The RickenBaker

[Al Heeley]

Some more progress today - frets fitted & trimmed, ctrl cavity routed and electrics started.

[Al Heeley]

Opinions please: Is it worth binding the headstock to match the body or should I leave it unbound?

[peted]

I'm no Ricky enthusiast (so don't know how it's done traditionally), but i'd have thought that if you're going to bind the headstock that you'll have to do the neck/fretboard too. Otherwise it'll look weird where the binding ends at the headstock and the neck starts. No?

[Mikey R]

[quote name='peted' post='406002' date='Feb 11 2009, 09:30 AM']I'm no Ricky enthusiast (so don't know how it's done traditionally), but i'd have thought that if you're going to bind the headstock that you'll have to do the neck/fretboard too. Otherwise it'll look weird where the binding ends at the headstock and the neck starts. No?[/quote]

I would agree - unless you can taper the binding in some way... do Rickys have bound boards?

[Al Heeley]

They do have bound boards traditionally, but for various reasons I wanted to leave this one plain, my original black 'backer had a bound board but i didn't do the headstock as i was too scared of wrecking it! My router is a big heavy bastid and routing a binding channel is pretty fiddly with the scrolly curves of a rick headstock.
See what you mean about the transition from head to neck. I'm sure I've seen other guitars that just taper nicely where the fingerboard begins. Hmm, one to ponder.

[BigBeefChief]

[quote name='Al Heeley' post='402920' date='Feb 7 2009, 04:55 PM']Routing has begun. Sorry still no eggs so here's a jar of Asda pickled Onions instead.
[/quote]


Have you tried Barry Norman's pickled onions?

Very tasty and available in Sainsbury's.

[Al Heeley]

[url="http://www.pickleodeon.co.uk/"]http://www.pickleodeon.co.uk/[/url] <--Here? I have not, great to hear the esteemed film buff is endorsing a fine selection of pickled goods. Not enough support is given to the great british pickled onion in my opinion. I think we should all do more to support the cause.

Btw, what on earth have you done to your face?

[Boneless]

Great work, really.

Your work is inspiring, and makes me wanna do it (then I think about it, and I just remember that I'd probably make a piece of sh*t ).

For the binding, I'd make the binding for the headstock as well, or no binding at all

PS: f***in' hell! That's a pretty smashed up face!

[Kev]

don't bind the headstock unless you bind the neck with it, dont think it will look right otherwise

[Al Heeley]

Final bit of routing - bridge pickup. Second use of the B&Q copper pipe, a little trick learnt on the forum for making the wiring holes from crtl cavity to bridge and pickup cavity easier to drill - always scares me doing that bit. The drill bit stuck into the end of the pipe with a blob of epoxy makes the job a lot easier and a lot less risky.

[Prosebass]

Hi Al

have you never tried my method of going through from the Jack socket to the pickup cavities ? It saves having to rout the top of a lovely body.
It takes some bottle though if you do it by hand !

Edited February 13, 2009 by Prosebass

[Al Heeley]

Ooooh, scary! Where did you get your big long drill bit from? Is that about 8mm?

[BigBeefChief]

[quote name='Al Heeley' post='408213' date='Feb 13 2009, 07:45 AM']Where did you get your big long drill bit from?[/quote]


He takes after his father.

[Mikey R]

[quote name='Al Heeley' post='408020' date='Feb 12 2009, 09:02 PM']Final bit of routing - bridge pickup. Second use of the B&Q copper pipe, a little trick learnt on the forum for making the wiring holes from crtl cavity to bridge and pickup cavity easier to drill - always scares me doing that bit. The drill bit stuck into the end of the pipe with a blob of epoxy makes the job a lot easier and a lot less risky.[/quote]

You could also try one of these:



available from [url="http://www.fine-tools.com/bohr2.htm"]http://www.fine-tools.com/bohr2.htm[/url]

Just a thought...

[Prosebass]

[quote name='Al Heeley' post='408213' date='Feb 13 2009, 07:45 AM']Ooooh, scary! Where did you get your big long drill bit from? Is that about 8mm?[/quote]

It is indeed 8mm. I got a full set of bits, steel and wood, hole cutters etc ranging from 1mm to 1 inch from Aldi in a plastic case for about a tenner. Not much cop for drilling 1/4 plate but every size and type you would ever need for wood.
I am thinking of making a small jig from 9mm internal tubing that is height adjustable and can be mounted on the bench so you can drill perfectly level consistently. Its a bit hairy doing it by hand.

[quote name='BigBeefChief' post='408328' date='Feb 13 2009, 10:32 AM']He takes after his father.[/quote]

True....apparently

[Prosebass]

[quote name='Mikey R' post='408370' date='Feb 13 2009, 11:07 AM']You could also try one of these:



available from [url="http://www.fine-tools.com/bohr2.htm"]http://www.fine-tools.com/bohr2.htm[/url]

Just a thought...[/quote]

I have a phobia for augers after spending years drilling holes through 8" jarra sleepers with them !

[Mikey R]

[quote name='Prosebass' post='408895' date='Feb 13 2009, 06:33 PM']I have a phobia for augers after spending years drilling holes through 8" jarra sleepers with them ![/quote]

Do you mean augers for powered drilling? Ive heard they can be quite hairy as they draw themselves into the wood, under power you get vertually no control. Ive recently picked up a carpenters brace and Im looking forward into getting into hand powered drilling.


I dont suppose, just on the off chance, youve got any jarra left laying about?

[Prosebass]

[quote name='Mikey R' post='409077' date='Feb 13 2009, 09:43 PM']Do you mean augers for powered drilling? Ive heard they can be quite hairy as they draw themselves into the wood, under power you get vertually no control. Ive recently picked up a carpenters brace and Im looking forward into getting into hand powered drilling.


I dont suppose, just on the off chance, youve got any jarra left laying about? [/quote]

The power came from my arms (fitting cranks on sleeper ends for railway points) nothing to do with basses !
Unfortunately the jarra was pressure treated so it didn't rot and no use for bass bodies, good for patios though.
In recent years another wood was used for points sleepers (not sure what it was) but when you drilled it it smelled of dog sh*t !
bloody horrible.....

[Al Heeley]

Done any guitar building using zebra-wood? I thought it got its name from the stiped appearance, but when you cut it / sand it/ drill it, it smells like the zebra enclosure at London Zoo.

[Al Heeley]

Pickguardian delivered today, machine heads from Gav's ebay shop. Here's all the bits in place - final sanding, tru-oil finishing and nut-cutting left on the agenda.

[hookys6stringbass]

[quote name='Al Heeley' post='409492' date='Feb 14 2009, 03:39 PM']Pickguardian delivered today, machine heads from Gav's ebay shop. Here's all the bits in place - final sanding, tru-oil finishing and nut-cutting left on the agenda.
[/quote]


You've done it again Al, that is a thing of beauty! One thing i'm not keen on is the dot inlays. Ever thought of having a go on the shark tooth inlays??

[Al Heeley]

Not posted up a prog shot for a while. body and neck have been tru-oiled and waxed. The maple has taken on a softer honey glow. Bridge and rear pup fitted, some more wiring work needed then a good fret levelling and set up.

Edited March 1, 2009 by Al Heeley

[GreeneKing]

All the best Rics have dot inlays:

[Mikey R]

[quote name='Al Heeley' post='422751' date='Mar 1 2009, 10:39 PM'][/quote]

Its good to see the return of the freaky egg.

[shinhoman]

wow this is a really nice build.
how did you get that template? was it bought or did you make it?
if you made it can you make me one ^_^
you can name a price if you want.

dan