Homemade Stuff for Rickenbachers

Paul Bostic · Post by **Paul Bostic** » 24 Aug 2010 12:29 pm

When I bought my B8 it came with a case that was bad. It smelled bad, looked bad and now lives in the attic of my shop. I purchased a Baritone Ukelele case from Music 123 and added 1 1/2" of rigid foam with green velvet covering to match the case interior. It holds my Ric nice and snug. Total cost $65.00. I also wanted a stand so I would not have to hold the instrument in my lap. I purchased a keyboard stand from Musiciansfriend. It is well built with adjustable legs. I had some Black Walnut in the shop I used for the top. I added a recess in the top to keep my bar and picks from rolling around. Total cost $50.00 plus some elbow grease.

David Ball · Post by **David Ball** » 24 Aug 2010 2:36 pm

Very cool--Nice work!

Dave

Tom Wolverton · Post by **Tom Wolverton** » 24 Aug 2010 2:46 pm

Paul - Where did you get that rigid foam you used. I'm modifiying a case, too, and I'm a bit dodgy on some of the foam out there....I' hate the stuff that turns into gummy powder after 5 years. Yech !

Beautiful walnut!!

Paul Bostic · Post by **Paul Bostic** » 24 Aug 2010 3:20 pm

Hey Tom, I bought a 12" x 36" sheet at the Craft Warehouse. I used Elmers spray adhesive to glue the velvet to the foam. I had enough velvet material to completely cover the foam. It is held in place but compression against the case. Thanks for the nice comments. Paul

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 24 Aug 2010 3:29 pm

Very nice work, Paul!

C. E. Jackson · Post by **C. E. Jackson** » 24 Aug 2010 4:25 pm

Really looks nice! Will the inside padding allow a 32" long instrument?

Paul Bostic · Post by **Paul Bostic** » 24 Aug 2010 5:43 pm

C.E. the baritone Ukelele case measures 31 3/4". You might want to surf around for a different type instrument case. The brand I bought was Silver Creek, I bought it from Music 123 because they had the best price and free shipping.

Paul Bostic · Post by **Paul Bostic** » 24 Aug 2010 5:44 pm

Thanks a bunch Mike!

Bill Creller · Post by **Bill Creller** » 24 Aug 2010 6:10 pm

Everything you've done there looks super! And in my opinion, a bakelite deserves the best!!

Ray Montee · Post by **Ray Montee** » 24 Aug 2010 6:19 pm

What great craftsmanship! Such a beautiful finish!

My question is: Does the BAKELITE on hardwood, do anything to mess with the natural sound of the g'tar?

Do you have anything on the stand that would prohibit any slipping or sliding of the g'tar itself?

By the way, all of my emails are refused by your site. Nothing I've sentyou has gotten thro!

Paul Bostic · Post by **Paul Bostic** » 24 Aug 2010 6:26 pm

Thanks alot Bill! I worship my Ric!
Ray, the table top does not take any tone away from the instrument. I will be adding felt to the upper lever of the recess for slipage and sound damping. I am using a wash clothe now. The lacquer is so smooth that the Rickie wants to wiggle a little bit. I feel good about the instrument being trapped so it can't move. I don't ever want to see my baby laying on the floor. Paul

Tom Pettingill · Post by **Tom Pettingill** » 24 Aug 2010 8:33 pm

Excellent job Paul!

C. E. Jackson · Post by **C. E. Jackson** » 25 Aug 2010 11:19 am

Paul, thanks for the reply. I am going to order and try a case today.

Ray Montee · Post by **Ray Montee** » 27 Aug 2010 8:14 am

Rather than 'felt'........

might I suggest you give a try to the Rubber Maid product for shelf liners.

It's non-skid, comes in multiple colours, and a very, very small piece will stop the sliding tendancy. I'd be interested in your discovery.

Paul Bostic · Post by **Paul Bostic** » 27 Aug 2010 3:07 pm

Great idea Ray! I will give it a try, Diane has some handy. Thanks, Paul

G Strout · Post by **G Strout** » 27 Aug 2010 4:41 pm

Fantastic! Nice work Paul. You have obviously done some wood crafting before. Ever think of trying your hand at a little steel building?
gary

Paul Bostic · Post by **Paul Bostic** » 27 Aug 2010 10:40 pm

Thanks Gary! I have been kicking around attempting to make a replica of my panda from hardwood. When it starts raining up here I just may do it.

Ray Shakeshaft · Post by **Ray Shakeshaft** » 28 Aug 2010 7:08 am

Hi Paul,

As of yesterday I have become the very excited owner of a B6 but without a case so I am grateful for the info on using baritone uke cases. I have just ordered one after reading your post.

What amp set up are you using?

Steve Ahola · Post by **Steve Ahola** » 28 Aug 2010 2:56 pm

Looks great! I was looking on-line at uke cases awhile back but was unable to determine which ones might "fit my gits" so to speak. I will check out Music 123. I think a phone call to some of the brick'n'mortars with a web presence would be helpful, too, as they could measure their cases for you.

BTW TKL makes some gig bags that work well with lap steels (#4550 as I recall). Not much protection but it sure beats bringing one along bareback.

Your woodwork is fantastic! I'm a worrier so I think I would add some tasteful clamps of wood and rubber to hold the Ricky securely.(I am very clumsy, too.)

I couldn't tell how thick your wooden platform was but they are making legs and sockets in China dirt cheap, as evidenced by the $80 Rogues sold by MF. I'm trying to track down a source for just the legs although $80 for 3 adjustable legs and sockets is easier on the wallet than $300 for the nice sets.

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 28 Aug 2010 4:54 pm

Great work, Paul.

It's amazing what smart people can come up with when they improvise. I've been using tennis racquet cases for flat-back mandolines and lap steels for years. They're cheap and just the right size.

I love your machined stand. You do need something to stop the bottom of the guirar and the stand from rubbing together. Ray's shelf-liner suggestion is a good one. Also, they make a material for preventing procelain from slipping off shelves during earthquakes, which is very similar. When I build lap steels and dulcimers (almost the same instrument) I always fit little rubber "feet" underneath which raise the back up from the stand and allows the back to resonate without dampening.

Paul Bostic · Post by **Paul Bostic** » 28 Aug 2010 7:02 pm

Thanks, Ray! I am fortunate to have a couple of amps that I use with my Ric. I practice with a Fender Blues Jr. which has really nice reverb. I also play with a Fender Twin Reverb which really rocks.

Paul Bostic · Post by **Paul Bostic** » 28 Aug 2010 7:09 pm

Steve, I added the recess well in the top to trap the instrument. It totals 7/16th of an inch in depth. It would take a Bull in a china shop to knock it out of it's resting place. Of course some drunk in a china shop could wreak the whole place. The base I used was made in China, it has 4 adjustable legs and is well made. It cost $50.00 from Musiciansfriend.

Paul Bostic · Post by **Paul Bostic** » 28 Aug 2010 7:18 pm

Alan, thanks for the nice comments! What like of little rubber feet were you refering too? The tennis racquet case is truly a stroke of genius. There are probably 100 million at garage sales that could be had for next to nothing. Each time I buy an instrument without a case regardless of the price I am looking for a way to protect it. Thanks for the hot tip!

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 29 Aug 2010 10:22 am

Paul Bostic wrote:...What like of little rubber feet were you refering to? ...

They're see-through, round, self-adhesive, and about 1/2" in diameter. They usually come with about a dozen stuck on a card. They're easily removable and don't damage the finish of existing instruments. For instruments I build myself I screw rubber feet on. They're about the same diameter, but about 3/8" thick, and they come with a hole in the middle to put the screw through.

You can see the see-through ones on this lap steel I built for Basil Henriques about three years ago. I would normally have used the screwed feet but in this instance I didn't want to detract from the appearance of the wood which I'd put so much time into laminating.

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Homemade Stuff for Rickenbachers

Homemade Stuff for Rickenbachers

A beautiful work of art!

If I may be so bold.................