Very nice build! I like Lemmy's bass that you are modeling it after. First time I've seen anything like that!
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Leafenbacker
- Thread starter mapleglo
- Start date
Again, thanks to all for your interest and support 
I found a set of these Grover Titans on the StewMac site:
They seem a bit more beefy than the Gotohs, and have two mounting screws as opposed to the one on the Gotohs. I may go with these, as they also have the removable paddle.
I found a set of these Grover Titans on the StewMac site:
They seem a bit more beefy than the Gotohs, and have two mounting screws as opposed to the one on the Gotohs. I may go with these, as they also have the removable paddle.
The gotohs and grovers have a "keyed" section inside the paddle that keys into a fitted shape on the pin, so they are difficult to create an extension with, unless you are machining a piece to fit. Ask me how I know. 
That Lemmy bass is really sweet, and yours is turning out pretty cool already...
That Lemmy bass is really sweet, and yours is turning out pretty cool already...
The gotohs and grovers have a "keyed" section inside the paddle that keys into a fitted shape on the pin, so they are difficult to create an extension with, unless you are machining a piece to fit. Ask me how I know.
That Lemmy bass is really sweet, and yours is turning out pretty cool already...
Thanks
I guess you've already tried something like extended paddles. How complex is the fitted shape?
"...I'm not really familiar with Lemmy, or his band, but I really love the bass. ..."
Lemmy is God (Geddy is Jesus).
The band is an obscure English group called Motorhead. They've been around for a couple of years now. I think their album sales are decent. He was in a little band called Hawkwind before that.
The 4004LK bass, the one that has inspired you, is around a $10,000 market value if and when they show up for sale. I wouldn't sweat the $20 fleur-de-lis or carved acorns in your tribute. Spare no expense, and do it right.
I think the last LK I saw for sale was a modded version and therefore only brought around $7,500.
Lemmy is God (Geddy is Jesus).
The band is an obscure English group called Motorhead. They've been around for a couple of years now. I think their album sales are decent. He was in a little band called Hawkwind before that.
The 4004LK bass, the one that has inspired you, is around a $10,000 market value if and when they show up for sale. I wouldn't sweat the $20 fleur-de-lis or carved acorns in your tribute. Spare no expense, and do it right.
I think the last LK I saw for sale was a modded version and therefore only brought around $7,500.
I think a Rickenbacker threat-o-gram should become some sort of luthiery right of passage.
Of course, the now obligatory;
I admire and respect Rickenbacker for protecting their designs, but some of their tactics go off the deep end into 'kook' territory.
I'm looking forward to seeing how this bass turns out! How are the original Lemmy basses wired up? All I see is three pickups and not enough controls to make them all work...
I have to imagine that they're just wired up through some kind of pickup selector switch with volume and tone, though I don't know for sure. I have decided I don't like tone controls, so I'm just going with 3 volume controls, one for each pickup.
And fortunately, still no Ric police have shown up in my inbox or front door
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
A Lemmy bass is wired One Volume, One Tone and a Toggle. The bridge and middle pickups are wired together. Yep Rickenbacker lacks imagination when they wire up the 4004 basses.
I would consider wiring it 3 stacked pots. Or maybe a 5 way selector like a Strat.
A 4 band Audere preamp could alsobe interesting here.
In other news, the Hipshot tuners may work. Comparing the HB-1 to HB-3:
Clearly, different stem lengths, perhaps as much as 1/2", which may be enough. The mounting plates are different though, so I'm wondering if the stem/paddle/gear piece from one will fit on the other mounting plate. The paddles themselves are slightly different in size, but the difference is so small, that I don't think it will be an issue. Now to search to see if these are available individually.
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
The Rick police can't touch you unless you try to sell a fake Rickenbacker.
It is like you brew your own beer. You can slap on a label that says Coors. You can drink it in your own home and no one can stop you. But if you sell it the you are guilty of trademark infringment. Coors is a trademarked name and no one else can sell a beer with the name Coors on it.
It is like you brew your own beer. You can slap on a label that says Coors. You can drink it in your own home and no one can stop you. But if you sell it the you are guilty of trademark infringment. Coors is a trademarked name and no one else can sell a beer with the name Coors on it.
This is the type of tuner used on a Lemmy bass.
Yes, the problem is that I'd like to try and use a tremolo bridge, and it wants a straight string path from nut to tuner. In order to do that on a Rickenbacker head stock, I'll have to mount the A and D string tuners deeper into the head stock, which will require extended stems.
Regarding the Rickenbacker police, I think all the talk is mostly "tongue in cheek". I agree with you, I don't think I'll have any issues unless I try to sell it.
When it's done, don't forget to make the accompanying case (although this a Lemmy six string):
Interesting that they would put only 2 pickups on that guitar.
I'm curious, what are you doing for a control plate on the lower body half? Lemmy' bass has a non routed area for the control pots.
I've cut a piece which I'll use as a cover, and route a control cavity underneath. It will be top mounted, so there will be no control panel cover on the back, and if all goes to the plan, only one screw holding down the top edge on the front. I'll use pins down where the cover meets the edge.
I've cut the panel to shape, I just need to slice off a piece for depth.
Just a quick update on this project. I was looking at the tuners I already had, and it became clear that they just wouldn't work.
They simply do not fit. So I looked around and found a set of Hipshots that I thought might just fit. I ordered them and they came in today. I had to reverse two of them, and scanned and traced them into Iluustrator, and they seem to work much better. I can either modify the headstock shape so the paddle will still turn, or I can extend the stems on the top two tuners, which is what I'm thinking about doing.
I also ordered more of the oak leaf carvings. Those have not come in yet, and since I haven't heard from them, I'm thinking that they are out of stock, and perhaps they have to build them.
They simply do not fit. So I looked around and found a set of Hipshots that I thought might just fit. I ordered them and they came in today. I had to reverse two of them, and scanned and traced them into Iluustrator, and they seem to work much better. I can either modify the headstock shape so the paddle will still turn, or I can extend the stems on the top two tuners, which is what I'm thinking about doing.
I also ordered more of the oak leaf carvings. Those have not come in yet, and since I haven't heard from them, I'm thinking that they are out of stock, and perhaps they have to build them.
When it's done, don't forget to make the accompanying case (although this a Lemmy six string):
The pack of Cowboy Killers and the bottle of Jack really finish that off.
