Phoenix - Reborn From The Ashes

[Mephistofel]

Hi, everybody!

I've posted some pics of one of my basses not so long ago and some TB guys had interest - so, now I start a new thread, with many pics and info about it. I hope that you'll enjoy it!

And, straight to the point - this is one of my first basses. I bought it years ago in very poor condition, after that it passed in the fog of oblivion - in a box below my bed. I've never succeed to understand what kind of bass was it - original Rick or some old Japanese copy, but it was an old and good bass. Like I said - it was in very poor condition ( after all, I think it was a "white mouse" for some known and unknown "wannabe" guitar builders through the years), the neck was broke off from the body and someone decided to fit it with some screws - no NT anymore; missing headstock logo plate; missing switch; non-original home made pickguard and nut, and more, and more ...

So, here it is, in the beginning:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

To be continued...

 

[Mephistofel]

cute stuff

Haha, really nice, isn't it?

Part 2

You can see, it was a real war veteran, with so many battle scars... I have some other basses, but this one is also special for me, so I decided to refresh it. I made a contact with Kostadin Dimitrov ( http://www.kdbasses.com/ ), bulgarian luthier, send him some messages, he replayed, discussed some things and I send him the bass. It's time for work!

To be continued ...

 

[Mephistofel]

Part 3

We planned some basic points:

to fix the broken neck and to replace the old fingerboard with a new one;
refret;
to replace some of the parts with new ones - bridge, pickups, all wiring and pots, all hardware without the tuner keys;
to remove the binding and the pickguard - there will be a new top;
to refinish and polish the whole bass again.

Here it is, lying on the surgical table:

The neck is down.

To be continued...

 

[LiamPodmore]

This is rather wierd, as i just started to rebuild a bass also last night, but mine doesn't need sending off for any major repairs, hope it turns out well for you

 

[Mephistofel]

Oh, no, I'm really satisfied by the result, it's beyond all of my expectations!

Part 4

Some nice buiyngs:

Invalid Link Removed

Bartolini pickups

http://www.bestbassgear.com/hipshot-rickenbacker-bass-bridges.htm

Hipshot Rickenbacker Type Brass Bridge - Chrome

Ibanez Vari-Mid III Active EQ - Modded

To be continued ...

 

[Tarrbot]

Very nice.

Is it a Univox?

 

[GM60466]

I may have let the thing just die

 

[Mephistofel]

Very nice.

Is it a Univox?

I don't know, man. It's second (third-fourth etc.) hand, many parts were replaced.

Part 5

Fretboard removed. And, surpiseeee- the truss rods were totally f**cked!!!

So, here are the options for a new fretboard:

Two kinds of wenge, two kinds of teak wood, and the old mahogany fretboard, to make a compare. We had a lot of talks and thinking and finally we decided to choose a thick fretboard - more constructive reasons were beyond it, but it has a nice looking too. I don't like dots inlays, so there will be no one. Power to the pureness!!!

Here is the neck - new truss rod replaced the old ones and there are walnut side sticks, for better constructive strength.

To be continued ...

 

[poorbassist15]

I don't know, man. It's second (third-fourth etc.) hand, many parts were replaced.

Part 5

Fretboard removed. And, surpiseeee- the truss rods were totally f**cked!!!

So, here are the options for a new fretboard:

Two kinds of wenge, two kinds of teak wood, and the old mahogany fretboard, to make a compare. We had a lot of talks and thinking and finally we decided to choose a thick fretboard - more constructive reasons were beyond it, but it has a nice looking too. I don't like dots inlays, so there will be no one. Power to the pureness!!!

Here is the neck - new truss rod replaced the old ones and there are walnut side sticks, for better constructive strength.

To be continued ...

Even in original condition, I would rock the s*** outta that!

 

[Mephistofel]

Part 6

Some flamed maple for the headstock:

The neck starts looking gooooood:

So, we already have a new neck binding, the fret nests are cut, go on with the body!!!

To be continued ...

 

[Kaa]

That's a sweet looking pseudo-Rick!

 

[Mephistofel]

Part 7

The body:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

A little fun with the saw:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

New parts of maple on the board:

Maple, maple:

Maple, maple, all the way:

To be continued ...

 

[jmorbita]

interesting!

 

[Kaa]

Were the maple replacements in the body center for strength or aesthetics?

 

[SC Bassboy]

Wow. This is SERIOUSLY a rebuild. Looking good!

 

[tijuana_bass]

great thread, man. what an ambitious and interesting restoration! this is what i like best about talk bass, getting to see a cool project from far away...can't wait to see more!

 

[bgmww]

great work ! Thumbs up for the luthier

 

[Spleenface92]

That's awesome!

 

[joeyl]

this is not your run-of-the-mill restoration man, looks good

 

[A-Step-Towards]

Thats a complete rebuild , nice