The CORRECT McCartney Conversion...

[aceonbass]

I'll bet I now what's wrong with his 8 string.

[congerz83]

Look at the route on this "Faker"...

[Colonel Sanders]

Look at the route on this "Faker"...

RIC should take note of this and copy the copy.

Or simply remember how they were doing the neck routing in the 70ies!

[Lefty4003S8]

I'll bet I now what's wrong with his 8 string.

I know what's wrong........it's the neck pickup rout.

When I bought it, it had body-wing seperation. I bought it 'cause I ALWAYS wanted an 8-string, so when I found this LEFTY RICKENBACKER 8.....On my Birthday no less, I thought I hit the lottery!!!!!
In fairness to the shop I bought it from, they were up front about the problem. But I was also told that it was fixable.

Long story short-----It has been to Dale Fortune's shop TWICE, new rods including a THIRD installed, and it is STILL unplayable. You can drive a Semi under the action.
Dale has told me that it is a flaw in the design, (Neck pup rout weakens the neck), and we ALL know the potential for trouble with these basses

It is a REAL shame because it is very rare, and QUITE beautiful. It is the sweetest looking ornament on my wall--and that's ALL it is.







Do not drink from the toilet when taking Lyrica

[aceonbass]

Greg, I truely believe your bass can be fixed. PM me and I'll clue you in.

[heinpete]

... I'm happy to continue posting on the progress of his super cool project.
To re-direct, I'm going to apply a 2nd layer of resin today, then restring the bass and see how the neck works tomorrow or the next day.

...hi Mark, we will enjoy all your future postings, I'm sure! Would be a pity to miss you here!

[teeder]

Greg, I truely believe your bass can be fixed. PM me and I'll clue you in.

I'd like to watch this project too!

[Lefty4003S8]

Greg, I truely believe your bass can be fixed. PM me and I'll clue you in.

It is NOT my wish to hijack this thread. I only mentioned my bass because the subject of design flaws has come up here.

Dane--you have a PM waiting for you.


Do not drink from the toilet when taking Lyrica

[T.A.R.]

Mark, Thank you for all you have done. I've enjoyed your commentary, your videos, the list goes on. Stay well, I'm glad you'll continue to post about this project.

[Tramper Al]

Wow. When I first started reading this thread, all I could think was "RIC really needs a proper routing training program". But that's not really the primary problem. Assuming the corporate culture can't be changed, what RIC seems to need help with most of all is public relations. The cost of doing the right thing in this case would have been minimal, and the good will garnered priceless. Instead, the top executives at this company seemed bent on outdoing each other in disgraceful consumer relations, if you could even call it that. This is the sort of behavior that would get you fired most anywhere else. These guys really are their own worst enemies when it comes to the public face of the company.

I just bought a couple of Rickenbackers this month, one new one used. More than any other instrument I own, I really hope I don't have any manufacture-related problems with them. And that's because it's obvious I'd be completely on my own. This thread makes this new Rickenbacker owner realize that it would be a very bad day indeed if I ever had to pick up the phone and call RIC for help. I can't see buying another.

I think Mark is completely justified in the way that he feels now. If that's how he is treated by the company with his history and commitment to the brand, I can't help but think what that means for the average customer.

[walker]

OK. Here's the latest update on the project:

The bass as it's been sitting on The Rack Of Death (that is to say: The Rack Of Peace And Happiness) post-steam-press and resin-fill:


Clamps off:


Strung up and tuned standard with Optima Chrome Flats (100-80-60-45), truss rods tightened a modest amount, slightly tighter on the E side. The angle of the neck looks much better now, no longer pitched too far forward.


It's hard to capture in the photo, but the cavity is filled to the pickup wire route level with clear resin:


Top view:


Strings laying almost flat against the fretboard. Setting the action too low is actually a great accomplishment; it was impossible previously.






Overview of the neck plane - looking pretty twist-free.


Not a bad day or several's work, but I can't help imagine how much better it could have turned out if I knew what I was doing.

Tomorrow I'll riff around the neck a bit more and then fine-tune the action at the bridge.

Next up: all kinds of sawing, grinding, and filing. Oh my.

[cassius987]

Awesome progress! But I don't really understand your method. Did you pour resin and steam treat, or vice-versa? Is it that wood-hardening resin they sell at hardware stores? Was the steam treatment while the guitar was clamped? I have no idea how any of this works but your results speak for themselves and I'd love to find out more about what you did. I bet Rick is thrilled. The natural maple looks really purdy too.

[walker]

Sorry; I guess I didn't cover the step-by-step very thoroughly. First the steam press treatment was applied - gradually clamping the neck down at the 12th fret in between hitting it with a steam iron at approx 10 minute intervals. Then after the cavity had cooled and dried for a few days, I filled it with the clear resin which is the same kind of stuff used to make transparent door knobs and the like. The idea with the resin was to add support there while the cavity was slightly stretched open with the clamps on the neck.

[antipodean]

I've often hear the term "invisible repair" but now I've really seen it!

Sweet job, Mark - that's a real "back from the dead" triumph!

[walker]

Thanks, Evan. Yeah, this resin is cool stuff. A future project I'm mulling over is to build a completely transparent car with the stuff.