Alan's RCA-4 Build

Hi All

This is start of my first ever build. Chose the RCA-4 basically 'cos I couldn't afford a genuine Ric ! Chose the ash version for the grain as I wanted a translucent finish - not sure how that will pan out. If it doesn't I can always revert to a solid colour later. It's going to be blue, as all my other guitars are blue (Hofner violin bass, Washburn EA65, G & L Asat). I did a mock build as soon as I opened the case, and since then I've spent 5 days sanding - currently down to 280 grit, so perhaps a couple more days and then ready for the stain. Had to buy this from Wudtone UK, as it can't be shipped from Aus, but I guess it guess it goes on the same as your stuff. More to follow

looking good Alan, does the neck heel fit into the neck pocket ok ? It's not fit flush in your mock build pics.
5 days sanding I hope that's no more than 2 hours per session or you will have sore arms.
Which wudtone did you get azure lagoon maybe ?

should look excellent over that ash grain

You've done this before ! - yeah 2 hours is exactly right, correct again with azure lagoon, hoping it comes out like the photos. The neck does fit OK, quite tight in fact which is why I hadn't got it in properly in the photos, bit nervous with things at first didn't want to get it stuck. I am learning now !

The big trick is not to rush. I get a lot done quickly but I have a lot of free time. Just take your time, stop and ask questions and you'll be fine.
Would love to see a pic of that blue Hoff bass, I plan on doing one soonish.

no worries Alan, sounds like you should sand the sides of the neck pocket a little so the heel isn't too tight. Check the fit regularly so you don't take off too much. You still want the fit to be fairly firm

Sounding great! Wudtone is a good product, so you should get a good outcome. As you hang around, you'll see that Wokka's a bit of the furniture around here and has built something like 60 odd guitars and basses, so has a bit of experience...

Guessed as much ! Doubt I'll be building that many. But he does have some good tips, In fact everyone has been very helpful

Nice kit Alan. Once you've built it, you'll probably like it more than any genuine Ric!

You're right, it already feels like my favourite bass. Hope it sounds as good as I think it should.

Hi, here are some pictures of my Hofner. The pickups are wired as per the original models, which takes a bit of getting used to. ie
Neck on = Bridge off, Bridge on = Neck off, to mix the two you have to switch both off !

wowsa! thats nice!
Thanks Alan!

nice Hofner Alan, love the colour of the blue and flame maple on the back as well, very nice !

Beautiful kit. Will look great in your stable

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Yeah, that Hofmer is a cracker. I'm not normally a fan, but that one of yours is one I wouldn't mind owning!!

Did the sanding on the neck pocket - worked a treat. It is now a nice smooth press fit

well done, good progress mate

Starting with the first coat of stain tomorrow. How has everyone done it before. Do you do the back and sides, then wait till it's dry and then the do the back, or do you work out some way of hanging it ?

On all of my 4 builds used a hanger and spun the body and neck around as I went so that same coat was going down on all surfaces. Bit of a pain but ensures colour and finish come out more consistently plus helps to avoid build up and/or runs at edges where you start and finsh each time.

Thanks, I'll see what I can set up, watch this space !

Finished sanding now, gone down to 320 grit, which looks pretty much OK. First coat of stain now done (Azure Lagoon from Wudtone), looks a bit green to me, but according to their spec it becomes blue the more coats you give it - let's hope so. Will be applying 3 or 4 base coats, then there is a deep colour coat, then a top coat. So I guess about another 8 or 9 coats to go.

Wow, nice grain, particularly 2nd strip down from the top running through the PUP's.

Never used Wudtone so cannot comment on how things turn out. Green tinge may be part of the yellowish timber tones coming through?

That's looking great! Love the rickenbacker basses, I should think about getting a kit.

I was thinking about using Wudtone a couple of weeks ago and read a few things that said certain colours look a bit off at first but come good with more coats, so I don't think you've got anything to worry about there.

Anyone got any ideas what finish I need to put on the fretboard, I would like it to be like the shiny Rick finish. Ta

Hi Alan, The Ric FB's are mostly made from Baubinga and lacquered like a Maple Fender. No other manufacturers seem to bother with sealing a Rosewood FB and most folk on this forum use either wax or lemon oil to finish.

Hi Wazkelly, thanks again for that, you're probably right - I'll go with that I think. I do like to gloss finish though - maybe I'll think about that on my next build !

Qucik update, here we are with 2 base coats on. Still a bit green, still got my fingers crossed it'll turn out blue. Going to start with the prime colour tomorrow.

Hi Guys,

Been a bit of a delay since my last post, been busy with work, plus had a major problem with Wudtone UK, complete waste of time they are. Sold me a blue stain, which came as a 3 pack. Base coat, deep colour coat and a top coat. After I'd applied 7 coats it was still green, when I contacted them they said it was my fault as I had put the coats on upside down - the base is supposed to go on last ! ! After a bit of argy bargy managed to get my money back. After talking to an expert with finshes, who my guitar tech mate put me in touch with, he said that blue was the most difficylt colour to stain with as on Ash or any yellowish wood it would come out greenish (pity Wudtone couldn't have told me that). However he suggested putting a very dilute white paint on first and then use a tinted laquer, which would then reflect the white whilst keepig the grain. So had to sand it back down to the bare wood - what a job that was ! Did the white coat and with 3 coats of the tinted laquer we have the attached finish, just got the top laquer to do now, then ready to start assembling. So back on track eventually. Will have some questions before I glue the neck - so be back on in a few days.

Nice colour mate. Haven't seen Ash that blue for a long time your mate knows his stuff

Beautiful!

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Beautiful colour. What laquer did you use?

Wow, that's a fantastic blue. Great result especially given the setback you had.

very nice blue colour Alan, glad you ditched Wudtone and got your money back. Should look a treat with hardware on !

Amazing blue! Love it

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Hi Tony, it was just a standard tinted lacquer, however the colour was one he made up specially. The standard blue came out more greeny, so he played around with the colour mix and came up with this. Good guy indeed, am going to buy a special scratch plate from him as well, which I will show later, can't wait to start putting it together now.

Looking good, shame about the sand back but definitely worth it.

Great tip about the whitewash 1st coat.

Finshed the top coat now, as I have used a spray top coat on top of the tinted laquer Inow have to wait a view days before I can start the flatting. However have now scraped the binding, so it's looking a lot smarter, that was quite a job - took me a whole day, but overall I think it was a lot better than trying to mask it. Got the scratch plate to cut out now, have bought a pearloid one instead of using the standard white, think it will look a bit smarter. Be back in a few days when I am ready to glue the neck - will have a few questions then as this is my first ! Cheers

Hi Alan, looking good.

From the 1st pic it looks like there is a bit of stain finish on the heel of the neck where it will be glued in the neck pocket. I think you will need to sand back to the intended edge/line where the neck extends out of the body otherwise the glue might not hold, particularly once under string tension.

Thanks for the tip, I haven't removed the masking tape from the end of the neck yet, but I will make sure it's all clean round the neck and the pocket before gluing.

Completely missed this one Alan. Lovely blue and great tip with the whitewash

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It's really stunning. Such a great color....especially for that axe.

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