Build#1 RCA-4

[Trebbble]

Thought I better do the right thing and start a new build thread.
So far all I have done is open the box and check contents.
I checked the neck in the neck pocket. It's a pretty snug fit has a little bit of wobble room which is OK as the 'natural' resting spot of the neck has it ever so slightly out of alignment.
I'll clamp it all together for a "dry-fit" photo tomorrow evening.
There are some changes to the kit that I will do.
I'll try with original pickups and if I like the sound they'll stay other wise I'll get some customs hand-wound by a guy in Melbourne. He has done pups for another of my basses an old Cimar(by Ibanez) Jazz bass I restored last year.
I have ordered new bone nut blanks and I'll shape this and replace the supplied nut.
I will also replace the bridge I like the look of the BABICZ FCH bridge available from PitBull's site.(OUT OF STOCK )
Has anyone used the BABICZ FCH 4 string bass bridge on their RCA-4 builds?
I am wanting a green translucent finish something showing the grain through. I have sprayed guitars before using nitrocellulose spray cans for a sunburst effect.
This one I want in high gloss translucent green
Has anyone done a green finish?
Did you use dyes or paint?
Have been reading the great articles posted by others already there are some really nice guitar finishes and good info on this forum.
Thanks all

[Andyxlh]

Welcome! I enjoyed my RCA4 kit build, although it was in a more trad timber stain. There seems to be lots of people building this kit at the moment!

[Trebbble]

Well I got home from work late but still thought I better get the kit out and take some photos and do some measuring.
The scale is a little long
432mm to 12th fret

The neck is actually a super tight fit and sits dead centre to the front pickup rout and when centre line is transfered down guitar body it looks perfect

The only obvious fault is the routing for the rear pup is a fair bit out of line

It's a good 3mm off centre which means the strings are nowhere near in line with pick up magnets., or if you do line the bridge up so strings sit close to magnets the strins would hang off the fret board at the body/neck join

I have no choice but to lengthen the pup rout by 3mm to align the pick up.
Has anyone else had to do this with theirs?

[Trebbble]

here are picks of the front and back of the body.
nice enough grain I'm happy with it.

[FrankenWashie]

That back is killer, great score Trebble!

[Andyxlh]

Looks great!
Just consider the break angle of the neck, I have found mine is. A little too flat, meaning that the bridge at its lowest setting still has the action a little high.
The pickups I didn't check, as I changed mine out for two humbuckers

[Trebbble]

The back is thin veneer

[FrankenWashie]

The back is thin veneer

Oh no. I had massive troubles with a veneer back on an LP build that I still can’t bring myself to look at.

Just go easy on sanding and seal it with something like shellac quickly.

[king casey]

The back is thin veneer

Probably best not to introduce it to Mr. heat gun.....like I did.

cheers, Mark.

[Trebbble]

I'm hoping the veneer has not been used to cover up other faults....