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New kit arrived in the mail today and I couldn't wait to get it open. Terribly dissapointed - the Maple neck has that much character and grain in it I was tempted to get out the spray on Black straight away... 8-)
Overall super excited about this build and the neck has just got me started!
Project name: "Legs".
PS - yes - that grain is all the way along the neck!
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content...130815_008.jpg
neck looks good Brendan, hows the grain in the body ? pics of a mock build ?
Woks,
Ask and you shall receive...
Body a 3 piece - rougher than I remember the P Bass being, but just gives more scope for sanding. One worm hole in the back near the join of the top two pieces of the body, but nothing too bad - part of the character of the guitar... The fit of the parts is good - the pickguard is a bit tight around the neck, but I'd rather tight than loose.
Not sold on the pickguard - was even trying to work out how much of it I could cut away - it's only really needed to cover the front pickup hole and then the stainless control plate covers the back cavity.
Now - to fret or not to fret... Seeing what Tim is doing with the Black MOP has got me thinking, though the goldish colour of the current frets is pretty nice as well. I do think that the ebony dots have to go - Black MOP or Paua may be the way to go.
Main thing is I think this will be a nice and slow job - looks to me like a keeper :).
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content...y-DSCN0061.JPG
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content...7-DSCN0063.JPG
looks great Brendan, I didn't know bass kits came with maple necks, so you going for a light or colourless finish ?
You shaping the headstock to a stock fender shape ?
Yep - basses do come with maple necks - check out the JB-4M - I think Adam has a couple left.
Headstock - Fender(ish)...
Colours - to be confirmed but something light - colourless, dairy blonde, wax, tru oil maybe???
Following on from the wooden pickguard recently - may give one of those a go - so stoked with the grain in the neck that I really want it to pop!
As a paid-up lieutenant of the Bass Acquisition Squad, I will be watching this one with great interest.... :P
Look forward to seeing this project unfold
Righto - first update in a while - have been working on a few other things and sanding, etc, etc....
To get the natural look, I've ended up shellacing the body and will Tru Oil over the top and neck. Overall - not a massive fan of shellac - gloss is fantastic, but Wudtone is easier to apply - just seems to give a better outcome first time (mind you - limited experience).
So far - new bridge has arrived (oooh nice and heavy!)... Replaced the fretboard dots with Black MOP. Headstock shaped. Sanded. Sanded. Sanded. Sanded. Sanded. Shellaced. Sanded. Shellaced.
Major issues to date:
- low angle "split" in front and back - there were three small low angle "splits" - one in the front and two in the back - sanding didn't do too much to them as they were somewhat deep. My efforts to fix them were somewhat unsuccessful - in the end it was superglue and sandings from the rest of the body, but by then I'd done enough damage with Timbermate to make them somewhat visible...
- shellac - seems hard to get a nice even coat - if you leave an edge that bit will be noticably darker than when you come back to it. Yes you can keep on applying, but it does become tacky pretty quickly. It can be sanded back and then spot fixed, but Wudtone did seem more user friendly...
- China - waiting on some things to make a new pickguard and it seems to have taken a slight detour - via Germany or the US or something...
Anyway - some status pics to date.
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content...131008_001.jpg
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content...131008_002.jpg
Pickguards:
Options:
1. Stock. Pic attached.
2. Blue mirror - picked up at eBay auction hoping I could get rid of the blue and have a mirror finish. Can't. That said - starting to grow on me... Pic attached.
3. Maple replacement pickguard. Still waiting for it on the slow boat from China. I'll need to join a couple of pieces then shape them. Should be a fun exercise as I think I'll need to redefine the shape a little to fit the pieces. No pics.
Any thoughts?
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content...131009_002.jpg
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content...131009_001.jpg
(Stripes in the pickguard in the above image are the corrigations in the roof of my man cave).
Well, for what it's worth, I like the blue. It's most definitely different and quite striking.
I also like the blue!
yes I prefer the blue mirror, sure it will grow on you Brendan
Mmm liking the blue
Not sure I'm digging the blue, but it looks better than the plain white against the honey body.
Cheers,
Gavin.
Quick update - have been busy on the home front for a little while and not much progress... but...
Body nearly finished - may need a quick buff.
Neck nearly finished - one more coat I think.
Logo finished & applied.
Need to: shield the cavities;
Work out what to do with the pickguard - blue one seems to be the winner, but is designed for a different shaped pickup (bits the screws go in are slightly wider apart) - white is a perfect fit.
Wire it all up
Play.
Anyway - photos attached, enjoy!
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content...131022_001.jpg
Photo doesn't show it, but its glossy!
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content...131022_002.jpg
New logo and happy with the look of the neck - need it to be as glossy as the body.
Logo close up. Worked out that Paua against maple doesn't really show that much... May need a rethink.
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content...2-New-Logo.jpg
Coming along nicely Brendan.
Can I ask about the logo and its meaning
Logo is a lowercase "g" with the top split like a power symbol - play on my surname - Power. Two dots are to represent the two dots from a bass clef - while I'll build some guitars, I'm a bass player not a guitar player. Ultimately - meaning Power Guitars.
Overall needed to change the logo because my #2 build is a Ricky and "bass by brendan" doesn't really work.
All that and it's easier to cut that shape from Paua than a b3. And finally, I had some leakage into the man cave that wet the decal sheet I had - only hit one sheet and it happened to be that one.
Nothing too cerebral, but enjoying playing around with a few things.
Back again! After a Dr induced break from the forum (nothing too serious - issue with my shoulder which meant I had to keep clear of PC's), I'm back - taking a little while to catch up with all the posts I've missed, but should be posting some more updates on this and the VP in the next few days.
Good to see you back Brendan. Hope all is well and it's full steam ahead with your build.
All done.
Bass is together and had it's first run in public today...
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-con...92e-Guitar.JPG
Issues encountered:
Pickguard slightly wrong shape - couldn't fit the stock pickup in the guitar and didn't fit the control plate nicely. Easily fixed with some files and sandpaper.
Neck front bow pronounced on putting it together. Visit to Dr Gav and all's sweet. Gav also helped to lower the action through filing out the nut a little more.
Bridge replaced with new heavier bridge from my friends at eBay. Downside is that it's a LOT higher, so Gav helped to recess the bridge and make it a lot more playable.
Couple of hairline, low angle cracks within the body (one from bridge to end of guitar - other in back) resisted all attempts to clean them up. Now form character for the guitar.
Worm hole in the heel of the guitar almost in line with the left (top) side of the bridge.
Looks fantastic Brendan. Well done! Love the colour..
cheers,
Gav.
Well done Brendan, she looks beautiful.
I know what you mean by the flaws adding character. They are constant reminders of how you overcame the obstacles to create a beautiful instrument.
Again, well done mate.
rob
Great job Brendan...
Eliot and I will be around later to aquire this Bass. :)
Quick Brendan, make up something, like tell 'em it's finished in Tru-oil and not Shellac / Wudtone....Quote:
/<\\/p>[/<\\/p>[]<\\/p>/]<\\/p>/Quote from dingobass on December 16, 2013, 07:15
Great job Brendan...
Eliot and I will be around later to aquire this Bass. :)
looks great Brendan, glad your back on deck.
Might be worth pad locking this bass from the BAS !!
@Gav - naah - no Tru Oil here - it's all NC oil ;)...
@Wokks - great to be back on deck... Missed the forum and seeing how people are going. Now if only it'd cool down a little so I can get back in the shed.
Hi Brendan
Can I ask what you did to the coat the playing surface / fretboard of the neck? I am looking for advice on my first maple neck finish.
Paul
Nice job Brendan.
Gaudo - just used Dr Ducks Axe Wax on this one - haven't finished it with anything to harden the maple - that said - not noticed any damage to the playing surface as yet.