Leafenbacker

[coughiefiend]

Bravo!

 

[dreads311]

Congrats! I've followed this build since the get-go. Phenomenal work! Can't wait to see some of your future builds. If there's anything to take to heart from this build, it's that some people care FAR too much about truss rod covers.

 

[Bisounourse]

Superb build... well done.

 

[Marcury]

You GO Mapleglo! Really beautiful!

 

[Corey Y]

Came out looking great, good job!

 

[Kaa]

To be honest, in the L-Backer and Ric picture, I like your design/shape better than the original by a good measure. More sleek, more well put together, so to say.

I'd pay you to build me a bass if I ever wanted a total custom.

 

[mapleglo]

Thanks everyone High praise indeed.

And for the finale, the magnets arrived today. I cut a small piece of 1/4" dowel, and glued one of the magnets to it, and then into the truss rod cover cavity.

Then, I put a magnet on top of that, and placed some super glue on the truss rod cover, and set it into place.

Seems to be working. Those magnets are pretty strong. Trying to position everything, they stuck on the strings, on the tools, and to each other. I should have taken off the strings, as it would have been easier. I'll also have to shave down the supplied (with the neck) truss rod allen wrench, so it'll fit between the magnets and truss rod adjustment nut. All that's left is to do a set up.

I'll also mention that the tremolo bar gets in the way of my picking hand. I bought an extra one, and may try to bend it to a more ergonomic shape. But for the most part, this build is pretty much done. As soon as I get a chance, I'll take some pictures, and see about creating some sound files.

Thanks again for all the support, interest, suggestions, and input. I look forward to my next build, which has already started. Previews to come.

 

[zontar]

That looks good.

Wish I had the ability to do that sort of work.

 

[JIO]

Thanks everyone High praise indeed.

And for the finale, the magnets arrived today. I cut a small piece of 1/4" dowel, and glued one of the magnets to it, and then into the truss rod cover cavity.

Then, I put a magnet on top of that, and placed some super glue on the truss rod cover, and set it into place.

Seems to be working. Those magnets are pretty strong. Trying to position everything, they stuck on the strings, on the tools, and to each other. I should have taken off the strings, as it would have been easier. I'll also have to shave down the supplied (with the neck) truss rod allen wrench, so it'll fit between the magnets and truss rod adjustment nut. All that's left is to do a set up.

I'll also mention that the tremolo bar gets in the way of my picking hand. I bought an extra one, and may try to bend it to a more ergonomic shape. But for the most part, this build is pretty much done. As soon as I get a chance, I'll take some pictures, and see about creating some sound files.

Thanks again for all the support, interest, suggestions, and input. I look forward to my next build, which has already started. Previews to come.

Good solution for the tr cover (which is also a good choice) - one magnet at the top w/the lower section braced against the nut. Simplicity works. Also, you can use a toothpick to fill the screw hole and it will disappear. Congrats on your 2nd unique and personal bass - now play the crap out of them!

 

[abemo]

Awesome build, been watching for a while now. If it taught me one thing above all else, never show your TRC on talkbass.

Seriously though, i'm impressed. Most excellent.

 

[Shawn Luckman]

Amazing build been reading this from the start. The only two problems you've got is that a lot of people will want you to build them one, and no one will want to buy one of the Chinese knock offs now after seeing yours.

 

[potomac]

Please, I want to see a pic of the back side, especially the headstock. Congratulations again, it's amazing.

 

[gmjhowe]

Didn't you hear? Since the new forum all builds are required to produce a video of the instrument being played. Not just sound clips.

 

[Coolhandjjl]

To be honest, in the L-Backer and Ric picture, I like your design/shape better than the original by a good measure. More sleek, more well put together, so to say.

Ric hasn't invested in any real industrial design since the 1950's when Barth and Rossmeisl redesigned the entire ElectroString lineup. They're also not know for their engineering or assembly practices either. They're successful inspite of theirselfs.

Your Leafenbacker is truly an amazing piece of art all the way from design, engineering through to construction.

 

[Aceonbass]

Ric hasn't invested in any real industrial design since the 1950's when Barth and Rossmeisl redesigned the entire ElectroString lineup. They're also not know for their engineering or assembly practices either. They're successful inspite of theirselfs.

Your Leafenbacker is truly an amazing piece of art all the way from design, engineering through to construction.

Then again, when was the last time Gibson or Fender changed their headstock shapes? That shape, and the truss rod cover who's shape is dependant on it, is an integral part of product identification, so it's not surprising that RIC hasn'r redesigned it.

 

[thiocyclist]

Yeah, I don't think it's fair (or maybe more to the point it's just unintelligent) to criticize RIC for not changing a design that continues to be backlogged. I think there are non-aesthetic aspects that could be updated, but again, they are in the driver's seat and so far what they're doing appears to be working for them as a business. When people stop slavishly buying 4003s, they will look for ways to diversify or improve--so it's essentially up to the customer base.

Mapleglo's design is really her own now, other than the body shape which I would have hate to see get changed much anyway. I really like it. This has been an inspiring thread and just seeing the headstock come together was great for me because I had actually tried designing a "straight strings" Ric headstock in the past, but the one that was designed here (was it collaborative between Mapleglo and JIO?) is so much better than mine.

 

[Aceonbass]

Mapleglo's design is really her own now, other than the body shape which I would have hate to see get changed much anyway.

I think that given that this bass has a 24 fret neck, it would have been nice to see the cutaways brought in deeper for better fret access, and perhaps the whole lower bout moved rearward an inch or so. Then the whole bass would have been as evolved as the headstock.

 

[kesslari]

I am simply, utterly, and completely blown away.
By the final product as well as by the attention to detail - all the way down to winding your own pickups.
Dang!

 

[JIO]

Yeah, I don't think it's fair (or maybe more to the point it's just unintelligent) to criticize RIC for not changing a design that continues to be backlogged. I think there are non-aesthetic aspects that could be updated, but again, they are in the driver's seat and so far what they're doing appears to be working for them as a business. When people stop slavishly buying 4003s, they will look for ways to diversify or improve--so it's essentially up to the customer base.

Mapleglo's design is really her own now, other than the body shape which I would have hate to see get changed much anyway. I really like it. This has been an inspiring thread and just seeing the headstock come together was great for me because I had actually tried designing a "straight strings" Ric headstock in the past, but the one that was designed here (was it collaborative between Mapleglo and JIO?) is so much better than mine.

yep - thanks!

 

[Coolhandjjl]

I wasn't making disparaging comments about the look of their current lineup as much as their failed bass models. Hamburg, Eldorado, etc., etc. Those looked like an amateur designed them from the get-go. Even the 4004's could have used a bit of help, not so much from a luthier, but from an industrial designer.