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Brendan
18-01-2014, 02:59 PM
I realise I have been a touch lax and have had a VP project underway for a few months on and off the back burner as other stuff has cropped up.

Vision - satin wood look with black pickugard / pickups, silver bling. As it's a VP it comes with the ashtrays, so they'll go on after it's all said and done.

Anyway - to date - I have:
sanded body and neck
replaced fret dots
replaced nut
chased down a new black pickguard that was warped (see topic on how to dewarp a pickguard)
chased down a sheet of pickguard material as the formerly warped pickguard doesn't fit
procured electrics for the build
stained the body
put one coat of Wudtone neck top coat only on the neck


Stain I am going with is a satin tru oil. Basically did a first coat of tru oil, let it cure and then did a heavy(ish) pore filling coat cut with turps so I could wet sand as it went in. Final light coat to give some more protection and I'm stoked with the outcome nice and soft like silk...
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/cgwy5-WP_20140117_002.jpg
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/7708k-WP_20140117_004.jpg

pablopepper
18-01-2014, 10:54 PM
Looking good man. The satin finish is lovely and so much less stress than chasing that perfect gloss.

AJ
18-01-2014, 10:56 PM
looks sweet as...

Bass Guy
18-01-2014, 11:42 PM
Oh this is going to be sweet.

DB and I will be round to "relieve" you of it once it's done.

Brendan
19-01-2014, 12:30 AM
DB won't want it - still has speed bumps :).

jarrod
19-01-2014, 04:44 AM
That is going to have class Brendan. Now keep going and prioritize it a bit.

Bass Guy
19-01-2014, 05:42 AM
Speaking of speedbumps, is it just me or are some of the frets out of line? Frets 9 to 12 especially.

Brendan
19-01-2014, 06:44 AM
I did 1/2 a fret dressing last night so it may just be the black marker I used on the frets that's giving that impression. I'll have another look later, but nothing stood out to me when I was working on it yesterday. Still need to round the tops and polish.

stan
19-01-2014, 09:08 AM
simple and classy, love the satin finish

Brendan
24-02-2014, 01:17 PM
Playing with a new way to do the logo...
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/0a1h9-WP_20140223_003.jpg
Cavity has been shielded...
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/qbu3o-WP_20140223_004.jpg

Getting close!

Fretworn
25-02-2014, 01:11 AM
Quote from Brendan on February 23, 2014, 22:17
Playing with a new way to do the logo...
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/0a1h9-WP_20140223_003.jpg


Did you do this freehand? If so,you must have very steady hands.

keloooe
25-02-2014, 01:52 AM
I'm guessing that was pyrography?

wokkaboy
25-02-2014, 02:24 AM
yes Brendan looks like you have used a hot fine tip to burn the logo in the wood, looks good, I'd be too nervous attempting any logo freehand !

Brendan
25-02-2014, 10:26 AM
Nope, sorry guys - Dremel, engraving bit and some ebony Timbermate... Actually happy with the freehand look of it in the logo. Keeps it kinda organic. The bit missing is the bit I stuffed up and had to sand off :). That said, learnt a few tricks en route...

Trick 1: Seal your wood first - then when you wipe off the timbermate it doesn't stick!
Trick 2: If it looks OK, leave it - don't get excited and add more...

Brendan
11-03-2014, 01:59 PM
Bunged the neck on and have started to come to a decision point...
Red or black.
Red - done in a week or so.
Black - I'm entering in next month or the month after's GOTM while I wait for a dremel bit to come from the US. Pickguard shown is too small (~3mm at the neck).



http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/zs343-WP_20140310_003.jpg
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/8400p-WP_20140310_006.jpg

Brendan
11-03-2014, 02:01 PM
And the red...
ToneRiders in the photos are the pups for this bass... Looking forward to giving them a crack!
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/4s706-WP_20140310_004.jpg
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/w3844-WP_20140310_005.jpg

gavinturner
12-03-2014, 05:38 AM
To be honest Brendan, I like the black better with this body colour.

Cheers,
Gav.

wokkaboy
12-03-2014, 05:48 AM
yes I agree with Gav, the red is a little too striking, the black seems to suit the body/neck a little better. Will be worth the wait. So does that mean you have to cut a new black pickguard Brendan ?

WeirdBits
12-03-2014, 07:56 AM
Definitely the black for me too, it works much better with the body colour.

Brendan
12-03-2014, 10:58 AM
Yep - have to cut one - can't afford to buy more online that may or may not fit. Seems to be a bit of variety in P Bass pickguards. I'd rather spend my hard earned on PitBull gear. That way you get the good stuff that all works and fits.

adam
12-03-2014, 11:06 AM
Brendan, just so it's clear, the Black pickguard, which doesn't fit, was an after-market purchase. The red pickguard, which does fir, came with the kit. Is that right?

lawry
12-03-2014, 11:30 AM
God, I hate just being one of the crowd but I have to agree with the majority. Black looks much cooler with that natural glow of the timber.

Brendan
12-03-2014, 12:49 PM
Sorry Ads - black pickguard - non standard, aftermarket, eBay special that wasn't so special. And like the rest I think it's the right thing to do.

Red - standard kit one fits like a glove (see http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/VP-4-new-main-190x152.jpg). Very happy with the fit of the original and have used it for the template and also for siting the bridge & neck - just my personal colour choice that doesn't quite fit.

Guess I'll be waiting for the Dremel bit :).

Brendan
23-04-2014, 01:30 PM
It's been a while - had a few other projects on the go, but have finally got around to making a pickguard with the help of the Gavmeister who has saved one or two of my fingers in getting it done... Tonerider pup installed and hanging out to hear how it will go...

Still to do:
Intonation...
Ashtrays...
Play...
Play...
More play...
RC-1...

http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/ou6h2-WP_20140422_002.jpg
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/5oyli-WP_20140422_004.jpg

gavinturner
23-04-2014, 01:45 PM
Looks fantastic Brendan! Great Job - a classic looking bass. Nice work on the pickguard - definitely the best choice.

cheers,
Gav.

robin
23-04-2014, 08:33 PM
So nice Brendan, love that satin finish.

rob

wokkaboy
24-04-2014, 12:54 AM
looks great Brendan, was well worth making the black pickguard suits it much better

pablopepper
24-04-2014, 01:05 AM
Yeah, I have to agree, really dig the clear finish/black pickguard look. Minimalist, tasteful. You won't be disappointed with the tonerider.

Fretworn
24-04-2014, 02:15 AM
I almost think it's a shame to put the ashtrays on because it looks so good. But I suppose that's part of the appeal.

Will you have to remove the bridge ashtray when you want to chnage strings, or is there room at the back to pass the strings through.

Brendan
24-04-2014, 11:55 AM
Thanks guys for the feedback... Yep the ashtray comes off for string changes... That said - bit of an old school bass player, so the strings come off only when they are well and truly dead - that should give me about 5 - 10 years of playing - especially when it's one of a couple PitBull basses :) .
Never played a bass with ashtrays, so they may be short lived...

Fretworn
25-04-2014, 02:36 AM
I imagine that the pickup "ashtray" would be a better thumb anchor than using the pickup. My old Kramer P-bass has had that done so often that the spring under the top of the pickup is failing. I suppose it depends on your playing style.

robin
25-04-2014, 05:26 AM
Gee Brendan, replacing the strings after 5 - 10 years? That's a bit extravagant isn't it? After about 10 years they're just getting good :P you can always tell, the bass never needs tuning lol.

In my gigging days, if it was a really special gig, I would boil the strings the day before, that brightened them up for one night. Ah, the good old days of a struggling muso.

rob.

Brendan
25-04-2014, 10:29 AM
Basses go out of tune - go figure... Always assumed that everyone else was tuned wrong :D . I've used some nice strings so I'm not expecting to change them over too frequently.
Mind you I did like the sound of my normal bass when I changed over the strings. Had been telling myself that I needed to do it for a couple of years and never got around to it.

Brendan
30-04-2014, 12:24 PM
Finally finished... Entered into GOTM, though may have to withdraw as I'm technically a judge. That said, the buzz of entering something I'm pretty stoked with is what it's all about...
So - some eye candy...
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/dx4rt-WP_20140429_014.jpg
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/gyf8z-WP_20140429_003.jpg
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/xfk6q-WP_20140429_007.jpg
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/dy0rw-WP_20140429_013.jpg

Brendan
30-04-2014, 12:26 PM
These ones didn't make the GOTM entry photos...
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/0e0k9-WP_20140422_002.jpg
Pre Ashtrays...

http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/48oca-P1060552.JPG

http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/bl7r0-WP_20140429_010.jpg

dingobass
30-04-2014, 01:06 PM
Beautiful, elegant... You really are the Master of the elegant build, Bman! :)

Fretworn
01-05-2014, 02:10 AM
That is one spunky bass. The ashtrays make it, lift it above the ordinary. How does it sound?

wokkaboy
01-05-2014, 02:35 AM
yes well done Bman, like the personal touches with the paua shell dot markers and your headstock logo. Good to see a natural look. With DB's comments you have built a winner. He would even add 1 mark for removing the speed humps !