RIM Basses

Hi All, things are moving on with the bass,today I machined the control cavity and done some more hand sanding. http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otis...05072006811.jpg http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otis...05072006810.jpg http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otis...05072006807.jpg http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otis...03072006801.jpg http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otis...03072006798.jpg more pics to come soon! cheers, Robbie.

Cheers guys,glad you are liking the basses,Tony the guy I made it for had alot of input into the design.Basicly two years ago he started on the body himself,he ruff cut the shape out and thats as far as it went due to being too busy.We met last year at my work and he told me about this bass project that he had and asked me if I would finish it off for him.So I said no worries! and re-shaped the body and blocked up for the bolt on neck,its been a real interesting one to make and Tony is over the moon. Cheers, Robbie.

Big with lots of scope due to the agi pre and coil taps.Its a real soild sound.Great MM replacement pickup! Cheers, Robbie.

Hi All, Well Im into the next build for a London Session bassist called Garry Cribb. The specs, Custom Jazz Singlecut design Purpleheart/Bubinga/Purpleheart Thru neck with black accent lines Macassar Ebony 34 inch scale fretboard Bubinga bodycore wings Redwood Bookmatched Top (Black accent between top and bodycore) Lace Redwood Headstock cap Rim Headstock without the slots 2/3 setup. Redwood or Bubinga Control cavity cover Black hardware Badass bridge Hipshot Ultralites Aguilar OBP-3 stacked version Delano MM and singlecoil Jazz Pickups JD Flushmount straplocks Diamond shape control latout, Les paul style. Warwick strings Lacquered Finish http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otis...03062006697.jpg http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otis...31052006673.jpg http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otis...31052006675.jpg http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otis...03062006691.jpg http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otis...03062006697.jpg http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otis...14062006746.jpg http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otis...14062006742.jpg http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otis...14062006751.jpg http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otis...14062006750.jpg More next week guys, Cheers, Robbie.

Hi All, Sorry I haven't been on the forum for a while,Ive been busy starting my next comission.Ive just finished work on a 5 string custom design for a local bassist. The spec, Tony's Custom body shape of one piece mahogany 5 piece bolt on neck of maple and Purpleheart Custom headstock design Bubinga fretboard 35" scale 24 frets MOP side markers Custom volume location 6 machine bolts with thread inserts in neck Seymore duncan MM pickup Aguilar OBP-3 preamp 9v Shaller roller bridge Custom wooden control covers Hipshot ultralite tuners JD flush mount straplocks Oiled finish http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otis...gRimbass021.jpg http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otis...gRimbass020.jpg http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otis...gRimbass016.jpg http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otis...gRimbass011.jpg http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otis...gRimbass008.jpg http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otis...gRimbass009.jpg http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otis...gRimbass010.jpg http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otis...gRimbass012.jpg http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otis...gRimbass014.jpg http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otis...gRimbass019.jpg Hope some people like this one as its been nice to make, Cheers Robbie.

Hi All, Just letting people know that my forum is setup at www.rimcustombasses.phorumz.com Cheers, Robbie.

Yeah the marks are holes in the grain of the wood,Ive filled them with wood dust and glue.As for the top horn being weak,no chance of that this is a strong piece of mahogany and she will be fine.When its been oiled the bass will look alot darker with nice graining. Cheers, Robbie

Its for the Volume knob,customer asked for it there and thats what custom is all about!

Its kinda Ritter space hopper style.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HI All, Well Im already onto my next build,its for a local bassist called Tony.He started making the body last year but couldn't find the time to finish it.So I offered to get the project rolling again. The Spec, Tony's Custom body shape of one piece mahogany 5 piece bolt on neck of maple and Purpleheart Custom headstock design Bubinga fretboard 35" scale 24 frets MOP side markers Custom volume location 6 machine bolts with thread inserts in neck Seymore duncan MM pickup Aguilar OBP-3 preamp 9v Shaller roller bridge Custom wooden control covers Hipshot ultralite tuners JD flush mount straplocks Oiled finish These pics are the current state of play,we have the body near finish and the neck is just being started,trussrod is in.Gonna be getting the CF rods in next week and finishing the neck ready for bolting in. http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otis...10042006534.jpg http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otis...11042006540.jpg http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otis...13042006542.jpg Cheers, Robbie.

Yeah for sure,Im jumping up and down not! I just dont take a good picture when Im trying to be normal.Anyway Marty's got the bass now and loves it,he's getting my soundclips done this week.These are the last shots of the bass and there's the studio shots on my website,also we had abit of a Ho-down at Martys flat and Craig came by with his RIM Custom. Later, Robbie. http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otisband/CIMG0809.jpg http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otisband/CIMG0812.jpg http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otis...02042006519.jpg http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otis...02042006524.jpg http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otis...02042006523.jpg http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otis...02042006517.jpg http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otis...02042006518.jpg

Thats actually me with the bass and not Marty,I'll get some pics with him done soon. Cheers everyone for your comments, Robbie.

Hi All, The First Marseer 6 Fretless is now finished and Marty has the bass,he is over the moon with it.Ive really enjoyed building my first standard shape and lets hope more people want the Marseer design.The studio pics are all done and Marty will be doing the soundclips this week,so we should see the website updated in the next few weeks.For now here she is, http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otis...28032006504.jpg Thanks for the nice comments people,and I'll see you soon with the next custom build which is a bit different! Robbie.

Hi All, Well my website is now up and running at www.rimcustombasses.co.uk so check it out people, The bass is nearly finished now just got to buff the body abit more and setup all the hardware and electronics etc.Should be ready for Martin on Friday night.For now here's some more pics, http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otis...23032006480.jpg http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otis...24032006488.jpg http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otis...20032006470.jpg http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otis...24032006486.jpg

Hi All, Ive now applied a few coats to the top and headstock,looking to be finished by next weekend. http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otis...18032006457.jpg

Yeah for sure its a shame we dont see more custom guitars being less conservative,Im going to be making my look on a Les Paul in the near future with my headstock design.Should be interesting.About the bridge,well Im a Toolmaker and I have a milling machine.I basicly had an idea and went ahead and machined into some wood.the saddles and tailpiece are made from stock brass bar and flat brass plate.The intonation is adjusted by hand then once I have it set on my korg rack tuner the saddle screws down into the wooden bridge with a tiny No.2 screw.The height at the bridge is done with a small needle file.very simple ideas are best in my book.This custom bridge will only be used on my fretless basses until I design a better bridge for frtted basses. Cheers for the comments once again lads, Robbie.

Hi All, Well today I got quite abit done on the bass,fitted the straplocks,final sanded and applied a couple of Lacquer/sealer coats to the back of the bass. http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otis...15032006443.jpg http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otis...15032006444.jpg http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otis...15032006441.jpg http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otis...15032006439.jpg http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otis...15032006442.jpg http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otis...15032006440.jpg

Im using a UK suplier called Flag finishes.Im using there water based Lacquer called Aqualac.

Hi All, The fingerboard will just be oiled,and the water based Lacquer is real nice to apply and come up super hard.Today I set the bridge and intonation,gonaa get the straplocks fitted tomorrow and then strip off the hardware and final sand.Looking to get a couple of sealer coats on the bass by the weekend. Cheers for the comments lads, Robbie.

Hi All, Yesterday I started setting up the bridge and slotted the top face for the hollowed chamber.

Im going to use a Water based Lacqeur again.

Cheers Jon, Ken lawrence and Chris stambaugh are two of my fav builders,and lets not forget Ken bebensee.I get inspiration from these guys but Ive tried to come up with my own style.About the headstock,this is basicly how I go about machining it 1. We ruff cut out the headstock shape within the the neck thru section,then table drum sand to near finished size. 2. I mark out the position of the slots,and also mark out the position of the tuner holes to be drilled. 3. The headstock is then clamped on my work vice and the tuners holes are drilled square to the tapered faces of the headstock.I drill the holes around 20mm deep. 4. Next we setup the neck on my milling machine,clamping down on the neck thru section and clock in on one side of the tapered headstock so the slots run parallel. 5. Index a 16mm milling cutting across into slot position and start cutting the slot out,3 passes and the slot is finished 6. Change for a chamfering cutter to chamfer the top of the slots out. 7. Re-setup for other Slot 8.Change to 25mm slot cutter and machine 5mm deep counterbore hole for RIM Logo.(By the way these are laser cut for me by a local company. 9. Hand sand out and start the Volute on the neck. That basicly it,there's quite a bit of work involved in the headstock but I love the way it looks and dont mind putting in the time for the end result.I have a template for the headstock in MDF but I only use it for drawing the shape out.

Thanks for all the comments lads, Here's some back pics of the Marseer,and also price wise on a 4 string would be £1200 depending on spec.There's no chance water will warp this baby,thanks for the concern Curtis P. http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otis...22022006318.jpg http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otis...28022006353.jpg http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otis...27022006343.jpg

Hi All, Ive been busy getting this custom fretless 6 together for a local Bassist,the spec is as follows. Marseer Body design with fishtail Custom Slotted headstock 3 piece thru neck of Bubinga and Purpleheart 2 carbon fiber rods in neck Cocobolo fretboard Bubinga wings(Hollowed) Asian Ebony Bkmatched top Asian ebony headstock cap Delano SBC HE/S Pickup Noll 3 band Preamp Custom cocobolo bridge and brass saddles/tailpiece made by myself Gotoh tuners http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otis...10032006424.jpg http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otis...10032006428.jpg http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otis...10032006427.jpg http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otis...08032006417.jpg http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otis...06032006408.jpg http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otis...03032006384.jpg http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otis...20022006309.jpg http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otis...17022006280.jpg http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otis...16022006271.jpg http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otis...28022006358.jpg Nice but the pic is too big so I resized it

Hi All, Cheers for the nice comments,Im glad people are liking the basses.Well today ive ruffed out the headstock shape and its looking real nice,still waiting for the carbon rods to turn up before and more work gets done. http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otis...24012006183.jpg http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y131/otis...24012006186.jpg