RC-4 Electric Bass - First Build

[pharms]

Unpackaged the guitar, did a quick check on parts, body seems to be ok.

There was a slight crack or it seems there is a cut in the side of the Humbucker pick up - will post a photo tomorrow.

Also, not sure where to use all of the fasteners, but it seems everything is included.

Just curious, it seems there are no fasteners to fasten the neck to the body...any idea of what I should use for this?

Thanks again...

[Fretworn]

Hi Phil, it is a glue in neck. The glue of choice is Titebond original, or some other yellow wood glue. it is suggested that you avoid PVA glue.

[wokkaboy]

kit looks great Phil. As Fretty said get some titebond original glue to set the neck. Make sure you ask any questions about gluing the neck, it's the most important part of the build. Most people prefer to finish the body and neck separately then glue it. Some glue it after the staining is done and then do the final/clear coats.

[pharms]

Thanks for the reply.

Do you know if there are instructions on how to glue the neck to the body?

[wazkelly]

Hi Pharms, nice kit.

PBG site did have a neck gluing video once upon a time but that now seems to have disappeared??? Plenty on youtube to have a look at.

Just a heads up on a few things with this kit, most people who have tried to install a genuine Riccy bridge have found they need to dig a bit of timber out for it to sit right. Personally, if I was going to replace the stock bridge there are cheaper and easier options like a humble Fender style upgrade that would do the job.

When lining up the neck some guys have also had issues and scale length is more important than lining up a fret with the leading edge of the body. Thankfully bridge mounting holes have not been pre-drilled so that gives you plenty of scope to work with.

Suggest another mock build and push the neck all the way in and then measure 34" from inside of nut on treble side to the middle of the G string saddle as this will be about where it will end up once neck has been 'set'.

Cheers, Waz

[Simon Barden]

To glue the neck on, you are going to need to buy or borrow a couple of G-clamps that are big enough to go over the body so that you can get one holding the tenon down to the body in the neck pickup cavity, and another holding the end of the fretboard down onto the body.

Obviously you don't clamp the neck and body directly, use some other thin strips of wood in between the jaws of the clamp and the guitar surfaces. For clamping the top of the neck, you really need to make up a piece of wood with notches cut out so that the wood sits on the fretboard, not pressing on the frets. If you've got a Dremmel, then you should be able to rout out some slots, if not then you could use a file with a3-4mm wide blade to create the notches. This block only needs to be about 40mm long as it's only the very end on the fretboards that's over the neck cavity.

I believe this is why the neck gluing video was removed, as it showed the neck being clamped using a flat piece of wood pressing on the frets, and not with a notched piece pressing on the fretboard.

When gluing the neck, make sure that it's not too hot or humid as in these conditions the wood swells a bit and will make the neck a tighter fit, leaving just a thin layer of glue in the gaps. When the temperature and humidity drop, the wood contracts and in some circumstances, and over time, can pull the glue line apart in places. Better to have the glue under compression if the wood swells again than under tension when it shrinks.

[pharms]

Thanks for this Waz...great info.

[pharms]

Thanks Simon

[pharms]

First sanding pass using 100 grit paper. Great advice on using a damp cloth to check for further glue issues.

[pharms]

Greetings Folks;

I promised I would post a photo of the "crack" in the Humbucker pick up. Please see attached. I don't believe this is a big deal, but any comments are appreciated.

Thanks...