Ruach Utility Bass

[kevin_lindsay]

That's looking fantastic!

[4 Strings]

Details.
12th fret, ready to be inlaid:
[URL=http://s1341.photobucket.com/user/4Strings1/media/Ruach%20Utility%20Bass/Thinfish_zpsb54fd23f.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1341.photobucket.com/albums/o760/4Strings1/Ruach%20Utility%20Bass/Thinfish_zpsb54fd23f.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

Edited October 18, 2013 by 4 Strings

[rk7]

Its all in the details, as they say.

What fabulous quality work. Its interesting that you have retained the Utility aspect of the design, but added the finer touches that make this bass so bespoke to you.

Awesome

RK

[4 Strings]

Thanks RK, I just say what I want and Heath sets about making it!

I think he's hoping to get the inlays done so he can lacquer the front of the neck. The back will be waxed. I'm looking forward to seeing that!

[4 Strings]

Little update:

Headstock inlay - I asked for the full 'Ruach' as opposed to the more normal 'R'. It will be set on a black background so it will stand out more. Heath cut it to match the lower curve.
[URL=http://s1341.photobucket.com/user/4Strings1/media/Ruach%20Utility%20Bass/IMG_3525_zpsa4a67b52.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1341.photobucket.com/albums/o760/4Strings1/Ruach%20Utility%20Bass/IMG_3525_zpsa4a67b52.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

The headstock has a curve to the top and so the string posts will have a partial, shallow recess. We both like a slim headstock (the poorer quality guitars in my life have always been a bit chunky here, lower quality materials maybe. Even MM and Fenders show a thinner headstock on the older models.)
[url="http://s1341.photobucket.com/user/4Strings1/media/IMG_3570_zpsa16ec785.jpg.html"][URL=http://s1341.photobucket.com/user/4Strings1/media/Ruach%20Utility%20Bass/IMG_3570_zpsa16ec785.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1341.photobucket.com/albums/o760/4Strings1/Ruach%20Utility%20Bass/IMG_3570_zpsa16ec785.jpg[/IMG][/URL][/url]

Edited October 18, 2013 by 4 Strings

[4 Strings]

Not much to report at the moment, the pups and electronics are awaited, should start to arrive this week.

In the meantime work continued on the neck, the front has been lacquered and this bit will now be all nice and shiny:
[URL=http://s1341.photobucket.com/user/4Strings1/media/Ruach%20Utility%20Bass/photo_zps4e78a20f.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1341.photobucket.com/albums/o760/4Strings1/Ruach%20Utility%20Bass/photo_zps4e78a20f.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

Heath popped over with his callipers to talk neck thickness dimensions. Also, he left the body with me to think about colour, rounding, arm rests, belly cavities etc. The latter has been started for positioning.

The body wood has been treated with wood bleach to remove some black discolouration in some of the end grain and there is a patchy yellowing to the face which is likely to come out with similar treatment.

You can see the shape properly here. Loosely based on MM and G&L bodies, it has received the Ruach style. I'm wanting a 'slab of wood' effect so the rounding of the edges is likely to be limited to the corners (maybe Tele style) rather than fully shaped like a Warwick.

[URL=http://s1341.photobucket.com/user/4Strings1/media/Ruach%20Utility%20Bass/2013-09-30100838_zps7bb598a8.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1341.photobucket.com/albums/o760/4Strings1/Ruach%20Utility%20Bass/2013-09-30100838_zps7bb598a8.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

The pencil marking on the back marks the approximate extent on the smoothing once the neck has been mounted. The neck will have an asymmetric profile and so the centre point of this bit will not end up central.
[URL=http://s1341.photobucket.com/user/4Strings1/media/Ruach%20Utility%20Bass/2013-09-30100850_zps2018b790.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1341.photobucket.com/albums/o760/4Strings1/Ruach%20Utility%20Bass/2013-09-30100850_zps2018b790.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

I'm enjoying being able to handle and hold the body, it's a lovely bit of wood with a lovely pattern, but as you can see it's not very pronounced (there is a series of vertical ripples which haven't come out). So I'm wondering about how opaque the finish should be.

And what colour. No idea why the current fetish for green, never really like green guitars, I hope it passes soon!

Edited October 18, 2013 by 4 Strings

[Owen]

The grain is enough as it is. It does not need adorning. Do you give the straight grain on a violin front a sunburst finish? No.

Opinionated? Moi?

[4 Strings]

Haven't come up with a suitable stand design.

There's a Guild Thunderbird with a built in stand. Apparently, one of the features of many examples is a repair to the headstock from it falling over!
[url="http://s1341.photobucket.com/user/4Strings1/media/GuildThunderbird_zps86f10af3.jpg.html"][/url]
A better way round for the tripod would be to have the two feet on the stand (taking most weight) and a single point on the body. The limiting thing is the length of the stand, causes the body to lean back too far.

Current thought is a flexible foot of some kind simply to allow it to be leant against something:
[url="http://s1341.photobucket.com/user/4Strings1/media/AdjFoot_zps04b94372.jpg.html"][/url]

or:
[url="http://s1341.photobucket.com/user/4Strings1/media/flexyfoot_zpsb2f5f058.jpg.html"][/url]

Might be a bit too clumsy looking, and the bass may spin when leaning.

Instead, simply two rubber pads either side of the strap button would prevent this.

Also wondering about a strip of rubber set into the back of the headstock near the top to allow leaning (and a bit of grip) without damage and not being visible from the front.

Edited September 30, 2013 by 4 Strings

[4 Strings]

Lastly, for now, we're going with the Wittman built in tuner, talking to John East about a switchable pull-up volume control on the preamp.

[4 Strings]

[quote name='owen' timestamp='1380533699' post='2226552'] The grain is enough as it is. It does not need adorning. Do you give the straight grain on a violin front a sunburst finish? No. Opinionated? Moi? [/quote]

Perhaps a light tint to a highly translucent stain. Any stain will bring the grain out more.

Green?

[sprocket123]

Wow , just saw this thread , lovely bass mate !

[4 Strings]

Thanks, sprocket123, unfortunately it's causing me to display amazing impatience as I'm so excited!

Playing with a little scratchplate design at the moment. A never use a pick (not out of any principle, just don't) so a scratchplate in the usual position is going to be pointless. However, a small one above the pickups would protect the waxed body from my thumb. BUT, the pups will protrude a certain amount and the thickness of a (wooden) scratchplate may then lose the purchase area on the top of the pups.

However, I quite like the idea of a ramp between the pups and Heath and I were talking about the location of the Wittman tuner. In their pics it shows it on the edge of the neck. Can do this, but I've no idea how long it will take for the tuner to arrive and how much fiddling to get it to work etc. So, mounted on the scratchplate will allow an easy wiring route straight to the pup cavities and for it to be mounted at a later date. So the current thought is to combine it on a ramp. The ramp will have a ledge on the top for my thumb and the tuner which will then reduce in thickness to nothing. (I sketched it out, when I find where it's been tidied I'll post it up!)

[4 Strings]

Pickup covers. Oh to merely have four strings!

Original thought was to have black plastic covers. Utility bass.

Ruach either make wooden covers or fit their own with 'Ruach' etched on the top, like this one bought by BCer 'lowregister' - hope you don't mind me using the pic.
[URL=http://s1341.photobucket.com/user/4Strings1/media/Ruachpup_zps54dafaa0.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1341.photobucket.com/albums/o760/4Strings1/Ruachpup_zps54dafaa0.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

Quite like this idea of this, but they've used up all the 4 string versions of the shape I need (MM style at the bridge and a Jazz style at the neck).

Not to worry, Utility Bass, plain black plastic is fine, maybe change to an etched pair if or when they are produced. Unfortunately the only covers Aaron Kent have at the moment for 4 strings were not quite right either. I could wait, or, our Heath came up with a solution, he'd make some wooden covers from the neck waste. Hmm, Utility bass with rippled maple pup covers. He'd do them with no additional charge to keep the project moving. Oooh.

So it looks like we'll be having some exotic pup covers on the Utility Bass. Well, I suppose it could be considered a prototype.

This may effect the colour choice!

Also, should they now be matched with this sort of thing, or have I now lost it?
[url="http://s1341.photobucket.com/user/4Strings1/media/Maple-rwknob_zpsefd662d7.jpg.html"][/url]

I found myself lying awake at night imagining fights and weapons, protecting my baby from thieves.

Edited October 1, 2013 by 4 Strings

[4 Strings]

Found them!
Here's the top scratchplate idea, would have a raised section between the pickups for a thumb rest, or ramp, and to house the tuner.
[url="http://s1341.photobucket.com/user/4Strings1/media/MiniScratchplate1_zps1cc74315.jpg.html"][/url]

Here's the small version which would not compromise the top surface of the pup for thumb space. Could be extended in two pieces to the neck.
[url="http://s1341.photobucket.com/user/4Strings1/media/065d3e1e-8d1a-46b7-956f-09f0d563bf5f_zps59bfce8a.jpg.html"][/url]

Edited October 1, 2013 by 4 Strings

[Owen]

I seem to have an opinion about everything on this bass. I have struggled with the ramp idea and stuff when designing basses. I hasten to add that I never actually do anything with my designs! If you want a ramp how about having a wooden casing which would house both pickups? It seems a more elegant solution. I have played with ramps and totally get the concept but they seem so "lumpy" and not part of the instrument. One casing covering the whole pickup area would tie it all in and give a simple clarity to a potentially cluttered area. Also get ears/buttons for the machine heads made from the same wood for continuity. I am getting too excited and need to go and lie down.

[4 Strings]

That would seem to be quite a big lump.

Scroll down to the 'Rampbar' here;
http://www.adamovic.nl/3Options/Pickups.htm

In fact it could be a raised part of the body with the pups embedded within.

I realise ramps go under all the strings so it feels the same all across and stop 'digging in' too hard but I wondered if that was really necessary. I find they look cumbersome and inelegant and was hoping for something more stylish, hence the small piece just across the top.

Tbh, I've never used a ramp and, if I didn't get on with it having the tuner mounted on the top would be a problem. I'm perfectly happy playing over the pups.

Maybe I need to think again about the whole thing. Where to put the tuner?

Edited October 1, 2013 by 4 Strings

[rk7]

A ramp, deffo.

Again, the idea of integrating the tuner and ramp makes perfect sense, as do all the ideas herein.

A combined ramp/pickup cover(s) is nice too, and still could be changed in future when the covers you really want come in.

Not sure about the machine head 'ears' in wood though. A bit too far?

Getting closer! Do you have a NBD date yet?

RK

(btw, the best bit of this build is still to come. After you have taken delivery, every single time you plug it in, or even walk past it in the house, you will smile and recall this build and the bass you got at the end of it. Fantastic!)

[sprocket123]

Wow , nice updates mate .

[4 Strings]

[quote name='rk7' timestamp='1380656928' post='2228639']
A ramp, deffo.

Again, the idea of integrating the tuner and ramp makes perfect sense, as do all the ideas herein.

A combined ramp/pickup cover(s) is nice too, and still could be changed in future when the covers you really want come in.

Not sure about the machine head 'ears' in wood though. A bit too far?

Getting closer! Do you have a NBD date yet?

RK

(btw, the best bit of this build is still to come. After you have taken delivery, every single time you plug it in, or even walk past it in the house, you will smile and recall this build and the bass you got at the end of it. Fantastic!)
[/quote]

Haha, great encouragement, thanks, RK!

If Heath's making pup covers from rippled maple cutoffs from the neck it would seem rude to swap them for plastic covers later!

The 'Rampbar' idea in the link in the above post would work, just one big pup cover. I still think big lumps look a little inelegant. I suppose rather than a ramp it's more of a thumb bar.

Wooden tuner handles would seem a bit far, I think the knobs are too.

No dates atm. Heath, unfortunately for me, is having to drop onto other work as we await the arrival of bits and pieces. I've delayed those myself with too many thoughts and what-not. Even now, we're hoping John East has been able to provide the preamp with the switchable volume control. I'd hope end of this month, but I also understand the last 10% can take 50% of the time. I hope he's able to make progress on the neck.

In the meantime I'm still ticking over with some way of standing it up without fussing about. Two rubber feet protruding a little more than the strap button is currently favourite. We've been looking into recessed straplocks, Warwick used to make them, Dunlop do a version.

So pleased you're getting so much pleasure from your brown beauty!

[4 Strings]

[quote name='sprocket123' timestamp='1380659802' post='2228691']
Wow , nice updates mate .
[/quote]

Cheers, sprocket123, just enjoying myself really!

[sprocket123]

Lol , I can see that fella !

[4 Strings]

Heath popped in for the body this evening and we had a chat about colours and standing the bass up.

Still no real solution, looking at two rubber feet at the bottom and some rubber protection (teehee!) in the form of a strip of rubber extrusion set into the back of the headstock at the top.

Inspired by the 'slab of wood' type guitar bodies Heath will be putting a 1/4" radius to the body edges.
[URL=http://s1341.photobucket.com/user/4Strings1/media/Slabbody_zps12845ed7.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1341.photobucket.com/albums/o760/4Strings1/Slabbody_zps12845ed7.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

Currently going for the smaller thumb rest to house the tuner. Just seems a lot simpler, ensures a good 'shelf' on top of the pups without losing the thickness of the guard.

Preamp has arrived, the pups are finished, just need the pup housings to be made, the Hipshot gear (bridge and machine heads have passed through customs and on their way. The preamp doesn't have the switchable vol pot, Heath will sort that.

Hopefully things will be moving along in the next week or so.

Will need to decide on a colour by the end of the week, I really hope I get over my want for green by then!

[rk7]

Hah, just fitted Hipshot Ultralites to my bass! Top kit!

I had to pay the customs duty (bought them from eBay from the states). I had just got home from hospital but I couldn't resist the urge to fit them.

Go with green, if its what you want. That's been the philosophy (to your credit) all through your build.

RK

[4 Strings]

Great stuff, RK, Hipshot stuff does look good. Mine will be more traditional Kluson types (to match the Extender I had)

Customs duty being paid on these too. The truss rod was hideously expensive as it is a MM spare part (no reason to be so expensive) because I wanted the wheel adjuster. Heath obliged but this expense was made even worse by the duty.

Why can't we make this stuff in the UK?!

Trouble with green is that, in general I don't really like green guitars!

Here;s one:
[URL=http://s1341.photobucket.com/user/4Strings1/media/guilfordblaze_zps4042f79d.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1341.photobucket.com/albums/o760/4Strings1/guilfordblaze_zps4042f79d.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

Not sure we'd be able to achieve such a green on the Sycamore.

Otherwise a more drab green like this attracts at the moment:
[URL=http://s1341.photobucket.com/user/4Strings1/media/Alsodarkleafgreen_zps1d51cc84.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1341.photobucket.com/albums/o760/4Strings1/Alsodarkleafgreen_zps1d51cc84.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

[rk7]

I had a wheel adjuster made, to adjust the headset bearings on my trials bike without the usual need to remove the handlebars. A simple mod but really effective. I was lucky to be working near a very well equipped machine shop at the time. Otherwise its almost impossible to source special items, even if you have already come up with a cracking design or a really good improvement.

I did consider a titanium trussrod for mine whilst speccing it, but I wasn't sure about the threads 'galling' (common with titanium) and preventing adjustment in future.

There are some excellent build diaries on here at the moment. I'm becoming a build diary anorak! I'll shortly be starting a thread for a pedalboard build. made from lovely walnut of course! Dovetails etc. Very like the Salvage Custom Shop ones.

RK