Before I get to posting the progress shots, here's some answers.
For the love of god please tell me that IS NOT a real Ricky!
Nope! Not real. The only thing that's remotely original, is the knobs. The rest of the parts are either custom crafted, or the cheapest bass parts I could find. (with the exception of the strings... why I bought Ernie Balls for a nonfunctional guitar I don't know.) And yes, the starter DOES work (but It doesn't start anything. Sadly.)
ahhh foolie coolie right? the one with the horn on his head?
Yep, first anime I ever watched... which is saying a lot because I really don't watch any at all. I blame BP.
Anyway.....
Using images from the show, I see what modifications to the actual design I have to do. the two most striking are, the starter, and the gun out the end of the headstock. (How that works I don't know). Also it's apparent that they've never seen the back of one. Rickenbacker's don't have electronics plates nor do they have bolt on necks. They have pickguards for that and they're neck through body.
This is the canvas, it's not much. just a 2 x 8, and a 2 x 4 glued together. While this dries, I run over to kinko's with the highest quality full image of the bass (well, It's a rickenbacker 4003, but it's close enough) and get that printed out full scale.
I trace the image, and cut out the parts I'll need to make later off the image, the pickguard, truss rod cover and the lower pickup.
Then with a jigsaw it's off to work.
It's at this time, I realize that I didn't need to glue a 1x4 as well, so I just cut that off entirely.
I then cut the back so that it can fit the starter (because it needs more clearance than its housing)
(Image quality goes down at this point, because I never bring my camera and so rely on cell phones) I drill the tuner holes, and get them to fit....
Then, using welding rods (it's small wire, and it looks close enough) I make a nut.
and frets.
I get these sized but set them aside for later and work on the pickguard instead. I put in a working toggle switch, that shall never see current.
and cut the guard out of simple 1/32nd inch galvanized.
as well as the upper pickup.
the neck is then sanded like mad.
which is then painted and mounted together. the "pickup cover" has a little slack in it, this is fixed later.
The "gun" is also added. in reality is is the largest nipple I can find that can fit the half inch headstock.
The frets are glued in...
the body and headstock is painted...
and the neck and back of the headstock are stained.
it's assembled, and there you have it!
Grand price... somewhere in the $140 ball park. I wouldn't know because the girl I built it for has all the receipts, and paid for materials.
