Rick's Fine '52

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1351185684' post='1848456'] Can't wait to see the finished item! [/quote] Me too!!

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1351200304' post='1848740'] It's a nice one though. [/quote] It is! They're not the quickest in the world, but they are one of the best, I'm sure it will be worth the wait!

[quote name='eb2jim' timestamp='1351271875' post='1849601'] This is wonderful. I was going to make one of these about 10 or more years ago (Edenhaus gave me a price to do one) and then I was looking at ordering one of the custom shop ones but it dissapeared before I had the finances in order. Me and everyone else, probably. I never saw one in the flesh, and the only one I find out there is that "wrong" one with the rosewood and tort. Why would anyone bother paying that much for what - for Fender - is less work and is wrong? In spying the tell-tale incorrect feature, I guess it is the maple cap, no? The Roger Waters bass has a slab, and the real ones should be curved and thin like a 66 rosewood board. [/quote] This is mine, it [i]is[/i] a maple cap. Try finding someone who'll make you one!! trust me, I did, searched high and low, not out there. This one is just fine. Thats why this project has been 3 years in the making, because if I couldnt get a maple-cap neck, I wouldn't have done it, I'm a bit obsessed like that, which is not always a good thing. Thanks for the comments, and interest though, genuinly appreciated.

[quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1351259991' post='1849387'] W.H.A.T!!!???!!! ............. you might be biased because of your dislike of fender. [/quote] Despite the fact he has 4 !!

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1351180423' post='1848352'] OK Rick, when you've finished this one will you build me a 66/67 with a tort guard, rosewood neck and lollipop tuners? [/quote] It would certainly be a lot easier than this one has been, I could have used an original neck too!!! It wouldn't be 'right' though would it, it has to be maple-cap,and the wide-bevel black guard, thats what makes it unique really!

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1351176761' post='1848278'] There is a reference in Barry Matthews' book to a later batch (66/67) made for distribution in the USA, some of which had torty guards and rosewood fingerboards. One particularly rare example (F188559) had 'paddle' or 'lollipop' tuners, too. [/quote] Yes, but they weren't made in '62, as the reference, and they didnt have slab boards, as stated. The second batch definitely exist though, about 5 examples still known about.

OK, it's been a while since i had anything to report on this, I now have all the components, and finally (!!), a pic of the body, after it's final coat of heavy white blonde. Looking good, it's now having the nitro cracked and weathered, and a light relic wear, and I should have it back in a couple of weeks, subject to USPS! I asked for a few progress pics, and got one!, never mind, here it is; [url="javascript:void(0);"][/url]

[quote name='Big_Stu' timestamp='1351089029' post='1847182'] That's a "I just bought this at the weekend so I'm going to show it off for a bit" pose. [/quote] I think he's thinking "What the fu*k did I buy this for, it looked so cool in the shop, now I just feel like a complete cock!"

[quote name='harleyheath' timestamp='1351074195' post='1846889'] I'd love to see a thunderbird ramped up high mark king style an slapped like larry graham on speed, that would be awesome! video please!! [/quote] Not slapped, but at least 2ft too high IMHO; Thunderbird: You're doing it wrong!

[quote name='Big_Stu' timestamp='1350984817' post='1845766'] You told! It's a Levy's strap, mine has been used on three successive long scale basses including the infamous Epi EB3 - and being about 3 ins wide (75mm to the metrically minded) and suede on the inner it doesn't allow neck dive....................................... so far! Though it's still to pass the T-bird test. [/quote] [url="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.lysator.liu.se/~wizkid/music/thunderbird_mod/pics/before.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.lysator.liu.se/~wizkid/music/thunderbird_mod/&usg=__0CJHau6Nzq-qq73r2pCRULY3pfg=&h=382&w=254&sz=38&hl=en&start=78&zoom=1&tbnid=SIvwgBWovRcRtM:&tbnh=123&tbnw=82&ei=xtGHUPWpKYqe0QW62oD4Aw&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dgibson%2Bthunderbird%26start%3D60%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Dvss%26sa%3DN%26gbv%3D2%26tbm%3Disch&itbs=1"]http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.lysator.liu.se/~wizkid/music/thunderbird_mod/pics/before.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.lysator.liu.se/~wizkid/music/thunderbird_mod/&usg=__0CJHau6Nzq-qq73r2pCRULY3pfg=&h=382&w=254&sz=38&hl=en&start=78&zoom=1&tbnid=SIvwgBWovRcRtM:&tbnh=123&tbnw=82&ei=xtGHUPWpKYqe0QW62oD4Aw&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dgibson%2Bthunderbird%26start%3D60%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Dvss%26sa%3DN%26gbv%3D2%26tbm%3Disch&itbs=1[/url]

[quote name='Big_Stu' timestamp='1350984817' post='1845766'] You told! It's a Levy's strap, mine has been used on three successive long scale basses including the infamous Epi EB3 - and being about 3 ins wide (75mm to the metrically minded) and suede on the inner it doesn't allow neck dive....................................... so far! Though it's still to pass the T-bird test. [/quote] Due to the large number of T'Birds used at the Reading Rock Festival, they decided to use this, set up above the stage, this way, T'Bird players simply hooked their headstock to the chain, the driver then raised the chain to the desired headstock height, thus preventing any stage problems, often associated with such use. Fixed.

[quote name='Dave Vader' timestamp='1350902988' post='1844758'] Yes and yes, couple of twiddles on the bridge and truss rod and they were fine. Quick move of the strap button/chuck some weight on the body end of your strap and the t-bird stays put just lovely. If you can't play bass well you may need to buy a more expensive instrument to make up for it. *flame on....* [/quote] If you have to do too much twiddling, adjustments of truss rods, move the strap button positions, and add weight to the body, then to be honest, you're buying a sh*te bass, and definitely the [i]wrong[/i] bass!

[sup]Recently met Gary for a coffee and a trade, top guy, could've spent hours talking all things with him, including basses, sweet valveness, V8's, Dodge Chargers (I know you prefer Challengers Gary, but you're wrong there!!) etc, etc, sadly, there wasn't nearly enough time spent as would have been ideal. [/sup] [sup]Despite Gary's somewhat awful taste in basses (I drove off with his only nice one!!), he's a fantastic guy, and I know he'll know I'm only joking, although I'll convert him to a nice old P if it's the last thing I do!! [/sup] [sup]Top man, deal in 100%, absolute confidence.[/sup] [sup]Cheers, Rick[/sup]

[quote name='Stance' timestamp='1350858614' post='1844473'] Being a newbie I was afraid to say that about basses with more that 4 strings, but I totally agree with you (and fancy basses - 10.000 dollars Fodera etc ) [/quote] Oh yeah, that reminds me, that Fodera ying yang thingy, looks like a tacky £200 beginners gimmick bass, or a 6th form hippy students woodwork project, just horrendous. What [i]were[/i] they thinking?

Oooh, I like this, but where do ya start??! I have to start with Ricks, purely in tribute to the OP's opening statement, and I'm referring to the 4001/3 Rick, shocking to look at, and play. Anything headless, they look like snow shovels with strings. Anything that has an odd looking exotic wood top, they look like coffee tables, horrid. Anything with more than 4 strings, simply unneccessary. LED's, really??, do people [i]actually[/i] think these are cool?? Any Wish bass. These are jokes right? I could go on, and on, and on, I have far more bass-hates than bass-likes. As you can see, I'm pretty traditional. All my favourite songs, and players, all used Fenders, and they sound, strangely, just like bass guitars. If its good enough for them, its definitely good enough for me. Almost every bassist i know, has spent years playing, and buying all kinds of basses, and almost without exception, they end up with a Fender.

Why have they gone so pricey so suddenly?. The regular ones were £20 a year ago, and the leather bound versions were less than £40! Great book, but £60+ for a used version of the regular issue??

[quote name='skidder652003' timestamp='1350675040' post='1842281'] its sooo tempting but Ricks fine 59 isnt sure about the body......? [/quote] It's actually a Fine '52, but whose counting!!

Pickguards an aftermarket too, which casts doubt over the body being legit, in the absence of all other parts? The neck looks real though, albeit a late one. I'm guessing £420 absolute tops. Probably more like £320. Although these things can be very unpredictable, as we've probably all seen.

Just picked up on this thread, the only genuine thing here, is the bass itself, which was in the US 2 years ago. These pics have been used for a few fake auctions, its been listed at least twice in the UK this year. Bank transfer only....'nuff said. Hopefully no-one got burned, but it was sold, so chances are, someone did. Shame.

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' timestamp='1349731228' post='1829900'] What's the deal with all the holes drilled in it? [/quote] Looks like someone fitted a tailpiece, and couldnt decide where to put the strap buttons!!

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1349719704' post='1829616'] It's an awesomely crap bass (did he find it floating down a river or something?) but impressive photography. [/quote] Its true, the photo's (Lots of them too) are great, the way they pick up all that rust, and splits is excellent work! All for a tenner too! Imagine the pictures he'd do if he was selling a £5k instrument!!

I just want to buy this, string it up, and see if I can manage to tension the strings enough to tune it, before the thing falls apart!, and what will break first, the headstock, or the neck heel joint? [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/old-aria-acostic-bass-guitar-with-original-pick-up-/160897797239?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item2576418c77"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/old-aria-acostic-bass-guitar-with-original-pick-up-/160897797239?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item2576418c77[/url] The seller will add more information in the near future!! Better hurry up before it go's 'TWANG'!