My first multiscale (experimental)

[ctmullins]

Yesterday I found time to file the nut down to a reasonable height. Between that and raising the bridge saddles some, the instrument is now comfortably playable. I screwed on some strap buttons so that I could wear it and play it (unamplified) to assess ergonomics and how the multiscale felt under the fingers. My first impressions:

• Again, the Rick 400x shape, with the S-style contours, is just really comfortable. And with the body-mounted tuners, balance is perfect.
• I was happy with the neck carve back when I carved it. I knew it would be nice and comfortable, and it certainly is.
• Because the neck is essentially flat/zero-relief, the action is still a bit "clanky". It's nice and low, but not exactly clean. We'll see how much of that transmits through the pickups later.
• The multiscale thing seems fine. Granted, this is "only" a two-inch spread, from 32" scale on the G string to 34" on the B string, so it's not the majestic 34"-37" of a Dingwall. But I'm not finding my fingers fumbling much at all here.

 

[singlemalt]

You might try some Dingwall medium scale strings, nickel or stainless. I like the nickel. .045 G string. Available at Fret Nation.

Payson strings also has medium scale string sets for fanned frets.

You are pretty close to the Super series scale length, 34-32”.

Payson can also do singles or custom sets for fine tuning the feel.

I’m glad this one came back and is headed for the finish line! Looks great!

 

[ctmullins]

Thanks!

The funny thing - well, funny for me, being new to multiscale - is the way the string tension of my “ordinary” pack of strings ( 45 to 125, garden variety, in which the tensions are higher on the thinner strings) is nicely offset by the multiscale, progressively lessening the tension on the higher strings, making everything essentially Balanced Tension.

I got my pickups physically installed today, and hopefully I can wire up a minimal control set tomorrow, to plug her in, and see how well the multiscale takes the annoying “twang” out of the thinner strings.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Love that red flame top. Its surprising how well the Ric body shape works, multi scale never would have occurred to me, but it looks cool as hell. I like tight spacing too, kinda grew up with it playing a Ric.

 

[ctmullins]

Last night I got a basic control set wired up - just a selector switch and a 500kOhm master volume. I drilled a hole for a tone control, but I didn't know what type I would need - normal passive tone, active two-band, or something weirder.

Plugged it into an amp - wow, this thing is bright and aggressive! I suppose that shouldn't be any surprise, given the all-maple neck-thru body, the stainless strings, and the big fat single-coil pickups. Loads of top-end; I probably should switch to nickel-plated strings, and I can probably "just" use a normal passive tone control. I've been wailing away on Red Barchetta this morning.

The photo above was taken last night, under house lights. This photo, taken right next to a window full of fresh morning sun, shows just how crap-tastic the finish is.

I will flail on it a bit longer, then I'll disassemble it and try to coax a bit more shine and evenness out of the clear coat. But don't expect miracles!

 

[RichterScale]

If you find you're not happy with the finish, you could always level it and go with a solid color.
Can't go wrong on a Ric body with a solid color.

 

[Gary_M]

I'll disassemble it and try to coax a bit more shine and evenness out of the clear coat.

Any chance you could coax a sound clip out of that bad boy?

 

[Gilmourisgod]

That thing is badass! I wouldn't refinish it, I dig it. Flog it! Something to be said for a "worry-free" finish, though of course, I agonize over every dust-mote, because I am borderline OCD, and a total Hypocrite .

 

[ctmullins]

That thing is badass! I wouldn't refinish it, I dig it. Flog it! Something to be said for a "worry-free" finish, though of course, I agonize over every dust-mote, because I am borderline OCD, and a total Hypocrite .

I love that approach. I like things to look nice, but it's far more important for it to play well and sound great.

Ironically, I've been playing a lot of four-string drop-D lately. So now I'm considering building another multiscale, a four-string, maybe 33" to 35". The extra length on the E string should help with drop-D tuning. Right?

 

[TerribleTim68]

...Ironically, I've been playing a lot of four-string drop-D lately. So now I'm considering building another multiscale, a four-string, maybe 33" to 35". The extra length on the E string should help with drop-D tuning. Right?

Sounds like the next one should be a 5 string.

 

[ctmullins]

Today's companions during those long conference calls.

About to tote 'em to practice.

 

[RichterScale]

Does anyone in the band occasionally freak a little bit and say, "holy crap dude, I can't believe you made your own bass" (?)
Or are they all just used to it don't really care?
I know I'd be checkin it out every time I saw it.

 

[TerribleTim68]

Does anyone in the band occasionally freak a little bit and say, "holy crap dude, I can't believe you made your own bass" (?)
Or are they all just used to it don't really care?
I know I'd be checkin it out every time I saw it.

The trick is to just slap a 7ender logo on it and they'd never know.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Now i want to see ALL your builds in one photo. Nothing like playing a bass you built, is there? I can't help it, that will always be my favorite body shape.

 

[Beej]

Does anyone in the band occasionally freak a little bit and say, "holy crap dude, I can't believe you made your own bass" (?)
Or are they all just used to it don't really care?
I know I'd be checkin it out every time I saw it.

My bandmates are celebratory over my builds and I know they love my main player. One time at a show, a guy approached me and said he'd been trying to figure out what kind of bass it was. He asked me if it was a "insert name" like 5 times while I spit out that I built it and handed it to him. His response was "no way" (well with an f word in the middle) and then he looked it over and over and finally said, "no, really man, where did you get it?"

 

[ctmullins]

Does anyone in the band occasionally freak a little bit and say, "holy crap dude, I can't believe you made your own bass" (?)
Or are they all just used to it don't really care?
I know I'd be checkin it out every time I saw it.

It’s funny - they know me well enough now to tease me about all of the different basses I’ve been showing up with. Since we started rehearsing again, I’ve brought a different one every time, and I think they get a kick out of it! They’re good guys.

The trick is to just slap a 7ender logo on it and they'd never know.

Ha! Nice one - made me snigger out loud!

Now i want to see ALL your builds in one photo. Nothing like playing a bass you built, is there? I can't help it, that will always be my favorite body shape.

As it happens, I succumbed to that temptation myself in a recent thread, just before the multiscale was playable: Halfway to 2021, I'm bored... SHARE YOUR COLLECTION, WITH DETAILS AND STORIES!.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

That 4620 is particularly sweet, thats what I was hoping to see! I will NEVER catch up to your build output at my (1) bass per 2-4 year output, but its fun trying anyway. Im thinking about a true hollowbody Ric style, gotta use up that leftover CB I bought somehow! Short scale too, Ive never owned one, and as my hands get more arthritic, a short scale gets more appealing.

 

[sikamikanico]

Any chance you could coax a sound clip out of that bad boy?

yes please!

 

[ctmullins]

Last night it was unbelievably noisy through the amp. Small rehearsal space, full of man-cave electric stuff, no surprise. But today I completed the cavity shielding, so it’s better now.

These pickups are still really bright and aggressive though. I slapped a quick passive tone control on it yesterday too, and it’s a good thing, because I sure needed it last night. Those heavy picks I’ve been using probably don’t help….

Anyway, yeah, I can try to whip up some clips tonight!

 

[RichterScale]

Do you have an involved recording setup, or a simple interface into a PC?
I'm still shopping for the most basic/affordable interface. Preferably one that comes with idiot proof software.