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Leafenbacker
- Thread starter mapleglo
- Start date
Wow, thank you all
The redesign is kind of growing on me. I like the straight string path from tuner to nut.
Thank you
Since it didn't become to warm yet today, I was able to rout the opening for the tremolo bridge.
Checked for fit, and had to square off the bottom part of the rout, and put a slight round over on that bottom edge.
Drilled the pilot holes for the mounting screws, and screwed the bridge down.
I wanted to string it up to see how close I was in the amount I lowered the surface of the body.
It plays, but the string tension is pulling the bridge almost all the way forward, so much so, that the tremolo arm is pressed against the body. I notice there is a spot for a third spring. I'll have to contact Kahler and see if that is the issue, and if so, if I can get another spring. There's still a lot of work to do, plenty of sanding, mounting the jack plate, setting up the pickup mounting, and a few other things, before I start with the tung oil finish.
I had a carvin V440T and if I remember correctly there's a screw used to adjust the tension. It's the one in the middle between the arm's positioning holes I think.
Really great thread! Consider me subscribed.
Maybe the coolest DIY build on TalkBass I've ever seen. While I am unashamedly a fan of Rics, I have always wanted to do something like this for myself some day. Tweak this here, change that there... For me the biggest annoyances are really hardware related and solved by the 4004, but I have long thought about what a "straight line" (string) headstock would look like and you really nailed it. (Of course in my case I have no reason that this kind of headstock would be better, but it's a question that has always lingered in my mind as I figured if I ever did my own Ric copy that's how I'd tackle the headstock. Totally ripping off the Ric design on a custom build doesn't seem as fun as putting your own spin on it.)
I'm not so quick to declare one design is better than the other, but I definitely like how your headstock pays homage to the original without going into the realm of the corny coffee table stuff. Modern, contoured, but still classy. I honestly don't think I can imagine a better way to do a straight-line Ric-esque headstock, other than subtle preferences on the radius of each of the sharp points.
Maybe the coolest DIY build on TalkBass I've ever seen. While I am unashamedly a fan of Rics, I have always wanted to do something like this for myself some day. Tweak this here, change that there... For me the biggest annoyances are really hardware related and solved by the 4004, but I have long thought about what a "straight line" (string) headstock would look like and you really nailed it. (Of course in my case I have no reason that this kind of headstock would be better, but it's a question that has always lingered in my mind as I figured if I ever did my own Ric copy that's how I'd tackle the headstock. Totally ripping off the Ric design on a custom build doesn't seem as fun as putting your own spin on it.)
I'm not so quick to declare one design is better than the other, but I definitely like how your headstock pays homage to the original without going into the realm of the corny coffee table stuff. Modern, contoured, but still classy. I honestly don't think I can imagine a better way to do a straight-line Ric-esque headstock, other than subtle preferences on the radius of each of the sharp points.
Funny, I had the same thought, the other "fave" build, ironically, being the green headless Ric with the Steinberger neck.
Yeah, that was a good one too.
It's funny how even many Ric haters seem to like these well done copies. A great build is hard to put down.
I find myself sat here thinking, 'Why don't Ric make their headstock like that?'Wow, thank you all
The redesign is kind of growing on me. I like the straight string path from tuner to nut.
The strings are pretty angled on theirs. Feels like they don't want to make the design better because people want the classic original look.
Thank you
It plays, but the string tension is pulling the bridge almost all the way forward, so much so, that the tremolo arm is pressed against the body. I notice there is a spot for a third spring. I'll have to contact Kahler and see if that is the issue, and if so, if I can get another spring.
check out http://basstremfanatics.forumotion.net/ maybe u got some answer there..
Wow, thanks for all the compliments! I really have to thank JIO for help with the headstock design. When I was struggling with what to do about the recommended straight string path from nut to tuner, he came up with a rough sketch, and I just ran with it. Another example of this wonderful community.
I just registered an account over there and posted the question. Thanks for the link. I did order another spring from Wammi World, as it seems to me that may solve the issue. A set of strings with lower tension may also solve the issue. I'll see what the experts over at Bass Tremolo Fanatics suggest.
I did have an email exchange with a rep over at Wammi World, but I don't know if I got my point across. I tried adjusting the "cam adjustment" screw:
as that's reviewed in the setup video on their website. That did raise the arm, but doesn't allow the arm to go down.
Thanks again for all the interest and comments!
I just registered an account over there and posted the question. Thanks for the link. I did order another spring from Wammi World, as it seems to me that may solve the issue. A set of strings with lower tension may also solve the issue. I'll see what the experts over at Bass Tremolo Fanatics suggest.
I did have an email exchange with a rep over at Wammi World, but I don't know if I got my point across. I tried adjusting the "cam adjustment" screw:
as that's reviewed in the setup video on their website. That did raise the arm, but doesn't allow the arm to go down.
Thanks again for all the interest and comments!
Gotta chime in and say I like your headstock design much more than the original. Also, nice Roadstar.
Wow, thank you all
The redesign is kind of growing on me. I like the straight string path from tuner to nut.
Having a straight path from the nut to the tuners is a design feature I wish more instruments would utilize. Seeing your bass next to the Ric, even incomplete, highlights what a nice job you did on the design and the build.
Hopkins
Commercial User
Thanks! Actually, I've had that Roadstar for about 30 years. It's really held up, especially for an inexpensive instrument. Back in the day, Ibanez was considered as entry level stuff, but I'd have no problem buying any of their models, based on my experience with this bass.
Thank you. When I started on this build, I wanted to "fix" a number of issues I had with Rics, like the headstock, number of frets, fretboard material, along with a few other minor details. I hope to have addressed them all. I agree that it's confusing why some manufactures wouldn't use the straight string path design.
Thanks. At first, I saw it as a compromise. But after looking at it over the past few months, I've come to like it better as well.
Hopkins
Commercial User
What do the springs look like on the trem? If you can add another spring or replace the springs with stiffer springs you should easily be able to solve your problem.
Here's an image I found on the internet - mines still mounted so I can't take a picture now, but it looks similar.
There's a spot for a third spring, which I already have on order. I'm thinking that will resolve the issue as well.
OK, a little more work done today. I placed the pickups in their locations to check both the fit, and to make sure the wires will all fit.
The pickups are sitting a little too high, so I had to set up the router again to make the pickup routs a little deeper.
OK, that's a little better. Now I can set up the mounting screws for height adjustment. The deeper rout also exposed the channel I made in the wings completely, so running the wires is a breeze.
And since I had to remove the bridge for routing, I took a picture of the bottom where the springs attach.
The pickups are sitting a little too high, so I had to set up the router again to make the pickup routs a little deeper.
OK, that's a little better. Now I can set up the mounting screws for height adjustment. The deeper rout also exposed the channel I made in the wings completely, so running the wires is a breeze.
And since I had to remove the bridge for routing, I took a picture of the bottom where the springs attach.
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
If it were my bass I would wire in 3 stacked pots so each pickup would have a volume and tone.
Hopkins
Commercial User
What are your plans for the controls? It doesn't look like your cavity is deep enough for stacked pots, or a 5 way switch.
Right, I'm just going with 3 volume controls for now. I was never much of a fan of tone controls on a bass.
