Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

jamespaul71 wrote:does anybody make the brass blocks for sale? Would you have to have measurements and the bass there to make a block?

Na, i just my dad got a piece and i'm gonna steal it from him He's just gotta have a meshure at the ole ric, do the job and i will make the rest of the job. If he just could meke the holes right (wich i dought) then it will be fine.

joxter74 wrote:Found a piece of brass that should work fine for the block. Involved my father in the project to (hes an old metallworker and has a milling machine in the garage.) I will document the whole process and put up a picture here when it's finished. I'm exited about this now, but it's a bit scarry in a nice way. Thanx again for all info.

Not to criticize what I'm sure will be a fine effort, but you really don't need brass, or a milling machine, for that matter, to make a truss rod spacer block. It can be done with basic woodshop tools...A bandsaw with an ordinary woodcutting blade, a disc sander and a piece of 1/4" thick aluminum stock about 1" long by about 5/16" high (varies from bass to bass; these parts were hand-fitted at the factory before the steel spacers came into use). The sander will radius the ends to match the pocket radii, and a slight angle at the top surface will keep the TRC fitting nice and flush. Drill the holes with a drill press.

All of this is much quicker than a vertical mill, and quite precise enough if done carefully.