Rick 4003 Walnut build

[TonH]

I just have to keep in mind to do the next tasks in the right order:

- route for the binding of the neck (the neck is still flat)
- install position inlays
- sand the radius of the FB
- make the fret slots deep enough according to the radius
- put the binding on the neck
- etc....

 

[TonH]

As long as the FB is still flat, it's more easy to draw out where the position inlays have to come.
I am also waiting for parts, and as long I don't have them at home and I can't measure them, I am not going to drill the holes for the inlays.

The little hole you see now are made with a "pricker" (is that the correct word?).

 

[Gilmourisgod]

We call it an "awl", just a sharp point of steel to mark a hole or start a screw, like an ice pick. Center punch would be similar. I think I like "pricker" better.

 

[mapleglo]

I very much enjoy new usages of words that most people would never think of. I remember back in the old days when I was working in the consumer electronics industry, we were listening to a few new tweeter designs with the Japanese engineers. One of them described a particular tweeter as "sticky". When we asked for clarification, he said the sound of the tweeter was like sharp objects being stuck in his ears, thus "sticky". I have used that term since I'll also start to use "pricker" instead of "pick" or "awl". It's much more descriptive of its function.

 

[ctmullins]

My wife and I often lament the slow death of literacy in the world. This discussion is having the opposite effect.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Kids come up with some great new words uses, reminding us that language is entirely arbitrary. My favorite was one my eldest son came up with. He was probably around 2, one day out of the blue he announces he feels "kind of spicy". Turns out this means he needs to take a dump. This has become our secret family code for all #2 related episodes, sets us cackling at inappropriate times.

 

[TonH]

So talkbass is not only good for my guitar building skills, but it also improves my English ;-)

Btw. this is what Google translate suggested as a translation for the Dutch word "priem":

piercer
bodkin
broach
prong
pricker

 

[TonH]

Today the parts I ordered arrived.

Knobs rick-style, Buffalo horn nut, pickup rings and the black position inlays.

The inlay are 6mm so I can go on.

This is the router bit I am going to use to make the ridge for the binding:

With this as the result:

And with the 6mm drill:

For the position inlay's I am using super glue gel:

Here you see them glued in place but still sticking out a bit:

After a few minutes and a coffee break, the glue has set and I can sand the inlays to the FB level:

Next is to make the radius of the FB with the radius sanding block (12 inch):

With this as the result:

As you can see the fretslots are not deep enough anymore at the sides.

So with my special tool made from an old blade of a (cheap) Japanese saw I can deepen them.
The second slot from the left.

 

[TonH]

I between I started an experiment:

I am going to try a satin gloss varnish (water based) for hardwood floors and see how it works on walnut and maple:

I don't know what the brandname in US is, but overhere it is called Glitsa:

And to see how it works on bindings, I gonna use this scrap wood:

Put them binding on with aceton:

More to come...

 

[TonH]

After recutting the fretslots again, time to put the binding on the neck:

All done, but the binding is now sticking out. So more sanding:

And all leveled:

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Looks great! How far are you going to cut back the fret tangs to clear the binding?

 

[TonH]

Looks great! How far are you going to cut back the fret tangs to clear the binding?

Not to much, perhaps a few mm's. I want to keep as many hooks/teeth as possible on the frets.

 

[TonH]

Next on the list are the wings of the body. I cut them out roughly, now i have to make them correct with the template I also used for the 4003.

This is the result:

The 2 pieces of walnut above in the picture I am going to use for the "wings" of the headstock.

After that I continued with the frets.

Cut them to size and to remove some underneath:

 

[TonH]

Today I even had some time to pick up the router and route for the binding on the wings.

And with the use of acetone I attached a part of the binding on each wing.

The last part I will do tomorrow.

 

[TonH]

And after a night the first parts of binding could cure, I placed the last parts of binding on each wing:

And the first piece of walnut on the headstock:

 

[TonH]

After all that hard work, time for a drink :

 

[TonH]

No progression today. I had to practice with my band (playing on my walnut Rick )

Yesterday I also glued the second piece of walnut to the headstock, and today I just removed the clamps.

 

[TonH]

This evening I made the front of the headstock flat with a scraper.

Then with the help of my template I drew the outline of the headstock and cut out the shape roughly, so when I am working on the neck I don't have to be afraid of damage.

The back still needs some work:

 

[TonH]

What kind of pickguard I should make?

The same as on the bass or a pickguard like on the Rickenbacker [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]?

What do you think?

 

[Gilmourisgod]

I think the bass style pg works better, the pointy clashes with rounded edges.