Snakey Lane Posted June 15, 2008 Posted June 15, 2008 (edited) Looking for something a bit more special than my Warwick Rockbass Corvette 5 String, I did some research on Basschat and other websites. I soon realised that what I [i]really [/i]wanted was a British-made custom bass. I discovered Robbie at RIM Custom Basses in his own forum elsewhere on Basschat. He has made some lovely looking basses, and they seem to get rave reviews from his customers. So yesterday I went to see Robbie in Luton. A very warm welcome, some good advice about choice of materials and it looks like we are going ahead! I'm not in a hurry for the new bass - quality is more important than time. With other orders already in the queue, Robbie estimated 6 - 8 months. Which will make it a birthday present for me next year, give or take a couple of weeks. I'm going to keep this diary of the steps in the process from the customer's point of view. I guess Robbie will keep everyone updated on progress through his forum. The draft spec to date is: [list] [*]maple or ash front [*]bubinga back [*]ebony or wenge fingerboard [*]satin finish [*]Q-Tuner pickups [*]through neck [*]34" scale [*]16mm string spacing [/list] Hope Robbie is ok about me including some images from his website of basses he has already made. The look I'm after is the shape of the 5 string with the contrasting woods of the 4 string. Edited June 15, 2008 by Snakey Lane Quote
steve-soar Posted June 15, 2008 Posted June 15, 2008 I think Alex will be chuffed that you were inspired by his bass, it's a beauty. Quote
alexclaber Posted June 15, 2008 Posted June 15, 2008 Clearly a man of excellent taste! I continue to be blown away by my RIM Custom 5 and am almost certain it'll still be my main bass come the middle of the century! Alex Quote
Mikey R Posted June 15, 2008 Posted June 15, 2008 Snakey Lane, looking forward to seeing this one take shape! we're all in for a treat here [quote name='alexclaber' post='219414' date='Jun 15 2008, 08:27 PM']I continue to be blown away by my RIM Custom 5 and am almost certain it'll still be my main bass come the middle of the century![/quote] hi Alex, im new to this forum but watched this bass being built over on talkbass.com, i must say Robbies basses look really awesome! Quote
7string Posted June 15, 2008 Posted June 15, 2008 Robbie makes some great basses. I'm looking forward to seeing progress Quote
Snakey Lane Posted June 21, 2008 Author Posted June 21, 2008 The spec is now agreed: [list] [*]5 string custom Marseer [*]5 piece bubinga / wenge neck [*]Ebony 34" scale fretboard, jumbo frets [*]Ebony nut [*]Tiger maple top [*]Bubinga wings [*]Dyed black tulipwood contrast veneer. [*]Maple headstock cap [*]Q tuner BL-5 pickups [*]ETS MKIII bridge and custom RIM anchor plate [*]Sperzel tuners [*]JD straplocks [*]Passive wiring [/list] And as a final touch, since my son and I share the same initials, a custom 12th fret inlay of "RB" :-) Now all I have to do is be patient ! Quote
paul h Posted June 21, 2008 Posted June 21, 2008 I love RIM build diaries, Robbie does great work. If ever I manage to find a way to afford a custom bass, it will definitely be a RIM. He did a set up on one of my basses a few years ago and he is a good guy to deal with as well as a top luthier. My current fantasy is to have a 6 string and a matching short scale 3 string made by him! Of course some kind of lottery win will have to involved I'm afraid! Looking forward to this one. Paul. Quote
RIM Basses Posted June 21, 2008 Posted June 21, 2008 (edited) Cheers Guys, It means alot to me, to see you love my work as much as I do. Gonna get started in a week or so on 3 necks and I hope you all look forward to the build threads in my section and on the website. Peace, Robbie. Edited June 21, 2008 by RIM Basses Quote
Snakey Lane Posted July 11, 2008 Author Posted July 11, 2008 Robbie has started work on my bass [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?s=&showtopic=9653&view=findpost&p=236091"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?s=&sho...st&p=236091[/url] Quote
alexclaber Posted July 14, 2008 Posted July 14, 2008 I'm getting to know the Q-Tuners and passive electronics better and I can't get over the versatility of such a simple arrangement. Are you going for the same pickup spacing as me, though adjusted for 34" scale? Alex Quote
Snakey Lane Posted July 16, 2008 Author Posted July 16, 2008 [quote name='alexclaber' post='239219' date='Jul 14 2008, 03:03 PM']I'm getting to know the Q-Tuners and passive electronics better and I can't get over the versatility of such a simple arrangement. Are you going for the same pickup spacing as me, though adjusted for 34" scale? Alex[/quote] I have not got into that level of detail I'll take Robbie's advice, I guess, on what works best. Quote
alexclaber Posted July 16, 2008 Posted July 16, 2008 [quote name='Snakey Lane' post='240756' date='Jul 16 2008, 12:06 PM']I have not got into that level of detail I'll take Robbie's advice, I guess, on what works best.[/quote] I think Robbie got quite a shock when my specs for the bass turned out to be about as long as a Phd thesis... Alex Quote
Snakey Lane Posted July 23, 2008 Author Posted July 23, 2008 Robbie dropped me a note earlier this week. He is ready to start work on the wood for the top of the bass. I'm away for a couple of weeks, but I'm going to pop round to look at the different maples he has before I make a final decision. This is too important to do via photos and email :-) Quote
Snakey Lane Posted August 10, 2008 Author Posted August 10, 2008 Very good customer service from Robbie. He was concerned that the piece of maple I had chosen for the top of my bass from photos was not quite as nice "in the flesh" as the photo suggested. So he gave up a bit of his Sunday for me to come round and look at it. Upshot is, Robbie will source a better piece for me. But it did give me - and my son, who I dragged along even though he thinks that "bass sucks" :-) - a chance to see the neck which Robbie has blocked up ready for drilling for truss rod and machining to shape. It looked very nice indeed, even in its raw state. Quote
Snakey Lane Posted September 18, 2008 Author Posted September 18, 2008 Robbie sent me an update with a picture. The maple cap on the headstock is on, as is a black tulipwood contrast veneer under the maple on the headstock. Next will be fitting the trussrod and gluing the ebony fretboard on. Quote
Snakey Lane Posted October 21, 2008 Author Posted October 21, 2008 Headstock is beginning to take shape. Quote
Veils Posted October 24, 2008 Posted October 24, 2008 (edited) I reckon Robbie's work has got to be the most distinctive of any luthier I can think of and definitely in a good way. I'm definitely a fan and I really fancy trying one of his basses at some point. I just LOVE those headstocks!! Keep up the good work Rob dude!! Edited October 24, 2008 by presoulnation Quote
lowdown Posted October 24, 2008 Posted October 24, 2008 Over 2 Years with my RIM single cut now. And i am still blown away with the sound and feel. It goes everywhere with me.. You wont regret having one of Robbies Basses. Garry Quote
Snakey Lane Posted November 8, 2008 Author Posted November 8, 2008 More pictures from Robbie. Fretboard glued onto the neck. Impressive clamp collection :-) Quote
7string Posted November 8, 2008 Posted November 8, 2008 Always good to see progress pics. How long do you think it will be before you can take the bass home? Quote
Snakey Lane Posted November 8, 2008 Author Posted November 8, 2008 Robbie estimated early in 2009. Good things are worth waiting for :-) [quote name='7string' post='324958' date='Nov 8 2008, 07:57 PM']Always good to see progress pics. How long do you think it will be before you can take the bass home?[/quote] Quote
Snakey Lane Posted November 21, 2008 Author Posted November 21, 2008 (edited) Latest photos from Robbie. As well as the fret markers on the edge of the fingerboard, there is going to be a personalised 12th fret inlay. Edited November 21, 2008 by Snakey Lane Quote
7string Posted November 21, 2008 Posted November 21, 2008 What's the RB going to look like at the 12th fret? Quote
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