Mic's First Build - TLB-4M.

Ordered myself a stock tlb-4m in preparation of my first order, a custom tlb-4m which will be here in a few months.

Package arrived in Britain just in time for our nationwide lockdown. Postie delivered it today so can't wait to get cracking.

Will put up pics later, but after a quick inspection, basswood body is very smooth as is, one machine mark I can see. Routing and neck pocket very well done.

Neck is maple, frets are looking good, edges will need a very small bit of work.

Quick dry fit of the neck into body and its like a hand in a glove, back of neck where finger board and neck glue together has a tiny glue spill which stops the neck and body joining perfect so will remedy that.

Iverall I'm very very impressed with the quality.

Good news. The kits aren't perfect, and you really need to spend a fair bit more if you want a kit that's guaranteed good enough for a nautral or stained + clear finish, but most are good enough for that.

I'm planning on a stained finish I think, was looking at Crimson staines, do you have any experience with them?

No, but others here have.

I will also need help with the pickup wiring as the diagram doesn't appear on the guides section of the website unfortunately. Don't think itl be too hard as it's only one pickup and the control harness is already wired.

The wiring could be a slightly harder than it first would seem, as the kit includes a 3-way switch (unlike the original Precision/Telecaster bass). So it's probably got a similar arrangement to the Fender Esquire with direct and fixed tone settings. We'd need to see a picture of the rear of the control plate for sure. Something like this (the standard Esquire arrangement):

Attachment 34225

Will get a pic up tomorrow. Wiring will be the only sticking point for me as I've noclue. But everything else I should be half competent

I've asked Brendan to see if he can have a look and maybe get a diagram added for the bass, but with the various CV19 restrictions, it may be a short while. But a photo or two would certainly help in the meantime.

Welcome and looking forward to your build progress

Pictures are a bit of a night mare to do on the phone so will need to work something out so sorry for the limited amount.

Will get the electronics up shortly

That pickguard is lifted straight from a Telecaster guitar......hmmmm...was thinking of one of these as my next build.

I would be seriously tempted to do it without the pickguard.....I was hoping more of the single p51 style with the single pickup route.

On my custom I get in a few months I'm planning on no pick guard. This one is just for practice really But I hope to play it one day

Simon, here are a few pics sorry for the delay

Looks like the switch is doing absolutely nothing except being on in one position and off in the others!

I'd seriously think about getting some capacitors and resistors and modifying it to be like the Esquire wiring diagram.

What would that give me Simon, cheers

Something for the switch to do for a start!

With only one single coil pickup, there isn't anything else you can do with the wiring.

Sorry my wiring and electronic knowledge is limited, so if I'm asking silly questions that's why.

What does the switch do on the esquire diagram you put up?

Forward position is normal volume and tone control (I always get turned around on switch positions looking at diagrams)

It looks like you can by pass the tone control entirely in one switch position and in the another position there is a preset 'fixed' tone.

Pretty interesting idea that would give you a range of sounds from just the one pickup.

Interesting, I will look at doing that. Thanks for the answers so far

What is the best way to widen the tuner holes on the headstock, as the ferrules are just a tad to big to fit through

Drill running in reverse, stops it tearing out, but for from the front to back just in case. Can't say I've had that problem on a kit before, they are a fairly firm fit.

The proper way is to use a reamer. The reverse drill method is less exact and you'll need a very large drill for a bass tuner hole. Saying that, you'll need quite a large diameter reamer as well!

Attachment 34344

You'll only need to do the very top edge very slightly. Once you get the first bit of the ferrule in, the rest should follow if you press it in with a clamp.

Alternatively, a large round file or sandpaper around a stick etc.

A dowel wrapped in sandpaper.
Attachment 34345

cheers, Mark.

Thanks guys. They are just aBout there but it's needing a mm or two so theyl be a snug fit

Man it's been a while.
Finally got around to working more on this kit, and it's going Swell. The neck is all maple, how do i finish The fret board side of this?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Micthedic

Man it's been a while.
Finally got around to working more on this kit, and it's going Swell. The neck is all maple, how do i finish The fret board side of this?

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Generally speaking, with maple/maple necks, whatever finish you apply to the back of the neck is what you would apply to the fretboard. Most commonly used are polyurethane, Tru Oil (which contain polyurethane) or lacquer (either acrylic or nitro). It's just personal preference.

I'm sure it's been done, but I've never heard of anyone using two different finish materials for front and back. Potential there for incompatibility issues would be one reason not to.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by McCreed

Generally speaking, with maple/maple necks, whatever finish you apply to the back of the neck is what you would apply to the fretboard. Most commonly used are polyurethane, Tru Oil (which contain polyurethane) or lacquer (either acrylic or nitro). It's just personal preference.

I'm sure it's been done, but I've never heard of anyone using two different finish materials for front and back. Potential there for incompatibility issues would be one reason not to.

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OK thanks for that. I have some crimson penetrating oil for the clear coat so will use that. The maple finger board has small gaps along the join with the maple neck, so I plan to fill these as I sand it

Coming along slowly haha. This is with 4coats of crimsons oil, plan to put 6-8 total, if anyone has any experience with it I would like to hear.
Thanks

Better picture sorry

Looking tasty

Sent from my Pixel 4 using Tapatalk

I really like the colour. A nice gloss will set that off
I’d be concerned about a gap between the finger board and the neck…?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Andyxlh

I really like the colour. A nice gloss will set that off
I’d be concerned about a gap between the finger board and the neck…?

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It currently has 8-9 coats of the crimson Penetrating oil, and its building up nice. I rubbed in the last two coats with 1500 wet and dry paper and it's came up as smooth as it been yet. Im undecided on whether to buy the crimson high build oil and give it a few coats of that too to make it thicker and more glossy, I will see. I think after the 10th penetrating coat il leave to cure and then rub back with some 2000 wet and dry then buff with some tcut. I'm hopeful.
What do you mean abouy a gap between neck and fingerboard please?