Rick's Fine '52

[quote name='ped' timestamp='1354636351' post='1888477'] [i][u][b]So do we all like the sound of a single payment for a one off advert and the option of a single yearly payment?[/b][/u][/i] [/quote] Yep

I fully support all the proposals stated above.... ...but also agree that the £20/year fee is slightly unbalanced. Some people may try and sell a £2k bass every month, whilst others may sell a £125 beginner bass just once in the year, meaning they'd probably not bother. Instead of the annual fee, could you not charge say £2 per listing, which, IMO, would not hinder anyone from choosing to list, and would probably generate more revenue than £20/year, as the number of contributors, I think, would be far less. How will it work with other marketplace listings, such as strings for example, someone trying to offer a fellow basschatter a bargain set of strings for a tenner, isnt going to pay a £20 fee first. Likewise, someone may have an old set of knobs that could really help a fellow bc'er out, but for £5, wont pay a £20 fee, so we users could lose out? I've recently contributed, following a sale, but accept that many don't, which is unfortnuate, and a shame. Perhaps a listing fee, meaning you cannot hit the 'post' button, until you've paid, would be better, and fairer, so as not to stop the marketplace alltogether...i think a £20 fee would slow it down considerably. I appreciate the difficulty in striking a balance, and hats off for what is already being done...I don't envy you one little jot. You can't please all the people......etc!

[quote name='BassBod' timestamp='1354570414' post='1887627'] Gotta be Roto's on that one...... [/quote] Yes, you're right, I'm sticking with Plan A.

[quote name='Mabrothrax' timestamp='1354563244' post='1887468'] Damn. Please tell me you're gonna put flats on that beauty? [/quote] I think I'm going pure Entwhistle, and gonna put Rotasounds roundwounds on it, I'm not a flats fan anyway to be honest, although I do have them on my original stuff, as much for the sound, and also to save the frets. Undecided at the moment, maybe flats, you've got me thinking now.

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1354562783' post='1887456'] so.... how does it SOUND? [/quote] Let me get the bloody strings on it first!!!

[quote name='Wooks79' timestamp='1354506075' post='1886786'] This is an awesome build thread, loving your work Rick! [/quote] Thank you Sir!

[quote name='skej21' timestamp='1354488903' post='1886676'] Once, when I buy the bass. After that, I've never had to bother with it. Most of my basses have been pretty settled and haven't needed any 'tweaking'... Maybe I've just been lucky? [/quote] This. Even when I change strings I never have to change the action. The only time i change the action is when i first get a bass, and then only if its not to my taste.

[quote name='Bassman Sam' timestamp='1354489542' post='1886684'] STUNNING!! Opps, caps lock on but worth shouting about. [/quote] Thanks Sam, appreciate that!

[quote name='Chris Horton' timestamp='1354476636' post='1886461'] Wow , the bass is looking fantastic Rick ! It will all come to life when the strings are on What a thing of beauty [/quote] Thanks Chris, yes indeed, can't wait to get it strung up!

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1354477266' post='1886472'] Is that Amtico flooring, by the way? [/quote] Perhaps we should start a flooring 'build' thread? No, it isnt, looked at it, but it didnt suit!

[quote name='LawrenceH' timestamp='1354449517' post='1885991'] Looks great! But a bit uncomfortable, here's a tip - sand over the edges a bit and contour it where the forearm rests. [/quote] It's actually not at all, although I regularly play slab basses ('52's & Tele's), so I guess I'm used to 'em. It's also remarkably light, I'll get it on the scales.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1354403700' post='1885707'] Jesus Christ Rick, that is truly amazing! Very impressed - I await further developments with bated trousers. [/quote] Thanks for the comment, it[i] is [/i]amazing, I'm more than impressed with the finished look. Even better in the flesh........if you're ever in the area?

Problem...I can't find the tuner ferrules, which means I can't screw on the tuners, and string her up!!! Nooooooooooo!!! I was tempted to strip one of my others for the parts, but that would be silly, and show my impatience, so I'll get some, and wait, so this is as far as I'll take her until I get some. So I've added the 3 strap buttons, (remembering that the one on the body end is slightly offset on these, and not centrally located, to stop the twist when hung from a strap, due to the body not being contoured), and the covers. Despite the frustration of not being able to string it, I'm delighted with the results so far, and it will be by far my best build yet. So this is as far as it go's today, here's a couple of final assembly pics (Tuners aside), one of her naked, and one of her with her clothes on. Thanks for looking.

The late 60's pickups are now in place (Not soldered together yet, I'm making sure it sets up OK before i set to work with the soldering iron), the pots (6609), knobs, and thumbrest are now in place. I'm missing a correct screw for the thumbrest, so I used another for the time being, pickguard and shield fixed, threaded saddles aligned;

Lovely fitting neck joint. You can see the maple cap veneer in this pic too.

Neck now aligned, gets bolted on with the '66 serial number neckplate selected, and mentioned in the first post;

OK, the body has been unwrapped and its absolutely stunning, the single piece ash body has amazing grain showing through the thick nitro white blonde, and the weather checking, and ageing is absolutely spot on, just the effect i wanted, like the blue veins John spoke of, it took almost 10 weeks, alot later than I was told, but nevertheless, it's well worth the wait. I got all my bits out the box for the slab, and laid the pieces together. Firstly, the neck was slightly wider than the neck heel route, but 2 mins with the dremel sander, and it slipped in a treat. The alignment of the pickup routes are spot on with the '66 wide bevelled scratchplate and aluminium shielding plate. So far so good. Next job is to align the bridge and get that fixed. Using a piece of black cotton, i threaded it through the nut, over the pickups (through the middle of the string poles, and set the bridge, same with each string, until it was perfectly aligned, then fixed. Here she is, just the pieces laid together, note the grey bottom pickups are still seperate.....more to come later this evening;

[quote name='redstriper' timestamp='1354317357' post='1884890'] [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9k5LQJS33o[/media] [/quote] Excellent stuff, ta.

[quote name='KiOgon' timestamp='1354319452' post='1884914'] There's a lot I don't remember about IOW 1970 but Jimi being ropey? Nah I don't think so, you probably had to be there [/quote] It was arguably his worst ever, poor sound, out of tune, nothing in sync with Billy or Mitch, nothing went right, and it was obvious he just wanted to get off, constantly talking to his sound tech who didnt improve things, really sad to see actually.

I'm a huge Hendrix fan, and when he was on form was simply different planet. As a musician (I use the term loosely!), and someone who understands what's involved in playing an electric string instrument, I'm always amazed every time I watch him. I haven't seen a live recording of his for a few years, and just watched Berkeley on Sky Arts. Not one of his best, but certainly a better performance (There are some very ropey ones like IOW). I'm always amazed (Putting aside his actual talent in playing) by the control of the instrument he has, the volumes and effects/settings he uses, I can't imagine for a moment if he handed me his guitar plugged in, that I would stand any chance of even controlling the feedback/noise, let alone get a tune out of it. For me, and most others, he isn't comparable with other players, because he was on a different level altogether, but having not seen a live clip for years, really enjoyed that. Its repeated later and over the next few days if anyone fancies a gander. I'm off to find Rainbow Bridge clips on Youtube, one of his best performances IMO, lovely slow blues stuff, with a rock solid Billy Cox on a classic '68 Jazz. Anyway, thought I'd make a comment, as JH is always worth a mention.

I think he's gone......

[quote name='Rick's Fine '52' timestamp='1353658657' post='1876980'] Do we know when the 'last post' will be visible again on the home page, for each section? [/quote] yey, its back!!

Ooooohh, the finished slab body has arrived from the US!! Havent seen it yet, will open it when i get home later, so I'll have a few pics to upload at the weekend, and the assembly process can begin. I also managed to score a set of late 60's grey bottom pickups, so good to go!! Stand by for some hopefully now, more regular progress updates!

[quote name='BB2000' timestamp='1354035556' post='1881242'] I'm going to have to sell my Fullerton '83 reissue burst '57. Do you think it would be worth holding on to it until it's 30th birthday? Don't these collectors have some stupid notion of a bass being "vintage" at 30? [/quote] For me, vintage is, and will always be, pre-CBS (Assuming we're talking about Fenders that is. With other makes, its depends on key milestones, such as Musicman, anything pre-EB I would happily class as a 'vintage' Stingray. Gibson's, it's pre-68, Rickenbackers, pre-'70. An Alembic Series 1 would sit ok with me being cal;led vintage. Thats just me. Anything 70's isnt vintage to me, but maybe thats my age, if I was 20 years old, I'd probably call an '87 Thumb bass vintage!! I don't think holding on for a few months will affect the price in the slightest. I may even be interested in it, does it have the case and original Fullerton candy (Manual, tag, strap, cable etc), raised pole pickups? Any pics?