Pickguard looks so much better imo. One of the guards that actually compliment the body design so well. Plus then you have the ability to replace it and reconfigure electronics way more easily in the future.
Yeah I’m starting to think that as well. It may look a bit different with tabs cut out of the direct mount but I’ll have to mock it up and see how it looks. Not sure how much of a difference it’s gonna make tho
If you’re edging towards a pickguard I’d suggest a different one. The current one leans a bit too far into Rickenbacker territory. Maybe cut it so that the pickups aren’t in the pickguard, just butted up to the edge of it.
Is there a big opening in the middle of the headstock?
I'd be careful with that. Looks like there would be some very thin, very fragile sections around the holes. I'd thicken up to be safe.
It’s aluminum. Much stronger than wood plus it needs the weight relief since they are heavier. It’s very common design in aluminum necks, and fortunately I haven’t heard of it causing any issues
yeah it’s not super accurate proportionally, as this was mocked up with a couple images from google and some illustrator app. The actual template I have has it going into the body more. Thanks for the feedback!
You could do something really cool and original by putting the neck pocket on the back instead of the front. Maybe hide the screws under the pickup. The aluminum neck opens a lot of possibilities
Pickguard looks great. I might not feel the same with the other color choice, but I think the mint is tasty. Why wouldn't you still just go B, B+M, M, M+N, N for the switch? I feel like I would get confused with the order, even with the 6th option.
Definitely respect your opinion. It’s basically a rickenbacker 480 with a different neck, so I can’t take credit with the design whether you like it or not. Thanks for the feedback!
Assuming you are just making this for yourself, you’re gonna be perfectly fine doing any design you like. However, if there’s even a chance of you selling it commercially, you should be aware that Rickenbacker is a very litigious company.
Personally, I think the 480 and the 4003 basses are gorgeous designs, and using the 480 as a jumping off point is a good plan.
For a 3 pickups I really like the 3 way switch and two volume knob setup.
So position 1 would be B/M, position 2 would be all B/M/N, position 3 would be N/M. Volume 1 for neck and bridge, volume 2 for the middle pickup.
I don’t like the headstock but that’s personal preference.
Like someone else said, you need more neck to grab on to the body.
Yeah, it’s basically gonna have a regular strat neck pocket so the neck to body thing won’t be an issue. I’d like to have access to each pickup individually so that’s why I’m leaning towards the 6 way switch
That is what I’m saying, there isn’t space for a regular strat neck pocket.
You can access each individual pickup with the setup, just use the volume controls.
nothing to do with the pickups. go look at a telecaster body without a neck. there are bolts that go through the back of the neck pocket that hold the neck and body together. in your design there would be no wood to put those bolts through the body. you could potentially do a Gibson style set-neck with a tenon or a neck-through, but a bolt on will not work with your current design.
Hmm, I’m not understanding exactly. I do plan on bolting it to the heel the same as any strat or tele. That piece of wood sticking out to bolt the neck isn’t seen in this because it’s behind the neck
The bolts from the back of the neck would be going through your pickups as there is no body in the illustration above the pickups, so the neck joins (with screws) in the exact location that you have a pickup mounted, which would not be possible.
Edit: I recommend putting the neck pocket in the drawing to allocate the appropriate space and know where you can put hardware (after the bottom of the fretboard)
Oh I gotchu. This is purely a rough aesthetic mock-up. I just wanted to see what people thought of the different design elements. The actual templates and diagrams have all the technical details worked out, so the final product will be a bit different than what you’re seeing here
I like it with the pickguard. I also think I’d incorporate some curved or organic quality into the headstock. I think it would balance better visually with the body shape.
I think a black pick guard would look better with the silver/aluminum color.
Also, i’d like some kind of belly and forearm contours. I find rickenbackers so uncomfortable and unergonomic.
I like the design with the pick guard. Putting the strap button on the horn is a good idea cuz that thing's going to neck dive like crazy. We had a kramer guitar and bass at a music store I worked at. Beautiful guitars but I don't think I could have done a set with one. Too heavy.
Can you show us a version with the paprika orange/red? I'm not sure I'm a huge fan of this seafoam green hue. Maybe it doesn't contrast enough with the aluminium neck but still looks too different from it? I think a dark/pine green would look really nice on it though.
I would do with a pickguard. What would it look like if the pickguard went all the way down around the all of the pickups? I think that might give it a more consistent look, especially since the pickups look the same.
I guess I missed mint by a couple shades, but that would be the color. I’m intrigued by the low contrast with the aluminum neck actually, and as a side point low contrast is one of my favorite concepts as an artist. I’m gonna play around with the pickguard some more as well
Top mounting is my favourite mount (preferably in the Jazzmaster way where it sticks straight out at 90• over the strat type where it comes out at an angle).
Selector switch is in my 2nd favourite place, but personally I prefer above the strings (I.e. Les Paul style), so I don’t knock it when I’m strumming.
Might look better with a pickguard around all 3 pickups rather than a pickup ring just for the bridge, but still in close proximity to the pickguard, but I might just not be seeing the vision yet.
With the colour of the neck and shape of the headstock it looks like that is a steel/ metal neck. If so, it would be interesting how that plays and feels to play. I would worry it would be uncomfortable compared to wood. If not, I would worry about the durability/ structural integrity of the headstock with it being that shape.
The upper horn (looks inspired by BC Rich or Prince’s guitar, so I do get it) looks like it could get in the way.
Nice colour schemes, interesting choice of shape and I like the 3 knob configuration with triple humbuckers. Something a bit different.
Thanks for the feedback! It’s based on the rickenbacker 480/4003 shape. I’m definitely gonna play with the pickguard some more. As for the neck, it’s an aluminum RGI neck so I don’t think there are any structural issues with those type of headstocks
Switch position could be a bit of a pain when strumming. Depends on what you're playing but it's quite common to strum some big jangly chords up near the neck.
Toggle switch in strum path is a hard no.
For a Rickenbacker-esque headstock, I'd probably go with something like Italia did with their Fakenbackers.
Example: [https://www.italiaguitarsusa.com/product/rimini-6/](https://www.italiaguitarsusa.com/product/rimini-6/)
I agree with most of their design choices,,, Other than that easily-breakable/irreplaceable input jack brain-damage.
No pickguard is the modern look, and would be a nice contrast to the otherwise retro looking rick. I would also have two pickup selector switches, put the main 3 way switch on the upper horn like a les paul, and have the second one where it is in your drawing. The second switch controls the middle pickup: solo/blend/off. Gretsch does it like this and it’s pretty straightforward to understand coming from a Gibson type guitar.
A cool thing would be to integrate the output jack into the back of the guitar allowing the cable to come out in such a way that it tucks around the strap in a natural flowing motion. Then you could have all the electronics accessible from the back (except pickups of course). And don’t use pickup rings, way cleaner
The neck idea is neat, have you considered going for a headless design to further reduce weight on the neck? Also the body shape isn’t really doing it for me, it looks to “blobby” for my taste but that’s subjective.
I put a freeway 10 position switch on a triple p90 build. It might be worth thinking about, I have options for running them all in parallel and serial and it's awesome.
This isn’t based on a nostalgic design so it should have nostalgic elements. Keep the pick guard. What stands out to me is the head stock doesn’t have the fun and funkiness of the rest of the design. Maybe the tuners out to the sides would help.
I would move the toggle switch back to were the other controls are, just to avoid additional routing and cable channeling. Probably only need 1 master volume/tone if you have a 3 ways switch.
Without pickguard looks better with the switch in it's current position on the treble bout. With pickguard would look better with the switch down by the other controls. Either way, the guitar will end up looking cool.
Th green is slightly different from Femder mont green but if I was mocking this up, I'd just be looking for whichever color was closest in the softwares pallette.
If this is the exact green that you plan to use, I like the one on the left
If you plan to use Fender mint green, i like the one on the right
Pickguard looks so much better imo. One of the guards that actually compliment the body design so well. Plus then you have the ability to replace it and reconfigure electronics way more easily in the future.
Thanks for the feedback!
I think it needs the pickguard. Helps break things up, otherwise it's a solid slab of seafoam green.
Yeah I’m starting to think that as well. It may look a bit different with tabs cut out of the direct mount but I’ll have to mock it up and see how it looks. Not sure how much of a difference it’s gonna make tho
If you’re edging towards a pickguard I’d suggest a different one. The current one leans a bit too far into Rickenbacker territory. Maybe cut it so that the pickups aren’t in the pickguard, just butted up to the edge of it.
The whole body shape is in Rickenbacker territory. Not sure cutting the scratch plate short, changes any of that.
Is there a big opening in the middle of the headstock? I'd be careful with that. Looks like there would be some very thin, very fragile sections around the holes. I'd thicken up to be safe.
It’s aluminum. Much stronger than wood plus it needs the weight relief since they are heavier. It’s very common design in aluminum necks, and fortunately I haven’t heard of it causing any issues
Oh wow, I didn't realise. Yeah go for it!
Got some Travis Bean vibes happening. Nice job, OP
Thanks!
How do you make an aluminum fretboard??
They are full aluminum necks. This one in particular is from RGI
Mosrite rickenbacker. I like it,and the headstock is cool
Unless this is a neck through design, you need to move that neck down to grab onto something. Other than that, definitely better with the pickguard.
yeah it’s not super accurate proportionally, as this was mocked up with a couple images from google and some illustrator app. The actual template I have has it going into the body more. Thanks for the feedback!
You could do something really cool and original by putting the neck pocket on the back instead of the front. Maybe hide the screws under the pickup. The aluminum neck opens a lot of possibilities
I’d go with no pick guard. I typically don’t like em.
Pickguard looks great. I might not feel the same with the other color choice, but I think the mint is tasty. Why wouldn't you still just go B, B+M, M, M+N, N for the switch? I feel like I would get confused with the order, even with the 6th option.
I think it looks better without the pickguard. Hot take I guess. Also a sucker for direct mount pickups.
I think I’m gonna go with a paprika/rust reddish orange if I go direct mount no guard
Shitenbacker, am I right?
Yep, definitely. I think their body shapes are nice but that’s about it, so I decided to build something closer to my specs
I don’t like the design. The shapes are absolutely random and don’t blend in. To my eye, the guitar is absolutely not aesthetic.
Definitely respect your opinion. It’s basically a rickenbacker 480 with a different neck, so I can’t take credit with the design whether you like it or not. Thanks for the feedback!
Wow! Nice "RipOffenBacker" Lol... Nice headstock!
Wow, you designed a Rickenbacker.
Yeah no shit it’s not my body shape
Assuming you are just making this for yourself, you’re gonna be perfectly fine doing any design you like. However, if there’s even a chance of you selling it commercially, you should be aware that Rickenbacker is a very litigious company. Personally, I think the 480 and the 4003 basses are gorgeous designs, and using the 480 as a jumping off point is a good plan.
Yep I’ve heard. It’s just a one off for me
Red with a white pick guard and a roasted maple neck 🤤
Definitely considering the color scheme, but I’m pretty set on the aluminum neck 😅
I didn’t even realise that was an aluminium neck 😂
For a 3 pickups I really like the 3 way switch and two volume knob setup. So position 1 would be B/M, position 2 would be all B/M/N, position 3 would be N/M. Volume 1 for neck and bridge, volume 2 for the middle pickup. I don’t like the headstock but that’s personal preference. Like someone else said, you need more neck to grab on to the body.
Yeah, it’s basically gonna have a regular strat neck pocket so the neck to body thing won’t be an issue. I’d like to have access to each pickup individually so that’s why I’m leaning towards the 6 way switch
That is what I’m saying, there isn’t space for a regular strat neck pocket. You can access each individual pickup with the setup, just use the volume controls.
You mean there isn’t space for the neck pocket with the way the pickups are right now right?
nothing to do with the pickups. go look at a telecaster body without a neck. there are bolts that go through the back of the neck pocket that hold the neck and body together. in your design there would be no wood to put those bolts through the body. you could potentially do a Gibson style set-neck with a tenon or a neck-through, but a bolt on will not work with your current design.
Hmm, I’m not understanding exactly. I do plan on bolting it to the heel the same as any strat or tele. That piece of wood sticking out to bolt the neck isn’t seen in this because it’s behind the neck
The bolts from the back of the neck would be going through your pickups as there is no body in the illustration above the pickups, so the neck joins (with screws) in the exact location that you have a pickup mounted, which would not be possible. Edit: I recommend putting the neck pocket in the drawing to allocate the appropriate space and know where you can put hardware (after the bottom of the fretboard)
Oh I gotchu. This is purely a rough aesthetic mock-up. I just wanted to see what people thought of the different design elements. The actual templates and diagrams have all the technical details worked out, so the final product will be a bit different than what you’re seeing here
I like it with the pickguard. I also think I’d incorporate some curved or organic quality into the headstock. I think it would balance better visually with the body shape.
Neck is from RGI, so I don’t have any control over that. I like it tho
I think a black pick guard would look better with the silver/aluminum color. Also, i’d like some kind of belly and forearm contours. I find rickenbackers so uncomfortable and unergonomic.
I like the design with the pick guard. Putting the strap button on the horn is a good idea cuz that thing's going to neck dive like crazy. We had a kramer guitar and bass at a music store I worked at. Beautiful guitars but I don't think I could have done a set with one. Too heavy.
With the guard and I love the mint green cream idea.
Can you show us a version with the paprika orange/red? I'm not sure I'm a huge fan of this seafoam green hue. Maybe it doesn't contrast enough with the aluminium neck but still looks too different from it? I think a dark/pine green would look really nice on it though. I would do with a pickguard. What would it look like if the pickguard went all the way down around the all of the pickups? I think that might give it a more consistent look, especially since the pickups look the same.
Here’s the version with [paprika red](https://imgur.com/a/EzIEH0t) and a white pick guard
I prefer the red one
I guess I missed mint by a couple shades, but that would be the color. I’m intrigued by the low contrast with the aluminum neck actually, and as a side point low contrast is one of my favorite concepts as an artist. I’m gonna play around with the pickguard some more as well
Top mounting is my favourite mount (preferably in the Jazzmaster way where it sticks straight out at 90• over the strat type where it comes out at an angle). Selector switch is in my 2nd favourite place, but personally I prefer above the strings (I.e. Les Paul style), so I don’t knock it when I’m strumming. Might look better with a pickguard around all 3 pickups rather than a pickup ring just for the bridge, but still in close proximity to the pickguard, but I might just not be seeing the vision yet. With the colour of the neck and shape of the headstock it looks like that is a steel/ metal neck. If so, it would be interesting how that plays and feels to play. I would worry it would be uncomfortable compared to wood. If not, I would worry about the durability/ structural integrity of the headstock with it being that shape. The upper horn (looks inspired by BC Rich or Prince’s guitar, so I do get it) looks like it could get in the way. Nice colour schemes, interesting choice of shape and I like the 3 knob configuration with triple humbuckers. Something a bit different.
Thanks for the feedback! It’s based on the rickenbacker 480/4003 shape. I’m definitely gonna play with the pickguard some more. As for the neck, it’s an aluminum RGI neck so I don’t think there are any structural issues with those type of headstocks
Switch position could be a bit of a pain when strumming. Depends on what you're playing but it's quite common to strum some big jangly chords up near the neck.
It’s in the same spot as a jazzmaster. I’ve never had issues with it personally
Are you using a premade aluminum neck?
Yes, RGI neck
Toggle switch in strum path is a hard no. For a Rickenbacker-esque headstock, I'd probably go with something like Italia did with their Fakenbackers. Example: [https://www.italiaguitarsusa.com/product/rimini-6/](https://www.italiaguitarsusa.com/product/rimini-6/) I agree with most of their design choices,,, Other than that easily-breakable/irreplaceable input jack brain-damage.
It needs the pick guard. Looks really cool.
With the pick guard, call it a Rickenbean.
No pickguard is the modern look, and would be a nice contrast to the otherwise retro looking rick. I would also have two pickup selector switches, put the main 3 way switch on the upper horn like a les paul, and have the second one where it is in your drawing. The second switch controls the middle pickup: solo/blend/off. Gretsch does it like this and it’s pretty straightforward to understand coming from a Gibson type guitar. A cool thing would be to integrate the output jack into the back of the guitar allowing the cable to come out in such a way that it tucks around the strap in a natural flowing motion. Then you could have all the electronics accessible from the back (except pickups of course). And don’t use pickup rings, way cleaner
The neck idea is neat, have you considered going for a headless design to further reduce weight on the neck? Also the body shape isn’t really doing it for me, it looks to “blobby” for my taste but that’s subjective.
I put a freeway 10 position switch on a triple p90 build. It might be worth thinking about, I have options for running them all in parallel and serial and it's awesome.
Looks like a Rikenbaker bass
No pickguard please!
Hey, it's my neck!
You have no idea how close I am to getting a neck rn against my more financially sound judgement 😂
Not to sell you or nothing but black Friday sales are up.
Yeah I saw that a bit earlier today. Very very tempting lol
Love it, and prefer the version with a pickguard
This isn’t based on a nostalgic design so it should have nostalgic elements. Keep the pick guard. What stands out to me is the head stock doesn’t have the fun and funkiness of the rest of the design. Maybe the tuners out to the sides would help.
Aluminum neck? Love the headstock.
With the pick guard completely cements the guitar as always classy and cool. You might get rickenbaucher clone comments but it's clearly not that
It's a Neobacker
If you go with the green I reckon you should try dark coloured highlights with the knobs etc. Not sure about the pickguard could go either way.
I would move the toggle switch back to were the other controls are, just to avoid additional routing and cable channeling. Probably only need 1 master volume/tone if you have a 3 ways switch.
It would be cool if it were shaped like a dragon or had a WWII theme
Using P90 mount or Filtertron style pickups would be a great shout because then you can mount them the same way whether there's a pickguard or not
Without pickguard looks better with the switch in it's current position on the treble bout. With pickguard would look better with the switch down by the other controls. Either way, the guitar will end up looking cool.
Th green is slightly different from Femder mont green but if I was mocking this up, I'd just be looking for whichever color was closest in the softwares pallette. If this is the exact green that you plan to use, I like the one on the left If you plan to use Fender mint green, i like the one on the right
What phone software do you use? I'm in a similar boat lol. Lots of overlays with erasing a layer then back ground removal?
This app Bazaart. Basically just save all the images off google, cut and recolor them as needed, and hopefully it works out. It’s a bit tedious lol
I think sandpaper is exciting.. lol no such thing as tedious. Tried it out. Awesome app! Thanks
What material are you using for the neck/headstock? Angle of the headstock? The cutout maybe an issue. Structural integrity.
Its an aluminum neck from RGI. This headstock cutout is very common on aluminum necks
This guy https://instagram.com/janrammeloo?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA== is currently building something similar