My first build...ESB4

Thanks for the kind words guys!
I'm really happy with the outcome (so far)..
Let me just say I'm well acquainted with spray cans now. There's many many (lost count) gloss coats on this and I had to take a few off and start again because of stuff ups, sags, random hair, dust and bugs...but I finally got there!
Gav the pickups are Gretsch filtertrons. A buddy has them in an axe I borrowed and they sound sweet.
Itching to play this but final wiring and setup to come..

Great looking finish. that's amazing!

same questions as gavin what pickups did you put in that bad boy and were the mounting rings coming with them or did you get them separately?

nice one Damo that looks like a really nice gloss finish and black on this bass will look awesome. Well done on the save !

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Originally Posted by Dekka28

Great looking finish. that's amazing!

same questions as gavin what pickups did you put in that bad boy and were the mounting rings coming with them or did you get them separately?

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Hey there Dekka thanks for the compliment!
The pups are Gretsch Blacktop filtertrons. I got them off eBay from the U.S. The mounts came with the pickups. They look pretty cool and I've heard them in a friends bass and they sound real nice.

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Originally Posted by wokkaboy

nice one Damo that looks like a really nice gloss finish and black on this bass will look awesome. Well done on the save !

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Thanks Wokka.. This has been quite the journey and I felt like jumping ship quite a few times but I'm sure glad I stuck with it.
Thanks for all your encouragement along the way!

Finally got my decal on. I may actually get this guitar finished!Attachment 9104

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Originally Posted by darthdamo

Hey All!
I haven’t posted for a while because I’ve been rescuing my guitar from the brink of destruction.
Initially I wasn’t going to post at all because I’m a little embarrassed about how bad things got with my guitar but I also figured that my build might be a good read for those who think they have completely stuffed up their own build and can learn from my mistakes.

I sanded the top coats back and tried to re-stain with a mahogany colour (feast watson) but as you can see by the pic..epic fail!
Attachment 7124

I took a week off…

After much thought I decided that the only way forward was to paint a solid colour because any more sanding and I would’ve ended up with a pile of sawdust and a fretboard. Going back over the guitars I’ve loved over the years black Gibsons have been high on my list. Did a lot of reading and watched many tutorials about rattle/spray can paint jobs.

Got the body back to a smooth blotch free, stain free place after hours of careful sanding. 3 Base coats using Duramax with extremely light sand in between to get rid of overspray. I ended up with a really smooth even surface to lay down the colour.
Attachment 7125

3 Colour coats using Duramax flat black. I’ve never used this product before but I must say it was super easy and the finish is flawless.
Attachment 7126

Onto my 5th coat of Cabots gloss polyurethane and I couldn’t be happier. It's like looking into a mirror! Leaving to cure now and will do cut/polish and assembly after Christmas holidays.
Attachment 7127

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Dude, if you'd got that any blacker, you would have been pulled across the event horizon. That is some great save work given the problems you'd had.

Thanks man! It plays incredibly well.. I'm still finalising a few things on it.


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looks great - nice finish work!

Thanks DM!


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great stuff Damo, that looks excellent!!

Thanks stan!


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So basically all I can say is that the 3 point bridge that comes with this kit is useless! Not happy at all and feel a bit ripped off. Can't get it to stay put and I've tried everything.
So I've ordered a hip shot supertone -$150. Not happy at all! Hope this very expensive upgrade makes this guitar actually playable.

Hey Darthdamo !
So, did you received your new bridge ? Is everything OK now ?

I'm about to start the ESB4 and I'm a little bit affraid about this issue..

I'm working on this build to play jazz and smooth stuffs : I won't slap on it, so mayby it will hold ?

Or, do you have any advice to reinforce the actual 3 points bridge (even if I assume you've done that in the first place..).

Anyway, thanks by advance for your answer, and, could you post a picture of your bass with the new bridge ?

See you :)
Sylvain