Introducing the RGW Heritage Tribute '55®

[Rodent]

Here's the specs for this first lefty build of my new Heritage Tribute® line ...

* Swamp Ash body finished in semi-transparent 'vintaged' white (custom brewed color that will only be available in a lefty, and definitely NOT pinkish!)
* offset 2-piece body glue line, just like the originals
* forearm and tummy contours, 3/8"R round over edges
* quartersawn Maple/Maple neck with 1-5/8" nut and modern P-styled profile, zero-fret, 6230 alloy frets, dual graphite stiffening bars, bone nut, black face/side dots, vintage tinted satin finish
* custom RGW 'Heritage Series' headstock for that vintage headstock vibe
* Nordstrand SCPB '54 style pickup with raised pole pieces
* Hipshot 1/2" post Ultralight tuners with clover keys
* Replica '54 Tele twin saddle bridge with thru-body stringing
* Black pickguard
* CTS 250K pots with Orange Drop .047uf cap
* Electrosocket side jack
* chrome hardware
* trussrod adjustment slot in body (but not pickguard)
* custom lefty polished stainless control plate

The custom lefty control plates for this series just arrived this afternoon, and they are absolutely K-I-L-L-E-R and far above what I had been hoping for I'm not revealing my source for these at this time since I'd like to bring a few of these basses into production as a reward for my 18+ month quest to get these custom lefty control plates produced.

Additional details on this series can be found on the RGW website http://regenerateguitarworks.com

all the best,

R

[Rebel]

I can't wait to see what it will look like when it's done! I've been on your website and I am very impressed with the way your basses look

[andrew]

I can't wait to see what it will look like when it's done! I've been on your website and I am very impressed with the way your basses look

+1. Really looking forward to it Rod.

[Rodent]

experiencing a significant backup at the CNC & paint shops, so this is progressing slower than I had hoped

images coming 'soon'

R

[Rodent]

the neck is ready for detail sanding, and after it's fit to the neck pocket this will be off to the finishing shop




Here's your first glance at the official RGW 'Heritage' Series 4-string headstock - essentially my take on the original '51 styled headstock. Similar enough to not cause issues with your bandmates, but different enough to not cause me legal issues. The 5-string version is 5 in-line tuners with a similar shape

Images of the body coming soon ...

all the best,

R

[andrew]

Hey, I like that headstock design!

[Rodent]

as of this posting, the lefty body is still in the CNC shop queue. in the interim, here's what that same body configuration looks like for its righty sibling





you can see the offset body seam in the last image - just like Fender made their early bass bodies. this righty unit will be a 2-tone vintage burst finish, and with the body seam as clean as it is (the guys at the CNC shop did a stellar matching job, eh?!!) it will appear to the casual observer as if this was a 1-piece blank (I will definitely be certain this is advertised as a 2-piece blank), and I guess from a mechanical perspective it's about as close to a 1-piece body as you can had with a 2-piece


since this is the Tribute '55 model, you can see it has the arm and gut contours. also noteworthy is that only the Extreme models contain the rear control cavity routing - the Heritage and Heritage Plus don't utilize a pre-amp, so there's no point in paying for machine time to route an unneeded cavity

all the best,

R

[Jeroen]

It wasn't until I scrolled down to that sideshot of the body that I noticed it was a 2-piece instead of a 1-piece. Very well-matched!

[Rebel]

Already lookin good Rodent! i like that headstock design

[AzWhoFan]

It wasn't until I scrolled down to that sideshot of the body that I noticed it was a 2-piece instead of a 1-piece. Very well-matched!

Yup, had me completely fooled. I still can't really see where the demarcation line is on the top. The eyes are the first thing to go ....

[Rodent]

here's Round 1 of the pickguard design. I still need to tweak it a little bit, but at least I'm reasonably satisfied with the initial design and placement of the 4-hole control plate. the pickguard will not contain a trussrod adjustment slot (it's an option) for aesthetic purposes, but there is a slot cut in the body so adjustment is as simple as removing 9 little pickguard screws (and NOT the neck!)



once I have this where I like it I'll route the control cavity hole in the top and locate the bridge soapbar pickup

all the best,

R

p.s. apologies for utilizing this righty body as reference, but that's a lefty neck in the pocket if it makes anybody feel any better

[Rebel]

aw, sweet!

[Rodent]

all the body mods completed on this one, so it's off to the finishing shop when the friendly UPS guy steps into the shop for a pick-up



now I'm just tapping my fingers waiting for the lefty Heritage body that actually goes with this thread to show up from the CNC shop ... waiting ... waiting ... waiting ...

all the best,

R

[Rodent]

both units (bodies and necks for the righty HPE shown and the lefty HT '55 model) are now in the finishing shop. I'm real pleased with how they're coming out so far. more images in a few weeks ...

all the best,

R

[Rebel]

Can't wait

[Rodent]

received a note this week that my -entire- backlog at the finish shop arrived back at the CNC shop this past week. I anticipate a rather large shipment will be arriving this coming Thur/Fri. new images as soon as I can snap a few

all the best,

R

[Rodent]

sad to report that everything was in -except- for the HT '55 4-string lefty

I'll be taking images this evening of the righty HPE last seen above in its unfinished state. It came out gorgeous, as did it's 5-string cousin. Just for fun, here's a peek of the B&B 5-string neck's headstock fresh from the finishing shop



edited to add an image of the first neck/body test fit post finish




all the best,

R

[Rodent]

edited to replace my previous post ...

here's an image of the major component test fit. nothing is secured in place, and the locations are close but still approximate ... all this will change later this week. if all goes well I should be test driving this one before too much longer



I'm not so sure I like the pickguard color with the vintage 2-tone burst on this one. I'm seriously rethinking my decision, and am leaning more towards a solid black guard with every passing second

all the best,

R

[pjmuck]

I'm not so sure I like the pickguard color with the vintage 2-tone burst on this one. I'm seriously rethinking my decision, and am leaning more towards a solid black guard with every passing second

all the best,

R

Black was my immediate thought as well. But you know what, I love the look of a white pickguard on a '55 as well, even if your finish isn't tobacco burst:

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.gbase.com/files/store_images/gear/2114376/p1_uhnwy0xhz_so.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.gbase.com/gear/fender-precision-bass-1955-sunburst-1&usg=__cAOlYDeUGYWYMfkFB1r_Ruw7VZs=&h=750&w=500&sz=51&hl=en&start=15&tbnid=90zbXSKuWjhVhM:&tbnh=141&tbnw=94&prev=/images%3Fq%3D1955%2Bprecision%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff

[AzWhoFan]

I think you should go with a clear see-through guard. That wood is too good looking to be hidden behind a guard.