Marcel's RCM-4F (PBG build #3)

[elcodyloco]

There's a company called CaliG that makes a pretty inexpensive noise-cancelling Jazz pickup, but I dunno how their shipping policies change if you're overseas. Something to look into, though... but that flame top being a little off isn't as bad as I've seen on other company's similar kits. That double bound body and flame top looks surprisingly good though.

For the finish, if you're up to it, you could always try to make a rendition of the Fireglo Ric finish, which is kinf of red-to-clear, but with purple. Maybe like this?

[Marcel]

Oooo...Ahhhh... I like that...

One thing I wanted to avoid was getting too dark...

[wazkelly]

Hi Marcel, that flame joint looks good in the photos. Maybe a lighter colour would help to disguise things a bit better perhaps?

Look forward to catching up with you on Sunday when you are down this part of the coast.

[Marcel]

Feeling the same here Waz... though the drive down and back will be the usual boring chore ...

I've been cruising the forum RC build diaries and I'm impressed on what some guys have done, and also noted that a flame top on a RC build is a pretty scarce and a seemingly non-existant animal. A search on Google images finds none with a flame top. So the stress and burden of doing a half decent job on this build is certainly making its presence felt.

I'm sticking with the Purple burst, and like you said Waz I'll be trying to keep the centre line as light as possible. However I think it will still be quite visible once the clear goes on.

Had a bit of time today so did the TimberMate thing to the back in prep for staining with FW Jarrah ... Main reason for the TimberMate was to try and even up the colour of the two pieces of Mahogany that make up the body. One piece was notably lighter than the other so to minimise that visible difference am using the Mahogany Redish colour in the Timbermate with the grain filling aspect a wonderful secondary benefit.

[wazkelly]

Never done a kit with Mahogany but it looks quite a porous timber and therefore willing to accept grain filler. Agree with your plans to disguise different timber shades.

[Marcel]

It was great to catch up last Sunday Waz, and a huge thank you for the JB PU's. The neck PU will certainly get put to work once I can get it to fit in the hole.

Seems not all JB PU's are the same... length and width are fine, but the corners of the PU catch on the body, and the bumps on the side are spaced slightly differently. Seems the old faithful Dremel will get some work to adjust the route in the body, which is a buggar as the current route hole is so neat and tidy.. The pencil marks show what needs to be removed.

And yes, there are 'dotty' black marks synchronous with the flame in the maple top at the bottom of the JB route. I've tried scratching at them, used 'Goofoff', tried water, rubbed and sanded at them yet they won't shift. Damp raging them makes them look worse.

[wazkelly]

Hi Marcel, good to catch up on Sunday and could have talked all afternoon.

Have you tried both PUP's in that rout as yes, JB PUP's do slightly differ in size and also with the positioning of the mounting lugs. I had a similar issue when fitting the Entwistles into my J Bass as I had to widen things to accommodate lugs in a slightly different position on both neck & bridge PUP's.

[Marcel]

I tried both PUP's Waz and the hole is sized for the bridge PUP. If anything the hole is a fraction too close to the bridge as when the PUP is in place my 0.5mm copper wire pretend strings run over the inside edge of the outer pole pieces, but when it is finally built I doubt anyone except me will notice when the real and much thicker bass strings are on.

It is only the four corners and the edges of the mounting lugs that need adjustment. What method did you use Waz on your JB? I'm presuming a Dremel is the better more controllable option.

[wazkelly]

Hi Marcel, my tool kit does not include a Dremel so I carefully used a very sharp chisel instead plus used some 80 & 120 grit paper to smooth things out.

[Marcel]

No probs Waz.
Yeah, I'm not a huge fan of the Dremel, but I can control it a way lot better than I can a chisel, and with far less physical effort and obligatory cussing. With all the tooling bit options I have it can be a bit like a hand held micro-router, so I can get it to gently eat away at the small Mahogany sections I don't want. And some sandpaper time afterwards will probably still be needed.