The search for enlightenment....

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Sat Sep 30, 2006 4:59 am

I am glad that Edgar chimed in. He provided some useful background on the bass and confirmed the theory about how it came to have that fingerboard. This forum makes the Rickenbacker world a lot smaller.

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Sat Sep 30, 2006 5:05 am

After the inlays are installed the fingerboard has a flat top. Before it is radiused, I use that flat top to guide my laminate cutter as it cuts the binding routes along three sides of the board. The radius is cut with this.

One side is flat an the other has a 10" radius curve formed into it. I put sand paper on both sides. I use the flat side to level the inlays before I route the binding channels then the curved side cuts the radius.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Sat Sep 30, 2006 6:08 am

you should do a web site Ted ...

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Sat Sep 30, 2006 12:18 pm

Ok, here is a preview shot. The binding is not quite done but the fingerboard has been glued on and shaped to fit the neck. I wiped the fingerboard down with some naptha to simulate a finish.

s4001 · Post by **s4001** » Sat Sep 30, 2006 12:20 pm

Those would look so stunning on my '68.

Excellent handiwork there.

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Sat Sep 30, 2006 12:23 pm

Thanks Scott. I have been sweating the details on this one.

s4001 · Post by **s4001** » Sat Sep 30, 2006 1:16 pm

It does look like a lot of nerve-wracking work. I bet old Sammy comes in handy...

cheyenne · Post by **cheyenne** » Sat Sep 30, 2006 1:25 pm

I dont want to disrupt this wonderful thread,,,,but I was wondering "Kathleen"?

Edgar,,,,can you elaborate on the name??

And Ted,,, I am so humbled by your work.

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Sat Sep 30, 2006 1:28 pm

No, it is more of a Zen thing - kind of peaceful and relaxing for me actually. Nerve wracking is when I have T1 down, a server coughing up blood and an end-user who has just lost the only copy of a critical document because it was kept on a floppy that she stored "safely" right next to the space heater under her desk. Of course, all three of these things have to be fixed right now. That is nerve wracking.

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Sat Sep 30, 2006 1:29 pm

Scott D: I stand on the shoulders of giants.

I am intrigued by the Kathleen thing too.

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Sat Sep 30, 2006 1:59 pm

rickcrazy · Post by **rickcrazy** » Sat Sep 30, 2006 2:09 pm

Totally fascinating stuff, Ted!

xakattack · Post by **xakattack** » Sat Sep 30, 2006 2:38 pm

I got 1 word...ok, maybe 2.....FREAKIN AWESOME!

You do very nice work, Ted!

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Sat Sep 30, 2006 2:49 pm

Thanks Dude. I really enjoy this stuff.

markbass99 · Post by **markbass99** » Sat Sep 30, 2006 3:59 pm

Not to diminish anything Dale's done, quite the opposite, That's Dale F. level work there- very nice. Has the student become the teacher? Looks that way to me, great luthiery chops.