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Ricky build

#223
This will be my 3rd bass and second neck from scratch.

Here she is wired up and strung up for the first time. Not a great pic; you can see the black finish needs more work. the neck could do with another lb of wood off the back and the action needs sorting.
wired.jpg

However, first quick checks thru the practice amp are very promising; great tone variance from neck and bridge pickups, that deep fruity ric bass tone is there in abundance, I just have to make her a bit more pleasing in the hands.
I decided to leave the back and the headstock au naturel. The neck will still need tru-oiling but I've got quite a bit of work left to do slimming it down a bit. I'm confident the authentic ric tone is bursting to get out, once I get a nice slim neck and a good fret levelling what she lacks in cosmetic refinements she will make up for in tone and feel :)
 
#233
I agree the headstock needs painting - and it will. I had a bout of problems with this build, very unhappy with the neck shape, the nut needs cutting right down and the frets still need finishing, but at her first practice outing tonight she showed the tone potential in flying colours. Absolutely awesome growly ric punch - so pleased! - made all the floorboards shake in the practice room. Now I need to get a better more comfortable action going and I will have a rather roughly finished tone monster in my bag with a somewhat unconventioal feel to her.
 
#237
Al Heeley said:
I had a bout of problems with this build, very unhappy with the neck shape, the nut needs cutting right down and the frets still need finishing, but at her first practice outing tonight she showed the tone potential in flying colours.
Click to expand...

That's small stuff.. well the nut and frets. I've been playing the second bass I made, but never finished 14 years ago. The frets were never leveled and it wasn't set up, but that just takes an afternoon to get squared away. Now it's been my main go to bass (well that and the fact that the other two dont have any electronics in them)

I have another bass who's neck I wasn't crazy about, so I reshaped it after the bass was finished. I just sanded the lacquer off the neck and took to it with a random orbit sander. Then I oiled the neck.

This bass looks great. I'd love to hear some sound samples.
 
#239
Wow man very awesome, I just read through the whole thread and holy cow you are a fast worker. Keep up the building man and you might have a very dedicated following and flourishing business. Building instruments is something I have wanted to have a go at, and might start soon, but someday I may be buying a bass from you :)
 

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