Chinese Rick saga... join me, won't you?

[TheBuddhaRats]

Well I joined you on your Rick adventure and boy, did “Lily” and her builders screw up my build.

From poorly drilled headstock holes, to messing up the finish ( which had to be re-done) to the final straw of them putting the bridge and bridge pickup on crooked... it was a disaster. Now they want me to accept a substandard build. Not a chance.

My advice? Stay away from this factory. They mean well, but they aren’t ready for prime time.

[jakeisjake]

Well I joined you on your Rick adventure and boy, did “Lily” and her builders screw up my build.

From poorly drilled headstock holes, to messing up the finish ( which had to be re-done) to the final straw of them putting the bridge and bridge pickup on crooked... it was a disaster. Now they want me to accept a substandard build. Not a chance.

My advice? Stay away from this factory. They mean well, but they aren’t ready for prime time.

that's a drag...

have you filed a PP grievance yet?

[TheBuddhaRats]

I’m filing a grievance tomorrow.

I almost feel bad for them. They had the blueprint. They had the business savvy to focus on desirable, hard to come by guitars. But the talent isn’t 100% there. Shame.

[Fiddy]

I want this guitar so bad, but i know they will just fuck it up. I should just buy the real one.

I'v had a crush on Susanna Hoffs since i was 13

[Fiddy]

will ship tomorrow:

How is this bad boy doing?

[jakeisjake]

How is this bad boy doing?

i've been lazy about doing a review.

but, it's great.

the negatives...
it's heavy for a hollow body. you can even see how thick it is at the slash...the flip side of that is that it feels like a tank.

well...i guess that's it for the negatives.

the neck is a little beefy...but not nearly like his other necks. he said he was going to begin offering this carved neck for other guitars.

the 2nd shift is surprisingly useful. if you keep the tone knob about halfway open, there's 3 distinct tones for each pick up selection. it's pretty cool.

speaking of the pickups...they are very clear and sound great with a variety of pedals (or modeling amp settings).

[Fiddy]

Oh cool, what is the width of the nut and how heavy is it?

[jakeisjake]

1 3/4'' at the nut

and about 7.5 lbs.

[carausius]

It was this thread & another disappointing experience with a different aliexpress seller & a Ricky style guitar with 335 style neck / pup locations / body that made me decide to make myself a RM 1993 style 21 fret guitar.

I would say it's probably less work than a JG / JM, the neck build is the key, my 1st neck was a write off but was still good practice for doing fretwork / neck carving ect. The body is easy enough though. Had to buy some power tools, with the spindle sander the most useful. I'd only assembled a JM before doing this RM 1993. I always thought a Ricky guitar would be hard to make like an 335 type semi / archtop but it's actually more similar to a Fender build.

I've just carved the neck back & heel & have to do the headstock backside next, I've added a mock up picture below, more pics on Flickr. After that cut out the F hole & attach the neck & backside.

Anyway it's a prototype & I've made mistakes / done tasks in the wrong order, the next build will be better LOL!

Body is a £15 block of one piece Sapele . Neck is laminated maple c/w walnut strip & Indian rosewood fretboard.

[jakeisjake]

awesome! i wish i had the skills and/or inclination...