Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hey guys, I know this might be a little bit of heresy but I just pulled the trigger and ordered a custom made bass.

I know it's off topic but you'll get a kick out of the serial number... It's RC4001! It stands for ReCurve - 4-string - #1. I think it's kind of appropriate given my love of Rics!

It's from a really great luthier in the UK who's website is at http://www.acguitars.co.uk/.

Here are the details:

- 4 string modified ReCurve design
- black limba body
- camphor burl top/back on the body
- camphor burl facing on the headstock
- birdseye maple neck w/back limba strips
- quited maple fingerboard
- 2 proprietary FatBas humbucking pickups made by Aaron Amstrong (Kent's son)
- black hardware (hipshot bridge & tuners)
- electronics TBD - looking at some cool options

Here's the body template...



Here's the camphor burl for the top/back of the body...



Here's what's going to be the fingerboard...



I so can't wait!!!!! I'll be selling my 1960 Gibson EBO to fund this. I'm keeping my Rics!!!

Beautiful piece of wood David. The fingerboard is going to kill.

If she sounds half as good as she is going to look, you are a lucky man.

Now about that serial #. If I were to receive, oh say a set of RIC strings every month, I won't mention it to Mr. Hall when we go out drinking beer on Fridays.

Good luck on your grand adventure. Love to see photo's as you go.

Looks beautiful.
Nice one.

don't feel bad at all ... most of my basses are not Rics ... there is more to life than playing Rickenbackers ...

Jeff, people have been executed here for saying less!

Wow. I am still pretty new here, but from all the posts I've read I would not have guessed that Jeff Rath would play anything but a Ric! Guess I'm not paying close enough attention

I recently played a Schecter Studio 5 that I liked ... most Schecters have 2 band active circuits ... I have never found a 2 band active circuit that I like yet ... but 3 band circuits give you mids and you get a more natural growly sound ... and I have a few fenderbird, p-bass, and jazz style basses that I like ...

If your a player, then you have to have alot of different "tools" at your disposal.

tools?

Jared... LMAO!!!

Gary, if you can get John to sell me one of those 4002 blanks "sitting on a pallet out back" I'll send you a set of strings every month for the next 10 years! *smirk*

Greg ... check my web site

www.3dentourage.com/425

most of the basses pictured are Rics But I really enjoy my 5 string p-basses, jazz basses, and tbirds and custom basses ...

Hi David, I'm afraid the Mr. Hall I know is Joel Hall. He is the manager at the local NAPA store.

I tried to dupe you and you busted me.

I'll ask him if he has any 4002 blanks just in case.

(Doggone, can't get away with anything around here!)

Jared, I hope you get a cut every time that red beauty appears. You would be getting money for nothing and your Ricks for free!

Here's the first shot of the body now that it's shaped with the camphor burl on the top and bottom:



Alan tells me that the neck should have the headplate and a back plate on tomorrow - both with double veneer contrast lines! And then the headstock will be shapped once the headplate is dry. The rest of the week will be spent routing cavities and putting on the camphor heel - again with double veneer and then finally fitting the neck.

This is getting REALLY exciting!

For what it's worth, putting all the rods in the exact same parallel plane vastly diminished the neck strengthening possibilities. If the carbon fiber rods were put in splayed slots, mimicking the taper of the neck (or even if there is no taper), the usefulness of them would be increased greatly.

By the way, you wouldn't want to use this construction commercially, and maybe not too wise to show it here even, as that construction is still covered by a valid patent- not mine, so I certainly don't care but FYI.