[Project Diary] Ric inspired short scale bass

[gtirard]

My drummer and best friend François is an amateur luthier, he offered to build me a custom bass.

• I’ve never had a Rickenbacker - I have a strange love/hate relation with them. So I thought it would be nice to design a Ric inspired bass (trying to keep what I love in Rics, and remove what I hate).
• I’d like it to be small and lightweight like my Acinonyx
• As versatile as it can be

Pickups and electronics​

Pickups​

• All my others basses have 2 humbuckers, I’d like to have at least a single coil option (splittable humbucker and / or single coil pickup).
• I’m curious to experiment if it could sound good to mix 2 different pickups, so I’ve ordered the 2 pickups I was hesitant about: a Ric style toaster (splittable humbucker) and a Ric style « high gain » (single coil)
• If mixing these 2 pickups lacks consistency, I'll buy a second copy of the one I like best

Electronics​

• All my basses have a pickup selector, I wanted to try a pickup balance for change
• I want to try a preamp with mid control.
• I’ve decided to choose the John East Uni Pre 3, because it has all the features I wanted (and more), with only 3 stacked controls. I know there’s a chance it could be overwhelming, but I won’t be obliged to use all the controls - at least they’ll be available if needed.

 

[gtirard]

Leo’s breadboard​

The journey counts as much as the result. I have no need for a new bass now, so we’re going to take our time and use a trial & error approach. Let’s give ourselves one year, hopefully we’ll have fun and learn a few things from our errors.

When I saw Leo Fender’s breadboard bass, I’ve asked my friend if he could build one, so we can explore different pickup placement in order to find the « sweet spot » for each pickup before building the final instrument (and carve the pickups cavities)

He came out with this design, where we can freely move both pickups and access to a satellite for the electronics, and here’s where we stand now:







Has anyone used this kind of "breadboard" in the process of building a bass?

 

[gtirard]

First challenge​

So far so good, the breadboard works well, except for one issue: the string spacing on the « Ric High Gain Pickup » is much narrower than on the Sandberg bridge, so the E and G strings sound quieter than the A and D strings.

I didn’t anticipate that pickup had a narrow string spacing.




Next step: we’re going to adjust the string spacing on the Sandberg bridge and see if it can solve the problem. If not I might replace that pickup by a second Toaster.

I’ll keep you posted, feel free to comment in the meantime.

 

[Geepers]

Can I be Francois’ friend too? Very cool what the two of you are doing

 

[Old Ozzie Guy]

Very Cool Project. I'll be watching with anticipation. I put a Serek B90, a p90 style single coil, in my Gibson LPj, with a tremendous result.

 

[eddybuzzard]

I’m curious to experiment if it could sound good to mix 2 different pickups, so I’ve ordered the 2 pickups I was hesitant about: a Ric style toaster (splittable humbucker) and a Ric style « high gain » (single coil)

FWIW, actual Rickenbacker Toasters are single coil

 

[gtirard]

Very Cool Project. I'll be watching with anticipation.

Thanks

I put a Serek B90, a p90 style single coil, in my Gibson LPj, with a tremendous result.

Very cool, is it the bass I see in your profile's photo?

 

[gtirard]

First challenge​

So far so good, the breadboard works well, except for one issue: the string spacing on the « Ric High Gain Pickup » is much narrower than on the Sandberg bridge, so the E and G strings sound quieter than the A and D strings.

Next step: we’re going to adjust the string spacing on the Sandberg bridge and see if it can solve the problem. If not I might replace that pickup by a second Toaster.

Also, I wonder if we can try to raise the E and G poles higher (using an Allen key?) in order to compensate for their lower volume in case it's not enough to reduce the string spacing to the minimum on the bridge?

 

[eddybuzzard]

Also, I wonder if we can try to raise the E and G poles higher (using an Allen key?) in order to compensate for their lower volume in case it's not enough to reduce the string spacing to the minimum on the bridge?

View attachment 7182523

If they have a hex, they are adjustable-> the older smooth button type are not.
They may be quite resistant, but I've had success, pre- heating the pole slightly, with a soldering gun.
Typically threaded, CCW to raise, 3/32" allen key

It's in the owners manual;

https://rickenbacker.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/manual.pdf

 

[Kendescending]

Very cool idea for a build, I'd buy one!

Did you order a high gain bridge pickup? I believe those have a wider string spacing.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

My drummer and best friend François is an amateur luthier, he offered to build me a custom bass.

• I’ve never had a Rickenbacker - I have a strange love/hate relation with them. So I thought it would be nice to design a Ric inspired bass (trying to keep what I love in Rics, and remove what I hate).
• I’d like it to be small and lightweight like my Acinonyx
• As versatile as it can be

View attachment 7182433

Pickups and electronics​

Pickups​

• All my others basses have 2 humbuckers, I’d like to have at least a single coil option (splittable humbucker and / or single coil pickup).
• I’m curious to experiment if it could sound good to mix 2 different pickups, so I’ve ordered the 2 pickups I was hesitant about: a Ric style toaster (splittable humbucker) and a Ric style « high gain » (single coil)
• If mixing these 2 pickups lacks consistency, I'll buy a second copy of the one I like best

Electronics​

• All my basses have a pickup selector, I wanted to try a pickup balance for change
• I want to try a preamp with mid control.
• I’ve decided to choose the John East Uni Pre 3, because it has all the features I wanted (and more), with only 3 stacked controls. I know there’s a chance it could be overwhelming, but I won’t be obliged to use all the controls - at least they’ll be available if needed.

View attachment 7182434

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Cool project, I like the body style. Ric hi-gains are not known for high or even output, despite the name, but I haven’t worked up the nerve to try adjusting the pole pieces. Mine seem firmly rigid, like they were glued in, is it certain that these are adjustable?

 

[gtirard]

Very cool idea for a build, I'd buy one!

Did you order a high gain bridge pickup? I believe those have a wider string spacing.

Thanks.
No, it's a high gain neck pickup (Retrovibe's bridge pickup has the Ric special mounting system I didn't want).

 

[eddybuzzard]

Thanks.
No, it's a high gain neck pickup (Retrovibe's bridge pickup has the Ric special mounting system I didn't want).

I know the RIC Hi-Gains are adjustable, but I'm not familiar with your Retrovibe model, you might want to check with them,
before trying to raise their poles.

I think you'll find out that most Rick string spacing at the bridge, is generally on the narrower side, and may present some unseen challenges.
Personally, I would call your particular bridge and PU choice a non-match, due to the spacing difference.
Just a gut feeling really.

I really dig your breadboard, in the spirit of Leo!

 

[eddybuzzard]

.... is it certain that these are adjustable?

Affirmative

 

[gtirard]

I think you'll find out that most Rick string spacing at the bridge, is generally on the narrower side, and may present some unseen challenges.
Personally, I would call your particular bridge and PU choice a non-match, due to the spacing difference.
Just a gut feeling really.

Quite possibly a non-match, it's part of the "trial and error" process

I could replace the bridge by a Hipshot "Rickenbacker replacement bridge", il would look cool but it's pricey ($250) and I would have to enlarge the body shape to the left because it's soooo big.



I think I'd rather replace that pickup if it doesn't turn out well.

Buy the way, I haven't seen the actual breadboard yet, my friend just sent me photos, I think I'll pay him a visit next week. To be continued…

 

[Engle]

My drummer and best friend François is an amateur luthier, he offered to build me a custom bass.

• I’ve never had a Rickenbacker - I have a strange love/hate relation with them. So I thought it would be nice to design a Ric inspired bass (trying to keep what I love in Rics, and remove what I hate).
• I’d like it to be small and lightweight like my Acinonyx
• As versatile as it can be

View attachment 7182433

Pickups and electronics​

Pickups​

• All my others basses have 2 humbuckers, I’d like to have at least a single coil option (splittable humbucker and / or single coil pickup).
• I’m curious to experiment if it could sound good to mix 2 different pickups, so I’ve ordered the 2 pickups I was hesitant about: a Ric style toaster (splittable humbucker) and a Ric style « high gain » (single coil)
• If mixing these 2 pickups lacks consistency, I'll buy a second copy of the one I like best

Electronics​

• All my basses have a pickup selector, I wanted to try a pickup balance for change
• I want to try a preamp with mid control.
• I’ve decided to choose the John East Uni Pre 3, because it has all the features I wanted (and more), with only 3 stacked controls. I know there’s a chance it could be overwhelming, but I won’t be obliged to use all the controls - at least they’ll be available if needed.

View attachment 7182434

Looking forward to seeing & hearing how it turns out!

 

[BigJohnAZ]

Vey cool project, will keep watching.

 

[eddybuzzard]

Quite possibly a non-match, it's part of the "trial and error" process

I could replace the bridge by a Hipshot "Rickenbacker replacement bridge", il would look cool but it's pricey ($250) and I would have to enlarge the body shape to the left because it's soooo big.

View attachment 7182704

I think I'd rather replace that pickup if it doesn't turn out well.

Buy the way, I haven't seen the actual breadboard yet, my friend just sent me photos, I think I'll pay him a visit next week. To be continued…

HipShot also makes a A style bridge, in the narrowish Rick spacing, plus another 5 slightly increasingly wider spacings;

4 String A Style Bass Bridge

FM1 Dimensions FM2 Dimensions 656 Spacing Dimensions 687 Spacing Dimensions 718 Spacing Dimensions 750 Spacing Dimensions 787 Spacing Dimensions 822 Spacing Dimensions Since its inception in 1999, the Hipshot A Style bass bridge has become the standard bearer for high end instruments and...

hipshotproducts.com

 

[Kendescending]

Thanks.
No, it's a high gain neck pickup (Retrovibe's bridge pickup has the Ric special mounting system I didn't want).

Thanks.
No, it's a high gain neck pickup (Retrovibe's bridge pickup has the Ric special mounting system I didn't want).

What's the string spacing at the bridge pickup? I may have a pickup that will work. You also might be able to find some wider button head machine screws that would replace the screws that are in there. Also, you could look at the Schaller roller bridge as a replacement option.