The RT Archive (the only way I can remember what I've built!!!)
RT #1
This is my first bass build, and unfortunately one of the few existing pictures of it. Walnut and maple neck-through with walnut body wings and purpleheart fingerboard. Unlined fretless.
Build number one was eventually cannabalized for parts before it made its way to the scrap pile, never to be seen in public.
Build number one was eventually cannabalized for parts before it made its way to the scrap pile, never to be seen in public.
RT # 1 1/2
I gotta put this in here somewhere, since I'm trying to keep track of all of my builds.
I have started, about a year ago, a wenge lap steel guitar. This is a total project guitar that I've been working on from time to time and as I get spare parts, I throw them on. No pix till it's finished, but like I said, it's a project guitar, and not extremely important to me to finish, so you may never actually see it here.
I have started, about a year ago, a wenge lap steel guitar. This is a total project guitar that I've been working on from time to time and as I get spare parts, I throw them on. No pix till it's finished, but like I said, it's a project guitar, and not extremely important to me to finish, so you may never actually see it here.
RT #2
Second build, maple and walnut neck-through with solid curly maple body wings. Also an unlined fretless with a purpleheart fingerboard, this bass was just too dang heavy to play for more than 30 seconds, so it sits in the shop as a reminder to keep the weight under control.
After this bass, I finally got to design and install my woodshop in the garage, and instantly my builds improved.
Amazing what can be done with the proper tools!!!
After this bass, I finally got to design and install my woodshop in the garage, and instantly my builds improved.
Amazing what can be done with the proper tools!!!
RT #3
The last fretless for awhile. At this point, I was still aquiring tools, and building a fretted bass was still unobtainable.
This bass has quite the story behind it. Mahogany and walnut neck-through. African mahogany back, birdseye maple center, AAAA quilted maple top cap. Ziricote fingerboard. Dual EMG humbucking pickups in a volume/volume/tone configuration.
This bass sold on eBay, then was resold several times before alledgedly making it's way to the home of Nikki Sixx, who then gave it away and it made its way back to me to have the neck redone.
This bass has quite the story behind it. Mahogany and walnut neck-through. African mahogany back, birdseye maple center, AAAA quilted maple top cap. Ziricote fingerboard. Dual EMG humbucking pickups in a volume/volume/tone configuration.
This bass sold on eBay, then was resold several times before alledgedly making it's way to the home of Nikki Sixx, who then gave it away and it made its way back to me to have the neck redone.
RT #4
My first fretted bass. At this point in the game, still unable to do my own fretwork, the neck on this one is a Carvin NT-4 neck blank, purchased through their website. The fretwork on these necks is immaculate, but the need to be able to fret my own instruments won out and this was the only time I used an outside source for my necks.
The body is African mahogany with an Oregon myrtlewood top. Solid maple neck-through with a 24 fret ebony fretboard.
SOLD.
The body is African mahogany with an Oregon myrtlewood top. Solid maple neck-through with a 24 fret ebony fretboard.
SOLD.
RT #5
This bass never made it out of the shop, due to a mishap with a chisel that split the neck nearly in half.
Ah, firewood....
Ah, firewood....
RT #6
The first bass I did my own fretwork, African mahogany with spalted maple top, purpleheart fretboard.
Traded to a friend for one of their basses.
Traded to a friend for one of their basses.
RT #7
Ah, good old #7. This bass has been the bane of my existance since I started the build.
Everything started normal. 3-piece neck-through, curly maple body wings, single P pickup. Should've been cheap and easy.
This particular board of curly refused to cooperate when I attempted to dye it to pop the grain, so I set it aside and built another bass, figuring I'd come back to it with a clean head and finish it up at a later date.
Still waiting on that later date. So far it has been dyed blue, looked terrible. Then i tried a metalflake finish, also in blue. Everything was going well until I tried a new product that was supposed to put on a thicker coat (in order to level the metalflake). After about a month of curing, the finish was the consistancy of rubber cement.
So once again, the bass got put aside, and still resides in the shop, unfinished until I decide what to do with it. In the end, I'll probably paint it black and clear coat it and call it a day.
Everything started normal. 3-piece neck-through, curly maple body wings, single P pickup. Should've been cheap and easy.
This particular board of curly refused to cooperate when I attempted to dye it to pop the grain, so I set it aside and built another bass, figuring I'd come back to it with a clean head and finish it up at a later date.
Still waiting on that later date. So far it has been dyed blue, looked terrible. Then i tried a metalflake finish, also in blue. Everything was going well until I tried a new product that was supposed to put on a thicker coat (in order to level the metalflake). After about a month of curing, the finish was the consistancy of rubber cement.
So once again, the bass got put aside, and still resides in the shop, unfinished until I decide what to do with it. In the end, I'll probably paint it black and clear coat it and call it a day.
RT #8
This body is actually the first Thunderbird-style body I made, but as you can see, it's technically for a bolt-on neck, which I promise I will get to at some point in the future. I actually made this around the same time that I started the lap steel guitar, and they both sit on the shelf in the shop, unfinished for now.
Actually, somewhere around here I lost count of how many basses I made, since I had made a few without serial numbers and was on heavy pain medication for a back surgery. So just to keep the numbers even, we'll call this one #8 and the tele starts us fresh at #10.
Whew. I feel much better now.
Actually, somewhere around here I lost count of how many basses I made, since I had made a few without serial numbers and was on heavy pain medication for a back surgery. So just to keep the numbers even, we'll call this one #8 and the tele starts us fresh at #10.
Whew. I feel much better now.
RT #9
24 fret, 34" scale Thunderbird-inspired bass. Really crazy build.
Cocobolo top on Black Limba (Korina) body, AAA Birdseye maple fretboard with red fiber optic side markers on a 3-piece curly maple neck-through, Seymour Duncan SSB-4 humbucking pickups, Hipshot "D" style bridge, side output jack.
Blue "Thunderbird" inlay on back of bass, switch for fiber optics is also on back of bass. Black hardware, black "top-hat" knobs with abalone inlay.
This one is available. $1750 firm.No case. Call or Email for details.
Cocobolo top on Black Limba (Korina) body, AAA Birdseye maple fretboard with red fiber optic side markers on a 3-piece curly maple neck-through, Seymour Duncan SSB-4 humbucking pickups, Hipshot "D" style bridge, side output jack.
Blue "Thunderbird" inlay on back of bass, switch for fiber optics is also on back of bass. Black hardware, black "top-hat" knobs with abalone inlay.
This one is available. $1750 firm.No case. Call or Email for details.
RT #10
Jumping around a little while I get my pix in order, this is #10, a tele-inspired 34" scale, 4 string fretted bass. 24 frets, 11 degree headstock angle. Roman numeral "XII" at 12th fret.
Beautiful crotch walnut top on a maple back, with purpleheart accents.
GFS dual lipstick-tube humbucker.
SOLD.
Beautiful crotch walnut top on a maple back, with purpleheart accents.
GFS dual lipstick-tube humbucker.
SOLD.
RT #11
In progress.
RT #12
In progress. First bolt-on from RT Basses.
Curly maple neck with quartersawn maple fretboard.
20 frets, black side dots and fretboard dots.
Body is cherry wood with what I'm calling my "Old Coffee Table" finish.
Gotoh 201 bridge, Grover tuners, chrome hardware.
Curly maple neck with quartersawn maple fretboard.
20 frets, black side dots and fretboard dots.
Body is cherry wood with what I'm calling my "Old Coffee Table" finish.
Gotoh 201 bridge, Grover tuners, chrome hardware.
RT #13
Coming Soon.