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pablopepper
29-03-2013, 02:28 AM
Okay, so I've had a little time to get started on this bad boy today, and I guess I should start a build diary while my latest coat of undercoat dries.

First of all, the concept.

My plan (as it stands, I might end up changing my mind) is to build a replica of a custom guitar made by Fender for Troy Sanders of Mastodon. See pic:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/04/Mastodon_Troy_Sanders_2006.jpg

I love Mastodon, Troy's playing is phenomenal, and SILVERBURST!

As such my first job was to design a logo for the headstock. I don't agree with using manufacturers logo on copies, but I wanted something close. Here's what I came up with:

http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/6li71-Photo-26-03-13-8-54-40-AM.jpg

pablopepper
29-03-2013, 02:36 AM
I've had a bunch of trouble getting hold of that printable decal paper, so that will have to wait.

Next up, I taped off the fret board and fitted the neck and made sure it was straight and level. Then pulled it apart and taped the neck pocket and made a hook.

A few coats of spray putty as undercoat/grain filler later and here we are. A pretty productive day so far.
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/eh331-Photo-27-03-13-12-28-28-PM.jpg
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/264of-Photo-27-03-13-1-12-31-PM.jpg
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/g6h05-Photo-28-03-13-12-48-45-PM.jpg

Gavin1393
29-03-2013, 04:38 AM
Very Nice - I can hear some scurrying around at DB's getting that silver organised!

GlennGP
29-03-2013, 04:55 AM
Quote from pablopepper on March 28, 2013, 11:28
... I don't agree with using manufacturers logo on copies, but I wanted something close. Here's what I came up with:

http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/6li71-Photo-26-03-13-8-54-40-AM.jpg

I agree, and that's a great solution. Nice one. Also, the silverburst - never seen one before, and I like it! Good luck Pablo, I'll look forward to the outcome.

Gavin1393
29-03-2013, 05:09 AM
I missed it completely earlier! Second look. Got it! Pretender! Excellent idea....might steal it!! :)

keloooe
29-03-2013, 08:26 AM
Quote from Gavin1393 on March 28, 2013, 14:09
I missed it completely earlier! Second look. Got it! Pretender! Excellent idea....might steal it!! :)
I thought you were goin bonkers there Gav... Then I took a good look at the tread myself and saw it!!! Neat lil' pun there Pablo!!!

pablopepper
29-03-2013, 10:24 AM
Quote from Gavin1393 on March 28, 2013, 13:38
Very Nice - I can hear some scurrying around at DB's getting that silver organised!

Solid colour paint for me again. As luck would have it, with this colour scheme I already have the paints. But, as an inexperienced sprayer, I am a little wary about getting it right. Airbrush may be resorted to.

I would love to be using wudtone, but the basswood bodies I have got so far haven't been up to it. This one has a distinctly darker piece with almost curly grain on the top side and lighter, straight grained pieces on the bottom 2/3. Glenn's TL-1 and your SG-1 on the other hand, looked great.

pablopepper
05-04-2013, 02:07 AM
Over the weekend, after some late night ebay trawling, I found myself the winner of an uncontested auction for a genuine Fender bass humbucker. Sweet, I thought, that was a bargain! Now,I knew I'd have to modify the body a little to accept this pickup as the mountings are different, but...

When the parcel arrived, I opened it up and put it up to the body and guess what...sad trumpet :(. It don't fit. And not by a long way. Dangit! Oh well, it was pretty cheap, I'm not too upset. At least now I don't have to mess around with filling and routing.

So, let this be a lesson to anyone building a PBH-4. If you want to upgrade the humbucker in this kit get the Stingray style instead of the Fender style!
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/tm85y-Photo-4-04-13-12-11-29-PM.jpg
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/1slih-Photo-4-04-13-12-10-31-PM.jpg
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/s7h61-Photo-4-04-13-12-10-14-PM.jpg

pablopepper
05-04-2013, 02:09 AM
Anyone want to buy a brand new pickup for cheap? :)

pablopepper
11-04-2013, 04:23 AM
Paint day! :D

First colour coats have gone on today. The body prep so far has been a breeze, only a few little nicks and bumps that needed to be taken care of, so this build is coming together a lot faster than I originally expected.

Next step is applying the burst, which I am not looking forward to.

http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/0u0n0-Photo-10-04-13-2-35-10-PM.jpg
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/f8693-Photo-10-04-13-2-35-44-PM.jpg

pablopepper
11-04-2013, 04:29 AM
I'm not doing a build diary for the ES so I'll stick these in here.

This one needed a silver base coat, so two birds, one stone etc. etc. Then metallic blue. She's come up a treat.
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/h95m9-Photo-10-04-13-2-37-30-PM.jpg
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/3930g-Photo-10-04-13-3-05-46-PM.jpg

keloooe
11-04-2013, 04:53 AM
You might have a bit of a problem with the neck pocket there Pablo, the paint might mess the alignment a bit
Looks great though! Are you using a length of string that stops at the bridge pup rout to hold it up???

dingobass
11-04-2013, 04:53 AM
Wow!

I bet it was a real pain masking the binding, Pablo!

wokkaboy
11-04-2013, 05:05 AM
Quote from dingobass on April 10, 2013, 13:53
Wow!

I bet it was a real pain masking the binding, Pablo!

understatement of the millenium DB !! double binding, that would have been swine of a job

looks great Pablo, you have a nice workshop and spray painting equipment no doubt !

keloooe
11-04-2013, 05:26 AM
Better than my workshop! (garage freezer top with towel to keep it clean, or my desk!)

stui
11-04-2013, 05:36 AM
Seeing a nice grain painted over makes me sad... Still looks cool though!

keloooe
11-04-2013, 05:40 AM
Quote from stui on April 10, 2013, 14:36
Seeing a nice grain painted over makes me sad... Still looks cool though!
Poor Stui :( .... At least it looks cool!!!

wokkaboy
11-04-2013, 05:56 AM
Quote from keloooe on April 10, 2013, 14:40

Quote from stui on April 10, 2013, 14:36
Seeing a nice grain painted over makes me sad... Still looks cool though!
Poor Stui :( .... At least it looks cool!!!

I agree Stui but look on the bright side - Pablo didn't have to spend hours sanding all that damn glue off and metallic blue is probably my favourite colour !

keloooe
11-04-2013, 06:15 AM
Yeh, no glue to sand... Sigh, if only Wudtone could accept glue and filler...

adam
11-04-2013, 07:54 AM
You get on OH YEAAAAAH!! from me Pablo. Love both of them.

WeirdBits
11-04-2013, 08:42 AM
mmmm... silvery goodness.

pablopepper
11-04-2013, 09:21 AM
Yes, it's a shame to see the flamed top covered up, but the whole point of the ES is to match my brother's Valiant. The saddest thing is there was NO glue on the top. None. There was a patch of filler maybe an inch long and 2mm wide and two small patches of glue on the sides. That's it.

We peeled the masking off last thing this afternoon (yes it sucked to do, yes there was masking in the neck pocket) and it looks freaking great. It wasn't 100% effective though and the binding will need to be scraped before the clear coat goes on.

Gavin1393
11-04-2013, 02:04 PM
Looks amazing! Looking forwards to seeing this one all dressed up!

Gavin1393
11-04-2013, 02:09 PM
Pablo, when the time comes to install the pots etc. into your 335, check this thread out. It may save you some time and heaps of frustration!

http://pitbullguitars.com/?page_id=42&mingleforumaction=viewtopic&t=230.2#postid-2728

pablopepper
11-04-2013, 08:34 PM
Thanks Gavin, bookmarked! :)

pablopepper
26-05-2013, 08:34 AM
Ok, so it's been more than a month since I posted anything here, but I've finally had some free time today.

Earlier this week iNSANE linked to a great site that lets you build an image of certain guitars, got stuck into that and came up with something I liked a lot more than my original idea. http://pitbullguitars.com/?page_id=42&mingleforumaction=viewtopic&t=318.0#postid-4712 (if you're interested). So, slight change of tack...
http://i.imgur.com/lXBJswo.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/dYPc7x0.jpg
It's green now. I'm pretty particular about shades of green, it took a few attempts to get the right one, and this is still not exactly what I was going for but it's close enough.

I went and ordered a set of black hardware from eBay including an interesting looking high mass bridge to finish off the look. Now I play the waiting game.

And I finally got around to getting the decal on the headstock...after four colourfully worded attempts. Very happy with it.
http://i.imgur.com/6LYQ3Oe.jpg

EDIT: fixed the image links.

stui
26-05-2013, 09:19 AM
Lovin the headstock decal mate :)

pablopepper
30-05-2013, 01:53 AM
Thanks Stui. It's sorta got me squirming a bit because I just saw it for the first time from a few steps away and it looks just like a Fender decal. I can't really complain, I wanted it to be close just maybe not THAT close. Besides, there are clear coats over it now, it doesn't bug me enough to want to strip it back.

wokkaboy
28-06-2013, 01:53 AM
Hey Pablo,
have you come across a suitable wiring diagram for the PBH ?
I've had a fair search online and haven't seen anything suitable.
Attached is a photo of the bridge and neck pickups and back of the scratchplate pot arrangement.

I was hoping to get this wired up tonight and entered for GOTM July !
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/24ci2-2013-06-27-07.27.20.jpg

WeirdBits
28-06-2013, 04:41 AM
Wok, is this (http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/wiring-diagrams/schematics.php?schematic=musicman_pbass) this type of wiring you want? All you'd need to do is mod it for the individual tone controls instead of a master.

wokkaboy
28-06-2013, 04:49 AM
/<\\/p>[]<\\/p>/Quote from WeirdBits on June 27, 2013, 13:41
Wok, is this (http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/wiring-diagrams/schematics.php?schematic=musicman_pbass) this type of wiring you want? All you'd need to do is mod it for the individual tone controls instead of a master.





Hi Scott,
thanks for your help, yes the diagram you posted is similar, Bass Guy helped me out with a 4 pot diagram that should be perfect, attached below
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/c8t61-PBH-wiring.jpg

WeirdBits
28-06-2013, 05:09 AM
Just in case, here's a two volume two tone diagram (http://www.bestbassgear.com/wiring-diagrams/volume-volume-tone-tone.pdf). There's also pretty much every type of bass wiring you can imagine here (http://www.bestbassgear.com/bass-wiring-diagrams.htm).

wokkaboy
28-06-2013, 05:15 AM
Cheers thanks heaps Scott, I'll keep this diagram as a backup

pablopepper
03-07-2013, 03:15 AM
Wow, I completely missed this. I was just going to adapt a wiring diagram from a standard p bass design, but Scott's looks like the perfect thing. I'm still a fair way off wiring though, stupid work and family commitments interfering with guitar builds...grumble, grumble.

pablopepper
03-07-2013, 03:26 AM
Managed to get the neck finished over the weekend and the hardware installed today. I'm really quite liking the black look. Finally some progress, if only a little. Still plodding along with the body, hoping to get the clear coat done this weekend. Then wait for it to cure. How dull.
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/p5ey9-20130702_133812.jpg
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/328mv-20130702_134028.jpg

wokkaboy
03-07-2013, 03:40 AM
Hey Pablo, no drama the wiring diagram I posted worked.
The black tuning pegs look great with your pre-Tender logo, well done

pablopepper
17-07-2013, 03:34 AM
My first totally hand cut and finished pickguard! I've spent about a month trying to find an appropriate cut file online, but everything ended up slightly the wrong shape.

I did this one out of 2mm acrylic (which in hindsight probably isn't the best material to use, too brittle) cut on the bandsaw and neatened up on the disc sander and with hand files. I then chamfered the edge with a straight hand file and polished most of the working marks off. It's not perfect, but it'll do.
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/0u4u5-20130716_140916.jpg
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/b493y-20130716_141044.jpg

wokkaboy
17-07-2013, 03:47 AM
looks great Pablo, couldn't you just trace the outline of the supplied tortise shell pick guard ? Or do you mean you couldn't find a CNC cut file ?
Can't wait to see how it looks assembled

pablopepper
17-07-2013, 04:11 AM
/<\\/p>[]<\\/p>/Quote from wokkaboy on July 16, 2013, 12:47
looks great Pablo, couldn't you just trace the outline of the supplied tortise shell pick guard ? Or do you mean you couldn't find a CNC cut file?

Yeah Wokka, I ended up tracing the original as a template. I was looking for pre-done artwork that I could cut on the laser (taking the lazy route), but I think these kits are a slightly non-standard shape.

pablopepper
03-08-2013, 05:38 AM
Finally had some nice non humid days this week to shoot some clear. It's been an unusually wet winter in Queensland this year.

Anyway, on to wet sanding and then polish and then assembly! The end is in sight! :D
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/u087h-20130731_135823.jpg
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/ncfpi-20130802_141632.jpg

Bass Guy
03-08-2013, 05:54 AM
Damn it looks fantastic already.... I might have to get a plane ticket to QLD so I can play/steal it...

gavinturner
03-08-2013, 06:12 AM
Wow Pablo, the green with your custom pickguard and black hardware looks awesome! I'm absolutely blown away. And that blue 335 you(?) are spraying doesn't look half bad either! I wouldnt mind a closer look at that bad boy!!

cheers,
Gavin.

pablopepper
03-08-2013, 07:05 AM
Thanks guys. Gavin you're gonna have to wait a little for a good look at the ES, that one is getting some special treatment. Ooh, mysterious! Haha.

Edit: Not me in pic, my brother is a much more confident sprayer. The ES is his, being painted to match his car.

pablopepper
31-12-2013, 12:46 PM
Back from the grave! :D

This guy suffered a clear coat disaster and got put aside when my IB-1 arrived. A few hours of sanding later and I got a new lick of colour on over the last week. A couple more hours of sanding today and the first of the new clear is on.

Five months on and I'm back to where I was before.

This time, mostly because I'm at home with no spray gear, I'm using an unnameable satin finish. After the first coat, I'm pretty sold on it. I think it suits the colour; zombie snot green.
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/x5caw-20131230_171105.jpg

gavinturner
01-01-2014, 08:44 PM
Awesome Pablo. The colour looks great!

cheers,
Gav.

Brendan
02-01-2014, 04:55 AM
[quote]Quote from pablopepper on December 30, 2013, 21:46
I think it suits the colour; zombie snot green.
Was going to go with "Green Goblin" or is that the name of the colour?

pablopepper
16-01-2014, 07:05 AM
I've been pretty meticulous over the last couple of weeks getting this thing ready for assembly. The satin clear went on beautifully with very little work required to get it looking schmick. My guitar fetish order arrived today with the last bits of black hardware, so I eagerly got started as soon as I got home from work.

First thing to do was reattach the neck. I started to undo the hook I had used to hang the the body and.... disaster. A chunk of the paint has lifted. :(

My choices now are to sand and repaint AGAIN, or say f@#k it and get on with it. I am very strongly leaning towards the the second option.
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/9h5zl-20140115_172454.jpg

wokkaboy
16-01-2014, 07:51 AM
bugger Pablo you must have muttered a few choice words. Is is possible to touch up the blemish with a small brush ? I know it won't be perfect but may not be so obvious

stan
16-01-2014, 08:09 AM
try a local repair Pablo - brush it on, do it a couple of times, fine sand and polish / top coat - you'll never know

lawry
16-01-2014, 09:30 AM
Damn, Pablo. That must've broken your heart. As said above, can you do a touch up? It looks fantastic.

Brendan
16-01-2014, 09:54 AM
Pablo - know what that feeling's like - all good to go and - ah crud... To be honest - you'll be the only one to notice...

pablopepper
16-01-2014, 11:29 AM
Cheers gents. Decided to forge ahead and build anyway. It's a small mistake that I can fix at some time in the future and I've been itching to get to this point. Still waiting for one pickup to show up, but here's how it's ended up tonight. :D
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/08740-20140115_220344.jpg

Brendan
16-01-2014, 12:41 PM
Looking great Pablo - keen to hear how it turns out!

pablopepper
16-01-2014, 10:38 PM
The final piece of the puzzle. I've been very keen to try tonerider pickups and since gfs had no p bass pickups in stock I splurged a little. Can't wait to get these in.
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/36ftw-20140116_091931.jpg

wokkaboy
16-01-2014, 11:48 PM
sure the toneriders will sound good Pablo, are you upgrading the soapbar humbucker or just the neck pickups ?

jarrod
16-01-2014, 11:56 PM
Pablo the axe looks awesome mate and I swear by Tonerider pups , I've used all the EMG's / Semours etc... but the tone I get out of Tone Riders suits me more, I love em

pablopepper
16-01-2014, 11:58 PM
The humbucker has been replaced with one of these ... http://www.guitarfetish.com/GFS-MM-Pro-Plus-Alnico-Music-Man-style-pickup-INCREDIBLE-tone_p_323.html. Considering how good this thing sounds unplugged with two strings on, I have high hopes.

pablopepper
17-01-2014, 12:03 AM
Yeah Jarrod, I've read some really good reviews for them but GFS has had the 'bang for buck' for me recently. Who knows, these could be the tipping point.

gavinturner
17-01-2014, 09:45 AM
Looking awesome Pablo - love the colour. Those pickups are gonna sound fantastic!

Cheers,
Gav.

pablopepper
17-01-2014, 09:57 PM
Most of the wiring done last night. Going with a volume/tone/volume/tone configuration (it makes more sense to my pea sized brain). Space restrictions have meant a few compromises had to be made, namely one tone pot is of a different breed, something else to fix in the future. Using 'gum drop' tone caps that are supposed to be on par with orange drops (and cheaper), but holy hell, they are enormous.
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/6fgd0-20140116_210251.jpg

pablopepper
18-01-2014, 06:54 AM
All done bar setup. :D
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/zjcdz-20140117_163900.jpg

djdubya
18-01-2014, 07:53 AM
Sweet looking bass Pablo! I'm loving that colour scheme - so simple and clean looking. That's a really tasty shade of green. Hope to see some full length shots in natural light. Great work mate!

gavinturner
18-01-2014, 08:59 AM
Congrats Pablo. Great work - she turned out awesome! Love the green you've chosen and the black knobs on black.
Any chance of a demo video or sound files?

Cheers,
Gav.

stan
18-01-2014, 09:06 AM
That is some Green Machine Pablo, nice work

pablopepper
18-01-2014, 09:14 AM
Many thanks guys. I'll get some better pics tomorrow, but tonight is set up time. And of course I plugged it in and it sounds HUGE! That tonerider is a monster.

crundes
18-01-2014, 10:47 AM
Looks Awesome Pablo! Can't wait to hear the tonerider! Are you going to upload a sample?!

Brendan
18-01-2014, 10:47 AM
Sweet have some Toneriders ready for my VP - maybe I should get onto that one tonight :).

pablopepper
19-01-2014, 01:13 AM
Pics! Plays nice. I'm taking it along to jam tonight to give it a bit of a workout, so I'll have a better idea of it tomorrow. A few niggles to work out down the track but as of now I'm very happy with it.

http://i.imgur.com/m4IRdfT.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/HuTWf5K.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/Eef94Gv.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/HTMLOie.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/2hNaJJO.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/3s9288I.jpg

Edit: links :D

pablopepper
19-01-2014, 01:24 AM
I'll get a sound demo up after I've chased down a grounding/shielding issue.

Bass Guy
19-01-2014, 05:48 AM
Beautiful stuff!

Brendan
04-02-2014, 12:53 PM
Pablo - quick question - was the jack from the PBH-4 kit a stereo or mono jack? If mono, can I ask how you wired it up?

pablopepper
04-02-2014, 09:23 PM
Hi Brendan, the jack from the kit is mono. I used this schematic http://www.bestbassgear.com/wiring-diagrams/volume-volume-tone-tone.pdf with the middle two pots switched around. On page 3 and 4 of this thread there are a few different setups splitting the coils of the humbucker posted by Wokka and Weirdbits. Hope that helps.

Brendan
05-02-2014, 03:28 PM
Thanks Pablo - just reviewing the diagram under the guides section to correct it!