Gav's RC-4

hi guys,

Got a cool birthday present in the mail today - a spaking new RC-4. Been coveting one of these since the day they were announced and I'm very happy that it is finally here! Ever since I planned the Stone Roses splatter thing on my RC-1, what I *really* wanted to do was a bass. It was Manny's ricky 4005 that was the original inspiration for the tribute build, so yes - this build is going to get the splatter treatment as well. Truth be told, I can't wait to get that paint flying again.

The kit arrived in great shape. There's a couple of glue marks on the front face but they'll be covered by white + splatter anyway. I don't even have to sand them out! All the routing looks perfect, the neck is nice and straight, and the grain on the fretboard looks amazing. Very happy with the quality yet again from Adam & co. Thanks guys!

Now for the sanding...

cheers,
Gav.

Something like this!

Attachment 6591

cheers,
Gav.

nice one Gav, kit looks very nice and the fingerboard grain looks wicked.
So you bought it for your birthday or did the minister ?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by wokkaboy

So you bought it for your birthday or did the minister ?

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The minister did!! And here am I with a quite substantial exiting stack ;).

cheers,
Gav.

wow so it was a surprise Gav ? You must have done something right with the minister or she had a weak moment !

she knows about the others, yeah?
very cool

Good work Gav. Looking forward to another one of your classic builds & happy birthday. What a great gift and from the CFO!

Sent from my GT-I9506 using Tapatalk

thanks guys, yeah a bit of a surprise!

A question about the placement of the bridge if I may? I'm assuming that so long as the measured scale-length lands me at the leading edge of the bridge saddle travel distance then I should be good for intonation? I've never had to lay out a bass bridge before and it's a little daunting. Although I'm not sure how the bridges compare, the Stewmac fret position calculator seems to be saying that I should set the bridge back another 5mm or so. Any advice out there to get this correct?

thanks,
Gav.

Actually, the Stewmac fret position calculator gives me the distance to the rear-most mounting screws for a *Fender* style bass bridge. Looking at the bridge supplied with the kit, it's pretty much the same style, with the row of mounting screws at the very back. In theory, Stewmac's measurement should work just as well here?

cheers,
Gav.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gavinturner

The minister did!! And here am I with a quite substantial exiting stack ;).

cheers,
Gav.

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Wow! She's a keeper.

Gav, when I put my RC-4 together moody asked me to do a mock-up with the stock bridge, I used a Ric replica bridge. In the pic the saddles are pretty close to where the other bridge's were. Couldn't find my measurements, but should give an idea where it will sit on the body.
Attachment 6593

Grant

Thanks Grant! I'll do a mockup with the measurements I have from Stewmac, and see what it looks like.

I did a quick assembly today and the grain on this body really does look amazing (see attachments). It seems a real shame to cover it up with paint. It's testing my resolve in a big way!! I'm now strongly considering some kind of blue burst like this:

Attachment 6594

Though there's no way a dodgy turner-special poor-man's burst could pull it off as well as you did Grant, I'm still very tempted to go this way. Means I may well have to sand out those pesky glue marks after all!

cheers,
Gav.

Killer. You're gonna rock this one, Gav. I definitely approve of the colour scheme.

Aw man, just trying to be helpful not tempt you to change your plans. Whichever way you go, it will turn out great like your other builds.
Would suggest putting a larger radius on the back edges to make it a bit more comfortable while playing, but that's up to you.

looking great already Gav, whichever way you go splattered paint or burst it will look cool bro

I'd Pollock it. :D

hi guys,

Finally got moving on this RC-4 build, after kicking it around for the best part of 12 months. I've decided to Pollock it, as that was my initial vision and I just can't help myself. I've got a 335 kit here too that might just get the same treatment. Anyway I received a new "heavy" Chinese bass bridge in the mail this week and just had to get the mock build completed. I measured the bass placement off my JB-1 with no issues. The kit/tuners are a little crappy in that no matter which way I place them there is a little bit sticking out into the headstock cutaway! Hmm same crap as with my 335 bass build. Anyway, looks like I'll have to grind a little off the corner of a tuner plate. I could dowel and re-drill, but I'm not sure I care that much.

I'm thinking that this time around I might do a stained body+neck with the white Pollocked top. Last time I did a complete Pollock all over the RC-1. Hmm I'm not sure. The Top of the RC-4 does not have too much area once the pickguard goes on. Might be too little Pollock to make a statement.

What do you guys reckon?

cheers,

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gavinturner

I'm thinking that this time around I might do a stained body+neck with the white Pollocked top. Last time I did a complete Pollock all over the RC-1. Hmm I'm not sure. The Top of the RC-4 does not have too much area once the pickguard goes on. Might be too little Pollock to make a statement.

What do you guys reckon?

cheers,

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I'd vote the full Pollock - with your experience in already having done it I'm sure you'll be able to come up with an interesting twist!

If the grain on the back is uninspiring that would suggest it needs some help, ie the full pollock.

Go the full pollock Gav!

Sent from Lineage OS 14.1

Pollock? But it's a Rickenbacker copy, not a Jackson! ;)

I'd vote for the full treatment. Your RC-1 is one of the best looking guitars I've seen. It deserves a partner in crime.

hi guys,

I got a little time today to go through some of the fallout from the fire and try to salvage the one remaining build-in-progress. Unfortunately, Looks like this one is ded as well. If there was any doubt about the caustic nature of electronics smoke/soot then here's all the evidence you need. I started sanding down the body with 360 grit to see if I could get it clean. The wood was actually coming up OK until I saw that the binding on the heel of the body had bubbled very badly as a result of soot exposure. I tried for 20 minutes to sand the bubbles out, but here's what I ended up with. The soot has eaten huge holes out. right down to the wood underneath.

Attachment 19989
Attachment 19990


Looks like this build, along with its brothers, will be going into the rubbish. Someone with more skills could probaby replace the binding, but sadly that isn't me. Of all the builds I thought this one might survive as I'd planned a full body paint. But sadly it isn't to be.

cheers,
Gav.

I don't believe for one second you don't have the skills to replace that binding. Maybe not the faith, but you have the skills.

Gav worth the effort even if only to have a crack at binding. Youll never know if you dont have a go. You definitely have the skills

Quote:

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Originally Posted by vh2580

Gav worth the effort even if only to have a crack at binding. Youll never know if you dont have a go. You definitely have the skills

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I think you know we all got you on this Gav, you are contemplating binning it anyway, if you have a crack at re-binding it and it doesn't come off then there's nothing lost but time and some new binding.
If it comes out okay, then you can push on and achieve what you set out for armed with some shiny new skills in binding and the adulation of most if not all of us for the Phoenix rising act you've managed to pull on this RC4.

Either way, we'llbe here cheering or commiserating with you, go get it mate!

hey Gav, I reckon try and remove the binding and order the same thickness binding, it's not that hard just a bit time consuming but sure you have the skills and patience to replace it

Yep go for it Gav.

I agree, have a crack Gav. Alternatively, fill it sand it and full body paint, Pollocks dont need no binding....

Ok, ok. I get the message. :)
Thanks for the vote of confidence guys. You are right of course - I've got nothing to lose by trying. I'll give it a shot. I guess the first question is, how do I remove the binding? Do I want to get some solvent? Or do I just pry it off with a razor blade etc.? Any tips appreciated.

cheers,
Gav.

I'm thinking the heat gun to gently soften it and loosen the glue ?

Router/dremel?

Heat gun acetone?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gavinturner

Ok, ok. I get the message. :)
Thanks for the vote of confidence guys. You are right of course - I've got nothing to lose by trying. I'll give it a shot. I guess the first question is, how do I remove the binding? Do I want to get some solvent? Or do I just pry it off with a razor blade etc.? Any tips appreciated.

cheers,
Gav.

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Just in case it hasn't sunk in yet.......Have a crack at doing the binding!!!:p:p