First PBG build - GTL-1

Hi Guys,

This is my first PBG build and second working on my own.
Current plan is to keep things simple with a nice dark stain on the body, finished with 2-pac clear.
Hoping to find a pickup ring for the neck pickup that matches the gold hardware from PBG and allow me to avoid installing the pickguard.

I have just had a go at clamping the neck and bridge in place so I could check the scale length and make sure that the bridge position would work OK.
I fitted both top and bottom E strings and was able to move the neck around in the pocket to get everything to line up.
There is a fair bit of side-to-side play in the neck pocket which doesn't seem like it will be too much of an issue, my only concern is there will be quite a considerable gap (.5-.8mm) between the top side of the neck and the body. Is anyone aware of an easy way to make this more visually pleasing?

Also, has anybody else experienced the fret markers on the edge of the fingerboard being installed at random heights across the board? I would imagine that this is something I'm going to have to learn to live with but was a bit of a shock when I opened the box.

Thanks in advance for any light your are able to shed for me.

Cheers,
Sumut

G'day Sumut. Welcome to the obsessive can o' worms club.

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Also, has anybody else experienced the fret markers on the edge of the fingerboard being installed at random heights across the board?

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This is the fellow that used to drill the headstock tuner holes, so in that regard I guess you could count yourself lucky?

cheers, Mark.

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Originally Posted by Sumnut

I fitted both top and bottom E strings and was able to move the neck around in the pocket to get everything to line up.
There is a fair bit of side-to-side play in the neck pocket which doesn't seem like it will be too much of an issue, my only concern is there will be quite a considerable gap (.5-.8mm) between the top side of the neck and the body. Is anyone aware of an easy way to make this more visually pleasing?

Also, has anybody else experienced the fret markers on the edge of the fingerboard being installed at random heights across the board? I would imagine that this is something I'm going to have to learn to live with but was a bit of a shock when I opened the box.

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Welcome aboard mate.

Go for a wander around a music shop if you have one nearby. You will find that nearly all electric guitars have the fingerboard and thus the frets above the level of the front of the body.

It allows a neck angle for string relief, height for pickups to fit under the strings, and space for the bridge and saddles to keep all things lined up and buzz free.

The side markers offer you your first choice. You can buy a set of fine drill bits and drill them out, centralise a new set of holes having filled the first ones, and glue your own new ones in. Or, your can shake your head and just move on.

Building is full of these frustrations. Kits are made to a price point and you will find lots of these little things. Sorry.

Cheers fellas,

My apologies ozzbike, I probably didn’t describe my concern very clearly. My worry was more that the neck pocket is wider than the heel of the neck, hence a considerable gap can be seen between the neck and the body if viewing from above. The neck fit is just nowhere near as tight as I’ve experienced in the past. It will still function correctly just not as visually pleasing.
That’s great feedback about the dots though, I hadn’t thought about drilling them out and putting slightly larger ones in. I’ll see how much it bothers me down the track and have a crack at it if I can’t live with it.
Also, completely understand the price point of the kits. Not whinging just looking for potential work arounds.
All advice is very much appreciated.
Cheers

Hello Sumnut, in relation to small gaps either side in the neck pocket there are a few ways to deal with it.....
Lots of coats of finish on the heel end of the neck as this will hopefully act as a less obvious filler.
Use shims but as the gaps are less than 1.0mm there lies the challenge.
Leave as is.....from a distance nobody will really notice other than you. Dark colour finish would help to disguise.
How it plays and sounds are more important. You can have the best looking guitar but if it plays and sounds like a pig chances are it will rarely get used.
As for gold neck pickup ring they could be out there or maybe look for brass. I used a polished alloy one on my Swampy Tele that was bought on eBay. It is build # 5 in my signature.
Cheers Waz

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