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It doesn't sound safe!
I wet sanded my instrument with water, but made sure the end grain in holes was sealed, and didn't splash water about much, mainly used it for washing the gunk of the sandpaper frequently. As long as you don't get water under your finish its no hardship to drill the holes again 'cos you put so much varnish/oil/paint on the exposed grain. I'd much rather fill my pickguard holes with lacquer and redrill than wetsand with something flammable.
Good idea JimC,
As my lacquer dries, I just set my Tuner post Ferrules up to check.
The lacquer build is substantial in the tuner holes of the headstock.
Will I file the lacquer out, or sand the lac out?, right now, WHEN I go to install them, it's going to be trouble.
Can a Dremel Tool be used, or a drill bit?
I would just redrill the holes with the correct size drill.
I would recommend running the drill backwards for any reaming, otherwise you are likely to tear out some wood you don't want to.
Bit of fun under Blacklight.
Do all PBG fret inlays react the same?
My finish under Blacklight shows an awful run on the headstock, I don't see anything like it in normal light.
Then again, the Squire Strat is a 3 color sunburst, Ha!
A couple more.
Finally got the last sanding of 2500 grit wet sand on this build. Ready for polishing. I decided to hand polish this as opposed to using a buffer on a drill or otherwise.
The reflection off the window shows I got a glass finish, despite the many imperfections of the overall finish. Once polished, I hope she shines. I followed all the YouTube, Pit Bull and too many other suggestions. I guess I included some of the dog hairs in the finish, and the many mistakes of a first time builder. I'd have to (and I will) point these out to those who critique. Otherwise, I'm proud of the finish.
Onto the wiring. I've posted in Forums under WIRING my desire for 5 knobs. Looking for other RCA-4 Builder's posts concerning their wiring is kind of frustrating, I can't seem to load the search on Forums regarding RCA-4 wiring. I think just the search for RCA-4 is now prohibited due to Copyright issues?
Hello PBG Forum,
I made my shielding from a roll of Copper (.003mm thick) from a Craft Store, I had to solder the sides to the bottoms. I included the holes for the cavity wires.
Will they work? Once I solder wire between them?
Thanks!
PBG forum,
No one wants to comment on these formed copper shields? Guess I'll try them anyway.
My bridge pickup screws are quite LONG! I can see I need to be very careful not to drill through the back of the body.
I'll tape off my drill bit as a guide where to stop, but that may leave a bit of undrilled wood where the screws will bottom out.
My concern is that I may round the Philip's heads out trying to drive the last bit.
Is there a tried, proven method when attempting this?
I reckon that if you have a copper on the pick-guard that connects the over-hang on each cavity, that will be enough.
You can always take the long route and wire them (I have done it on my Squier one time).
cheers, Mark.
I plan to cover the pickguard back with copper, but it wont cover either pickup. The bridge pickup will be a humbucker. The neck pup is the supplied single coil. I have a pickup ring for the neck pup, but I won't cover the back of it with copper. Plan on grounding each cavity to each other with wire. As long as it Works!
Thanks Mark
Well I'm wired, without any noise, still using my clear template pickguard as a prototype to see into the control cavity for any problems.
The neck nut still needs to be filed to lower the action, and the frets need to be crowned and filed, but all functions well. Had a mishap with the soldering iron on the front, (sigh), gonna be there till I finish this, and maybe address it later. And working on the plexiglas pickguard, well... Anyway, it's sounding great with the 3 way switch in either position. Just in the middle, both pups, sounds, less? Not as loud as either pup isolated. ? Neck pup Booms. Bridge pup is twangy but present. Both, eh.
Hi just saw this post. I wish I lived in Nashville. but alas I don't.
I'm wondering wiht the pups whether they are out of phase?
Andy,Quote:
Originally Posted by Andy40
Nashville is Music City, your cab driver/ Uber driver is a better musician than half the folks making recordings these days.
I've been here about 30 yrs now and LOVE TN, but Nashville traffic is horrendous, and Lower Broad is crazy crowded every night. My daughter bar tends down there and makes a killing.
I cant figure out this Guitar Fetish MusicMan bridge pup which way it's wired in regards to phasing, 4 wires coming out, two ground, one white for coil split, and one red for signal.
I have wired them up and I get some great sounds, but I think there's some more tweaking about to get what I want from them.
I put a Guitar Fetish MM PUP in my MMB4 and thought is was only 3 wire.
2 Ground wires sounds weird unless you are referring to something like a braid or shield plus the inner?
Did the PUP come with wiring instructions?
Cheers, Waz
Well, I'm about done with my first build.
This has been a year and 4 month adventure, spending spree. I learned a lot, patience... that I need more patience, money, time and tools.
I've now acquired a bit of tools and materials.
I learned during this, I can't ask my wife her opinion because it's taken so long, and she's seen it too much.
But I had an idea and followed it through to the end as close as I could get.
If there's a question to why "Mynabird", it's a bird that mimics like a parrot, but also a play on words, as it's "Mine-A".
There are many flaws in this build, but I do like it as it is.
I'll post more pictures as soon as I can res them down.
It's been fun!
Nice collection.
Don't see many of those Gibson's.
Yes Waz, a braided copper wire, black, white and red. The white is taped off till I find a coil split/Master volume pot to add to this build. Or some other option. The 3 way in middle position is kinda... eh, but new pots and switch may be the way to go. Otherwise, up switch, or down switch really ROXKS! I got 2 rehearsals tomorrow and I'll put it through the paces.
And THANK YOU for all the advise getting me through all this!
That's a 75 Alder Gibson Ripper, a 66 Jazz and now, a Mynabird, Lol!
Maybe swap the red for white and see if that makes a difference. Sometimes wire colours don't make sense and the white might just be the 'hot' wire.Quote:
Originally Posted by OctoberBassRCA-4
In fact, the more I think about it these are Humbuckers and both are probably hot wires for each coil and therefore if not coil splitting maybe try soldering both on the same lug? Most 4 wire guitar HB's have red & white soldered together to complete the circuit and separated if doing coil splits.
Once again Waz is King!
I'll try that! Thank you.
Waz,
I took your advise and white wire and red together on the bridge volume pot for the MM humbucker. Taping the poles produces sound from each coil.
Considerable drop off of volume in the middle switch of the 3-way, but neck switch up, loud, bridge switch down, MusicMan tone, not as loud as the single coil.
Volume knobs are strange to me, 3-way switch in middle, neck volume full ON, good, bridge volume, got to 8 to get full ON, 10 there's a drop off.
Neck volume off, bridge volume doesn't make sound.
And somehow, overall sounds... cheap.
Can pots, bad soldering make it sound so?
A small Ibanez EQ pedal helps boost everything to somewhat acceptable, but where to start to gain more "woody" tone, not overdriven like I hear it.
Neck frets need crowning, nut needs to be filed correctly.
Any thoughts on this?
Would series wiring be something to consider?
Thanks!
So my FIRST bass ever was a 76 Ricky, that I sadly sold in Houston, TX in the late 80's for a Peavey Bass Amp and some cash, they didn't bring then what they do now.
And I've always kicked myself for that SNAFU! I always loved that Jet Black Ricky.
30 years later I seen PBG had a Rick build. With some company profit share, I pulled the trigger to build one, one that would be mine, as I wanted it, given I could complete it. I asked if I could have a reverse headstock, they said sure! Wish I'd added a few more additions, but it's all good.
So I had an idea. I seen Rickenbacker presented John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin) a prototype 4001S as a gift, which he decided against. It now hangs in Rickenbacker HOF. and that, and the 4005 Hollow Body Bass formed my idea.
So it took 4 months to receive my build, problems in China factory, Typhoons off Singapore, arrival in AU, flight to NY Customs and finally mailed to Nashville, TN to me.
During that time, the build I ordered disappeared on the website. I was assured by Adam it was delivered.
I was relieved when the wife saying it arrived.
As I said, I had an idea, so I followed through with it.
I did what probably everyone does when it arrives, lay everything out. Mock build.
I wanted a MM bridge pup. Cost prohibitive lent me to have someone else route the pickup.
Jon Scott/ Bluesman Vintage Guitars in Spring Hill, TN, USA did the route, I came in with a Bass in a Box, and talked with him what I wanted. We talked about finishing and he gave me great advise.
I could not find a guy to HVLP my color coat, so I used Preval Spray units to apply my color coats.
I found a formula of Mixol Pigments to achieve a Seafoam Green Translucent, though I really don't think I got there!
Many SNAFU's in that regard, but, I got a color coat I liked.
I used Mohawk Spray Cans for the lacquer finish.
I ordered a GFS MM Bridge Pickup.
A KSM Full Contact Foundation Bridge.
I cut my own Pickguards from Plexiglass, as I work for a Glass Company, and borrowed the boss's many tools in effort to achieve my idea.
I found Mark, G-Zan Guitars, in Columbia, TN, USA to express my finishing problems, and he helped exponentially!
I ordered three Pickguard screws and O-rings from Pick of the Ricks cause I could not find any other options.
I bought a copper roll from Hobby Lobby, a craft store, and soldered the sides to the bottoms to make proper shields for the cavities, and the back of the pickguard cover.
I will have Rick Wilson, of Moonshine Guitars, in White Bluff, TN, USA dress my frets properly and file the nut to the right amount, cause I'm not comfortable or have the correct tools to do it.
After all this, I do want to order new CTS pots, 250K for the neck pup, .022uF cap, Orange Drop, and 500K .044uF for the bridge pup. I'm having issues from my novice soldering attempts.
All in all, I'm close to my final idea! So I'm good.
I should include some outside photos, but the weather is not so good.
Are there any photos I should add?
Looks perfect.
Did you sort out the sound issue? Bit beyond my skill or knowledge but I do encounter similiar on the J Bass when one Vol is wound down to zero they both are off. My work around is to never turn one all the way down unless I want to mute the whole Bass.
Thanks Waz.
Haven't resolved the wiring issue yet, so I get to continue on my build for awhile anyway.
I'll get it resolved soon.
Seems it's wired Out of Phase too.
So I'll continue.
Yeah, that was my initial thoughts too.
Waz, I hope my wiring issue is resolved. It sounds pretty good to me. I had my bridge to output solder joint very weak, I did disconnect the white wire from the HBer, and I raised the pup way up from where it was. The HB is now equal in volume to the neck pup. Neck SC pup is still very bright, but I still plan on correct, new pots. I hope 250k pots on the SC will drop the high end.
Thanks for the help!
Cheers buddy.
Hope it sounds more normal now you have got that all sorted out.