Rc-4

[Paul C]

Greetings people, just another quick update, wired and working, managed to drop a blob of hot solder onto the finish
Things left to do, i need the truss rod cover engraving, gonna take off the strings and repair the solder damage, looking to get a custom pickup cover made, i need to speak to a metalworking friend to see if its do-able.
All in all its going well, in time i'd like to try another as i said at the start i wasn't sure what finish to go with, well looking at it i would love to have done natural wood with graduated black lacquer to the edge.

[Arzi]

Good to see you got it assembled. It's a rewarding moment when you get to plug it in and play. Well done.

[wokkaboy]

Hey Paul well done getting to this stage
Bummer about dropping solder. Looking good. You must be happy competing the project

[Muxorama]

Paul, thanks so much for documenting your build, it's helping me decide to take the plunge. I have always coveted a "Fireglo" Rick, but like most, don't have the $1650 to get the real deal, plus I actually like the way the J pickup is placed on this kit, looks like right where I like to rest my thumb. QUESTION: is yours the RC-4 with basswood body or RCA-4 with ash body? Do you have any thoughts on which wood, basswood or ash, would look better with the transparent "Fireglo" (cherry sunburst) type finish I have in mind? Also, did the neck come with binding already installed, or did you have to glue it in place? Thanks so much!!

[Paul C]

Hi Muxorama, sorry for the late reply, mines the basswood body, had no issues with it apart from disguising some very small wood knots, all in all its turned out well, the bassist in one of my bands tried it out and loved it, he had owned a rick copy in the past but said it was awful to play. I am currently waiting on the neck to settle after adjusting the truss rod, touch of buzz off the strings but i'll adjust the saddles to try to overcome this. I'm still looking for someone to engrave me a truss rod cover with the name on it, pic-up cover i am still in 2 minds over this as the best tone seems to be right over the pic-up i may just look for something to make a surround for the J pic-up incorporating a thumb rest, i do have a monster humbucker i was temped to rout out to fit it but at the moment i am looking for a scrap bass body and neck to do up slap it onto for another project. All in all it sounds really good the neck pic-up is very powerful. It's due for a road test soon as the bassist in my other band wants to try it out on a gig and see if he wants to commission a build.