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I ordered the JRM-1DC kit with a set neck. Been wanting to have a go at a kit for years, but scared I’d stuff it up. When I ordered, I was told it wouldn’t arrive until November. I was pretty stoked when it turned up Monday. Just started 2weeks leave , so jumping straight into it🎸😀 wish me luck.
Enjoy!
Best advice is to go slowly and do lots of test assembly and thinking time. Its so tempting to get things done, but really the longer you take to build the thing the longer the fun of doing it lasts.
Thanks for the good advice Jim. I have a picture in my head of how I want this thing to turn out. Just have to go through the process of prepping, painting and assembling. I'm sick of sanding already, but I know the smoother I can get it, the better the finish will be.
I tried to download some pics today, but wasn't able. I think the resolution must have been too high?
yeah, there's a size limit and a bug in the forum software so it doesn't always tell you.
Uh oh, now you've got me all excited. I just ordered an IC-1 kit and it also said it would be shipped in November.
I can only hope!
Best of luck with your build! I hope you work out how to post pics, I'm also a first-time-builder and I'm loving watching people's projects come together on this forum.
lve shaped the headstock and glued a small bit of wood in the truss rod hole. I also made the pickup route bigger (for handwound p90) and enlarged holes for CTS pots. Sanded, painted with sanding sealer, more sanding followed by a second coat of sanding sealer.
I’ve also reshaped the heel where the neck will be glued. It was very square and ugly.Attachment 37372
Attachment 37373
I took the plastic nut off, to be replaced by a Tusq nut. Not sure whether to fret dress now or after gluing the neck to the body?
I sanded the second coat of sealer this morning using 400, then 600 grade paper. Felt super smooth, so thought I’d give it a coat of mahogany stain. I did a few tests on some scrap wood a few days ago and it came up great. I was too heavy handed with the stain today, applying it with a soft rag. The sides of the body look OK, but the back and front look like shite..😩
Will let it dry then sand again. Will apply the stain with makeup wipes, sparingly this time. Definitely a case of “less is best”.
Attachment 37400
Is meant to be “cherry red”, but looks more like poop.
Here’s my test bits with a coat of clear varnish on top. That’s how it’s meant to look..Attachment 37402
Quote:
Originally Posted by Muzzajon
Every woodworker has had that problem. Sometimes more than once.
What type of timber are your test pieces? If it's pine, the stain is going to react differently than on mahogany as it is a naturally darker timber.
I would suggest thinning the stain so you have more control over the shading. It's easier to go darker by adding coats than it is to lighter by sanding back.
I had all sorts of trouble getting the colour I wanted. Stained then sanded the top 4 times.... On the 4 th attempt I ended up with a top I can live with, but not exactly what I envisiaged. This stain dries really fast,so if you muck about too long, the result is terrible.Attachment 37456
Thanks for the advice. Thinning the stain would be the best idea. I was impatient and tried to speed things along. (And failed). Set me back about 3 days. I’m going to leave it as is and glue the neck in. I will slow everything down and set it up correctly prior to gluing.😀
Wired up the harness last night.Attachment 37457
I like the colour. It will look nicer once you've got some clear over the top, levelled it and polished it up. It's similar to my GSJ-1, which went quite dark (I did apply more stain and then some vintage cherry lacquer to help cover up glue lines and marks in the wood), whilst my GSM-1 has stayed a brighter cherry red. I like both of the colours I've ended up with.
Nice neat wiring harness.
Yeah, more often than not that's what happens, but it can also lead to pleasantly unexpected results.Quote:
...I ended up with a top I can live with, but not exactly what I envisaged.
+1 on the tidy wiring too!
Funny how some builds just sort of emerge organically rather than as planned.
I glued the neck on last night and gave it a coat of clear this afternoon. Also counter sunk studs for the bridge as I couldn’t get the action low enough. The weather has turned cold and rainy, so might have to wait a couple of days before giving it a light sand and second coat of clear lacquer. I’m learning to be patient...Attachment 37471
Things have slowed up with the build. I’ve been working, the weather has been shite and I can’t get the finish the way I want it. I’ve decided to stop tinkering with the finish, because every time I do, it gets worse. Also, I ordered Grover mini locking tuners with my build and was sent 6 the same side. Pitbull are sending me out 3 more for the lower side of the headstock but won’t arrive until next week. I’ll let the finish dry for a few days then wire the electronics in.Attachment 37534
Finished guitar yesterday. Shielded cavities for pickup and controls. Fitted Grover mini locking tuners.Attachment 37821Attachment 37821
Got a custom P90 from Martin A Smith who handwinds pickups in Western Australia. Great quality and price. $128 AU posted. Have used. CTS 500 ohm pots used.
Attachment 37822
All finished. Colour is pretty much as I wanted. Sounds good, but I can’t get the bridge any lower and the action is still way too high.
I might have to buy another more compact bridge. This one is flush with the body, but strings are miles from the pickup and finger board.
Attachment 37823Attachment 37824
Attachment 37825
A few more pictures.
You can get flush mount post receivers that give you another mm or so downwards adjustment, you can also file the saddles on Tune-o-matics to get them down a bit further.
Nice gloss!
In addition to what Sonic said about lowering the action, check if you can get the nut string action down a smidge also.
Sometimes these things require a multi-prong approach and every tiny bit that be gained here & there adds up.
Thanks for the tips. I have a Tusk nut which I could gain a mm or 2 with. I’ll also check out for any further adjustment on the bridge saddles. The strings sit way above the pickup and don’t allow it to shine ATM.
I bought a cheap wrap-a-round bridge which sits a lot lower and sanded about a mm off the bottom of the nut before re-stringing. Action is pretty good now. I also got sick of the glossy finish and she's now sporting a VOS style finish. Looks and plays like a dream. PS, don't believe the talk about single pickup guitars being "one trick ponies". This thing can go from sweet, clean and almost accoustic to real nasty and knarly with a slight roll of the volume and tone pots. P90s are absolute animals. Lots of fun:)