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Custom 5 string for Rudy

#161
Nomad98 said:
Wilser... As always a very nice looking bass!

I just noticed the neck isn't laminated. The short question is, why? The long question, It here a reason this was not laminated (client preference, looks, easier to build, structurally didn't need to be... all the above...)?

Also I didn't think you were a carbon fiber rod kind of guy... there aren't any of those in this neck? (this question just needs a "no" since I think that will be your answer and I think I have read your views on this)

(I feel like these questions have been gone over before but... call it Mad Cow disease or short term memory. Sorry in advance.)

Nomad
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Hey no problem! Thanks for your nod!

Laminating the neck is not a necessity. 1 piece necks work just as well. The customer did not ask for a laminated neck and 1 piece is standard, though I offer and have built all kinds of laminate combination (check out Link Removed). No CF here, like you said, you know my views on that. I usually advice the customer against CF, but will do it if they want it.

In short, my views are that laminated necks and CF are good and work, but are they necessary to make a structurally sound and stable neck? ABSOLUTELY NOT.

If Danny Rocha wouldn't mind jumping in and giving a customer perspective of a 35" scale 6 string 1 piece neck with nothing else than a single dual acting truss rod that I built for him a few months ago, going from wet and cold Northern Virginia to dry and warm Reno, NV and how it has behaved since then, it would be interesting.
 
#163
wilser said:
In short, my views are that laminated necks and CF are good and work, but are they necessary to make a structurally sound and stable neck? ABSOLUTELY NOT.

If Danny Rocha wouldn't mind jumping in and giving a customer perspective of a 35" scale 6 string 1 piece neck with nothing else than a single dual acting truss rod that I built for him a few months ago, going from wet and cold Northern Virginia to dry and warm Reno, NV and how it has behaved since then, it would be interesting.
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Well.
I can vouch for that. I got the bass in March, when I got it I just lowered the saddles and tweaked the truss rod less than 1/8. The action is low & fast with zero fret-buzz and the neck hasn't moved at all!! Here in Reno we have "crazy" weather, when I got the bass it was snowing and it was super cold, a couple of weeks later it was over 90 degrees.... I love my Ramirez, can't wait to be # 1 on the customer wait list... I'll have to wait a few years. God is testing my patience :D


Edit: My 1 piece Wenge neck looks gorgeus!! :bassist:
 
#164
unfortunately this pic doesn't show what you can see in real life (the finish build up) and looks pretty much like the last pics I posted, but here it is ...I will be applying the final 3-4 coats tonight and then it's off to cure for a week. So I expect to have this bass done and ready within the next 2 weeks.

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#167
PEEK-A-BOO

getting there ...needs preamp installed and I just realized I ran out of strings, so I gotta call to order some.

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Rudy, you better watch out for that "number 23"
 
#171
RLK said:
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Wilser, that's such a cruel tease, man!:crying:
Its cool if you want to keep the rest of us in suspense; at least PM poor Rudy some more shots!;)

Rudy, you're a good sport!!
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:D just trying to send out some updates :D

truth is the bass is basically done. What's left is cleaning up the fingerboard from the buffing and leveling process, install the preamp and wire everything up ...problem is I ran out of strings ...the only string set I have left is YOUR set, so unless you wanna see me incomplete your set by taking out 5 out of your 7 strings, better stop the pressure ;)

Take it for what it is, a teaser ;)
 
#172
Hey wilser, what do you do to finish your necks? do you fade to a natural (that is lack there of) finish or do you sand it down... I'm not quite sure... but this is not the first bass I've seen from you with the same back of the neck finish on it, thanks in advance
 
#173
Worshiper said:
Hey wilser, what do you do to finish your necks? do you fade to a natural (that is lack there of) finish or do you sand it down... I'm not quite sure... but this is not the first bass I've seen from you with the same back of the neck finish on it, thanks in advance
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dude, it's the simplest thing. I level the finish using a combination of dry sanding with mirka silver 600 grit on the RO sander and then wet sanding with 800 grit (basically satin), then start buffing and skip the neck during the process, that's it. It's still got finish on (quite thick because that's how I like it) but it's just not buffed to a semi-gloss like the rest of the body. It can be tricky with the buffer, but it's fun nonetheless.
 
#177
Mikey R said:
hey Wilser,

thats looking real nice!

ive been meaning to ask - i would guess your one piece necks are quarter sawn. is the head section that you scarf to the neck also quarter sawn, or do you use plain sawn? just that its much harder finding quartered maple that wide.

cheers!
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birdseye figure only shows on flatsawn pieces so there's not even the option of QS there. the headstock for this particular bass actually came from another flatsawn maple board. If you're looking for QS hard maple Dunlap Woodcraft in Chantilly, VA has a lot of it in 4" square blocks so you can get a few necks out of 1 block. Look them up online, they are very nice people.
 
#178
wilser said:
:eek: you don't know about the conspiracy!?!?!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_number_23
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Yeah...someone reminded me about the movie when I mentioned this! :ninja:

I love the pics though. Just wanted to check again...what strings are you using? DR Hi-beams or Lo-Beams? (I haven't used DR in years...I can't remember the difference between the two!)

I'm gonna bet this baby is a slap monster! BTW..we did discuss the string spacing, right??? :D
 
#180
wilser said:
dude, it's the simplest thing. I level the finish using a combination of dry sanding with mirka silver 600 grit on the RO sander and then wet sanding with 800 grit (basically satin), then start buffing and skip the neck during the process, that's it. It's still got finish on (quite thick because that's how I like it) but it's just not buffed to a semi-gloss like the rest of the body. It can be tricky with the buffer, but it's fun nonetheless.
Click to expand...


Well how do you like that... that is really simple. It definitely looks great and it looks like it would be really butta to play. Thanks for sharing.
 

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