" neck spacing to leave more meat at the neck/body joint. This is Aliexpress, so buyer beware, of course, but they seem to have improved recently.
AliExpress Mobile - Global Online Shopping for Apparel, Phones, Computers, Electronics, Fashion and more

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Here's a link to the Carvin/Keisel neck through blanks. I think @mapleglo used one and liked it:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Edit:
It says they have options on inlays, maybe shark fin? Worth asking anyway.

 

[Pirate Captain]

Here's one, try searching for more under "Ricken Bass Unfinished", they seem to avoid actually saying Rickenbacker in the product titles. This one has no binding, but I've seen ones that do on a random basis. Most of these vendors will do a custom order in maple, with or without binding, no pup routes, etc. You might consider deleting the neck pup altogether for more strength, or at least having it in the 1" neck spacing to leave more meat at the neck/body joint. This is Aliexpress, so buyer beware, of course, but they seem to have improved recently.
AliExpress Mobile - Global Online Shopping for Apparel, Phones, Computers, Electronics, Fashion and more

THANKS!!! Found one with the binding...will probably go this route (but maybe should have asked more advice before ordering the pitbull kit...will be a fun build regardless.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Here's another one, having the advantage of neck through and no pup routes, though oddly an incomplete headstock?? Shouldn't be too hard to add headstock wings if you have some basic luthiery/carpentry skills, maybe in Walnut? That's all I found that fits the bill, but these third party vendors come and go like falling leaves. I can't vouch for the quality of the trussrod, I assume it's a simple single-action bowed rod with a hex nut adjuster. Good luck with it, it'd be cool to see a one-off 8 string Ric, never seen one in person.
directly factory custom 4003 4004 bass guitar NECK THROUGH Handcraft body diy unfinished guitar bass free shipping-in Guitar from Sports & Entertainment on Aliexpress.com | Alibaba Group

 

[Pirate Captain]

Here's another one, having the advantage of neck through and no pup routes, though oddly an incomplete headstock?? Shouldn't be too hard to add headstock wings if you have some basic luthiery/carpentry skills, maybe in Walnut? That's all I found that fits the bill, but these third party vendors come and go like falling leaves. I can't vouch for the quality of the trussrod, I assume it's a simple single-action bowed rod with a hex nut adjuster. Good luck with it, it'd be cool to see a one-off 8 string Ric, never seen one in person.
directly factory custom 4003 4004 bass guitar NECK THROUGH Handcraft body diy unfinished guitar bass free shipping-in Guitar from Sports & Entertainment on Aliexpress.com | Alibaba Group

This is the best one I've seen so far Unfinished 4003 bass guitar Top qualityThrough Canada Maple neck Alder body Ebony fretboard Classic triangle inlay Body binding-in Guitar from Sports & Entertainment on Aliexpress.com | Alibaba Group

 

[Gilmourisgod]

That's just about perfect! Clean slate on the body routes, nice inlays, checker binding, etc. Expect to have to do some handwork like fret polishing, or even leveling, but that gets you a long way towards an 8 string. Nice find. Better buy it before that vendor disappears like smoke!

 

[Chicory Blue]

A Ric-shaped 8-string sounds sexy as hell. I'm eager to see where this goes.

--^@

 

[goodkingzog]

There's this on that site, too:

NEW arrival and High quality 4003 bass guitar Cream color 8 strings Model Best workmanship Free shipping-in Guitar from Sports & Entertainment on Aliexpress.com | Alibaba Group

Edit: The courses are the 'wrong way', though

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Notice how they deleted the front pickup trying to get the assembly strong enough for a set neck!

 

[Pirate Captain]

OK...so, just got the kit in and I think I'm going to just make this as a normal 4 string "fakenbacker"...I've recently joined an ELP tribute band and this would probably work just fine. Going to start another thread about tips on this and will get back to the 8 string project later

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Please post your build in Luthier's Corner, you'll get loads of free advice and no stank about a knockoff build. Lot's of Ric inspired builds, including mine: The Hossenfeffer Bass Build

When it's done, post it on Club Rickenfaker