Background: I've commissioned a bass from
Rikkers in Holland - it's proving to be a seamless, easy and fun process (I saved the money up before I ordered, so less worry there!), so I thought it would be cool to document the experience for myself, and anyone else who wants to know what it's like. I can recommend Rikkers - I'm lucky enough to have synchronised the order with the
London Bass Guitar Show so I can pick it up at the show -
in a week!
Recap:
The Back of the Bodyline: Hidden, but beautiful
This video shows some of the great work which happens at Rikkers, and it was a real pleasure to get shots of the bass being carved: Ferdinand loves working wood with hand tools, and it shows!
Lots more good backdrops here... here's how we start out - the machine does a nice job, but the neck heel needs that personal touch :-)
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MObpK428aak/VPLzxYNzfBI/AAAAAAAAMFU/_dISNfNhZf8/s288/iphone_photo.jpg)
So Ferdinand gets stuck in: Wood mallets and chisels. Nice!
![](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-wH7H7NiaiWg/VPLzyvWI91I/AAAAAAAAMFc/lKKW2GhveAE/s288/iphone_photo.jpg)
And the rough-hewn shape emerges:
![](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-HHc9f9m_WQo/VPLzzSs97tI/AAAAAAAAMFk/dt2ngwGvhOw/s288/iphone_photo.jpg)
Now he refines things using a tiny hand-plane!
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iZCm1x6_rkU/VPLz0SFbTmI/AAAAAAAAMFs/hfYPcLdK1rs/s288/iphone_photo.jpg)
Very nice.
![](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-4iLsqTfAS38/VPLz1B5O4fI/AAAAAAAAMF0/IpYpny-pAYA/s288/iphone_photo.jpg)
Now - the bodyline back has some great contours in it, which also needs some carving: more work with the chisel. Love the curve on that neck heel - done by eye and gorgeous!
![](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-4cdKeVXuv08/VPLz3ZAsLII/AAAAAAAAMGM/j6IQcnTDTTY/s288/iphone_photo.jpg)
And, of course, we need to level that out a little...
![](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-tfGBKx68648/VPLz46lyoCI/AAAAAAAAMGc/0R8Bt_SukIs/s288/iphone_photo.jpg)
The end result - very nice.
![](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-SyC7Yu-y9T4/VPLz5ujk2oI/AAAAAAAAMGk/CH3ujEsE5uA/s288/iphone_photo.jpg)
Next time: The Inlay Crisis and Tantalising Shots of the bass!
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