al heeley Posted January 13, 2008 Report Share Posted January 13, 2008 Stage 1 of a new bass build: Ric 4003 replica. I've really always wanted a Ric 4003, but I can't afford one or wait for x months for one to come up so I decided to have a go at building one. Here's stage 1 - the full -size plan drawing from which the varioous templates will be cut. Construction planned: traditional maple body wings, thru-neck maple (maybe walnut sandwich), 4003 electronics with push-pull bright cap on the bridge pup tone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xanthus Posted January 14, 2008 Report Share Posted January 14, 2008 Oh man this is going to be awesome My friend has been hounding me forever about making him a Ric 4003. I told him I'll build him something after I stop making mistakes. Or maybe I should just never mention to my musician friends that I build instruments. Where did you get the plans to do the body? Is it all by eye? I'd like to get a copy of the plans just to have them for storage/reference and the offchance that I actually build one. A walnut/maple neck would look awesome on it. What's the finish going to be like? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avengers63 Posted January 14, 2008 Report Share Posted January 14, 2008 (edited) What's the finish going to be like? Is there any choice other than black with white binding? Seriously, when I see a Ric bass, all I can envision is Geddy Lee. Edited January 14, 2008 by avengers63 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xanthus Posted January 14, 2008 Report Share Posted January 14, 2008 Heh, yeah you're probably right. Funny you should mention Geddy Lee, though. The buddy who's been bugging me to build him a Ric, his favorite bass is his Geddy Lee signature. Maybe I never put 2 and 2 together... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al heeley Posted January 14, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 14, 2008 I drew all the plans out by hand from templates sized up in photoshop to the right dimensions, then printed off the PC. A scale pdf of a replacement ricky scratchplate helped me check the size and scale up was right, together with the neck length / scale length data. (33 1/4" scale is quoted, which is a bit odd and means I end up having to slot the fretboard myself )A couple of scans from the pages of a favourite guitar book helped too. Finish - I have some black acrylic rattle can paint left in the garage and some white binding, so i may as well go with the classic. This is after all my homage to my childhood bass legend, Geddy Lee! (even though he has now deserted to the Fender Jazz side). I will lacquer the black painted body with Rustins 2-part plastic coating (UF resin). The neck will be 2-piece maple or 3-piece maple/walnut, depends if they have thin enough pieces up the timber yard. Rosewood fretboard (just ordered). Not sure I'm up to the MOP triangle inlays but may settle for MOP dots for fretmarkers. Xanthus - if you want I can send you my scaled-up photoshop image I used to trace out the bass dimensions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xanthus Posted January 14, 2008 Report Share Posted January 14, 2008 That's too bad about the fretboard. What a strange scale length... I don't suppose you could bump it up to 34" and maintain replica accuracy? I was petrified enough with simply fretting my neck, let alone cutting the fretboard. Best of luck! I'll send you a PM, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 Why not just make it a 34" scale? There is no rule that says you have to copy everything down precisely. Also, funny thing. I was sketching a Ric copy last night for a future 8-string semi-hollow build (dual course). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capello Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 this is a serious building,and i really cant wait the end....go on!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TemjinStrife Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 Rics are 32" scale if I remember correctly. And honestly, when I think of a Ric I think Fireglo... a great reddish-orange to natural burst, like McCartney used. But, there's nothing against doing something unique... I'd love to see a Ric with a walnut top and no pickguard myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orgmorg Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 No, it is indeed 33 1/4", but I doubt anyone would notice if you did it 34". Alternately, you could use a 35" scale board, and cut it off at the first fret, which would give you right around 33". As for the walnut stripe, I think one of the few differences between the 4003 and the 4001 was the 4003 did not have it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al heeley Posted January 15, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 Fretboard arrived this evening. Gave it 20 mins with the sander to take out the saw marks, it's coming up nice real fast, rich deep colour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avengers63 Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 It seems to have come mounted on a p-bass. What a bargain! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al heeley Posted January 15, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 LOL, thats my 2007 rough'n'ready p-bass homebuild at the back with solid slab of 1-piece bubinga body. It sounds marvellous but weighs several tonnes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al heeley Posted January 16, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 Fretboard sized, radiussed, slotted and dotted. Sorry, not brave enough to try for the triangle inlays yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xanthus Posted January 17, 2008 Report Share Posted January 17, 2008 Wow, that fretboard is flawless Excellent job on those inlays, the MOP contrasts beautifully. Man..... I honestly think I'm going to forego moving into an apartment next semester in favor of using my extra money on guitar supplies and materials. You people inspire me. Thanks for the pic, too! I meant to get you back yesterday, but this semester is already shaping up to be quite the killer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al heeley Posted January 17, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2008 With the end offcut from the fretboard piece I made a lid for a jewellery box for my wife. It's her birthday. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v609/al_heeley/lid.jpg More parts arrived today; here's bridge ass'y, knobs, truss rod, tuners, pickguard blank and white binding. Just need the maple now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al heeley Posted January 19, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2008 Fingerboard finished today: bound and fretted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xanthus Posted January 20, 2008 Report Share Posted January 20, 2008 Sweet Where did you buy the Ric-specific parts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al heeley Posted January 20, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2008 After a LOT of searching I saw Allparts UK had one of the old hipshot bridges come in, the ones they have discontinued/upgraded now, presumably due to IP infringement, but its more or less a direct replica of the authentic Ric bridge. The knobs I finally found at are 65pence each from maplin and are the closest looking to authentic ric style I can find without having to remortgage the house. Tuners are 2-a-side open cog p-bass type. Scratchplate will be cut from a white plastic blank piece (WD Music, where I got the truss rod as well) It's been really hard getting the parts for this but then that's all part of the game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al heeley Posted January 21, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2008 Not much building progress this weekend, due to plenty of playing progress. Got the pickguard and TRC made from the white blank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RGman Posted January 21, 2008 Report Share Posted January 21, 2008 Looking good, i love ric 4003's. Goodluck on the project! I cant wait to see the outcome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al heeley Posted January 21, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2008 Quite pleased with how the side dots came out - I was too lazy to order some black dot rod so I used up a little left-over white rod and pushed it inside small sections of a black scoobie I stole from my daughter. The result - tiny little liquorice allsorts that glue into the holes and make a cute little circle marker. Just needs a final sand down to make them sit flush. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vanhorton Posted January 21, 2008 Report Share Posted January 21, 2008 coming a long nicely, i like the side markers too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LPboco Posted January 22, 2008 Report Share Posted January 22, 2008 great job that work is amazing keep us posted!!! Connor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddiewarlock Posted January 22, 2008 Report Share Posted January 22, 2008 Looks really good man!! Now, i have inlayed bc rich style diamonds, jackson style sharkfins, gibson style blocks and trapezoids, prs style birds, etc, yet i am afraid because i'll inlay for the first time dots it's true!! if they don;t line up perfectly it'll look like poo!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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