This feature build is Rickenbacker inspired (obviously,) but absolutely has its own character and style.
Builder Jon Clegg writes:
I started this bass with the intention of entering it into Talk Bass’s Winter Build Off. However I’m a slow builder and ended up missing the deadline by about 4 months. The parameters of the contest were to challenge yourself with things you’d never done before, so I decided to:
1. Build a neck-thru 32″ scale
2. Carve a neck
3. Fret it
4. Build the pickups by modding a couple of lipsticks
5. Wire for stereo
6. String thru bridge
7. Use a new finishing technique (Water-based Polyurethane)The neck is a traditional laminate of maple and walnut, the body wings are poplar with mahogany veneer and double bound. The fretboard I is rosewood that I got pre-radiused to 12″ and pre-slotted. The bound headstock was the result of a needing to fix a mistake in cutting the headstock angle with a maple cap; I decided at that point to veneer the headstock as well and bind it also; in the end I think that was a happy mistake as I love the look that resulted.
The pickups are 4 lipsticks, 2 of which I modded for RWRP by disassembling the tubes and flipping the coil-magnet assembly over and re-assembling. Each of the Vol and Tone controls are 500K push-pulls, the volume controls pull out to select single-coil while the tone control push-pulls do phase-reversal or coil selection when coil-splitting. I made both the pickguard and the polished aluminum plate for the bridge pickup.
The tuners are Hipshot Ultralites, I chose these particular individual saddles after seeing a fellow TB’er use them and love the look. She’s strung up with GHS medium scales.
Well done!
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I dig!
Thanks!
Very Nice ……. How much does it weigh Rick 4001 – 4003 feel heavier and heavier as I get old and what is the measurement at the nut ???? Also, It looks similar to my 1974 – 4001 that was significantly upgraded by “Luthier to the Stars” Tomas Doyle. Tom replaced the Rick Pickups with his own custom blade bass pickups, shaved the neck down to Jazz Bass spec’s and matched the burgundy paint perfectly .
Thank you very much, John. She weighs about 7 pounds according to my bathroom scale. The nut is 1 5/8″ wide with strings spacing of about 1 3/8″
Whoops ….. hit “Post” before I was done. I particularly like your using individual bridges / saddles and the string thru bridge. It’s the kind of bass, Rickenbacker should be making but does not …… Kudo’s all around !!!!
Love it! Great work and design. How did you like the poly finish? I have only used nitro…do you think the poly is comparable in terms of final gloss finish?
I’ve really only used nitro prior to this build; I’d say the poly compares favorably with nitro in terms of gloss. The finishing schedule is a little different. Fortunately, there’s a whole thread on Talk Bass on using the water-based poly with tips from some real pros.
How does it sound, what does it sound like?, Nice job , she looks beautiful.
Thank you. The neck pickup is nice and full sounding particularly in HB mode. The bridge pickup is a bit on the thin side with lots of articulation, as you would expect, using both gives a nice blend. I need to sit down and do some side by side comparison with a few of my other basses for reference. I might still need to do some tweaking of the tone caps to get the most out of the lipsticks.
Gorgeous Jon…
All bound up clean & pretty.
Really nice work.
See ya on the forum. 😉
Thanks Kevin!
Boy, love to hear that thing! Post some video, please. Very nice work. Had a 1978 Rick, and boy do I wish I never sold it!
I have loved the Ric since I started playing one back in ’75.
I FOOLISHLY sold it in a fit of financial stupidity and haven’t had one since but would enjoy the experience again.
I have been thinking about building a neck thru project but haven’t settled on a plan…
then I see this beauty.
I don’t know if my chops have developed to the level needed for one like this baby, but hey…
Ya gotta start somewhere…
Great job! Master Clegg!!!
Thank you. This was only first full build, only my second body; great woodworking chops aren’t as important as patience, so I’d say go for it!
What does it sound like? Is it for clanky, fret buzz sound like say, Geddy Lee or similarly with a pick like the late, unbelievable Chris Squire? Or is it for slap funkiness? The bridge design is absolutely genius but I am sorry that is one ugly ass guitar.
I’m loving the bass dude! I bought one of the Fender Custom Shop Rascal basses just because it had 3 lipstick pups and looked cool as hell. I was pleasantly surprised to find it is one of the most versatile basses I ever played. It seemed like a great idea because I always wanted a Dano but every one I picked up was a piece of junk. It looks like you solved that in spades with this super cool build!