IB-5 Amber/Walnut

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16-10-2013, 10:39 AM
groundfloordoofus

Hi everyone!
This is my very first guitar build. Was intending to build a JB-4M kit but it wasn't in stock, so I ordered an IB-5 instead!
So it arrived real quick and first thing I did was to fit the neck onto the body and see if it has a good fit. Here's how it looked! Did a close up because the grains are real pretty too!

Haven't really been a guitar person all along, but I have the intention of picking up the bass guitar once I'm done with this build! Hence, I'll be requiring the help of my fiance who has done a couple of guitar builds himself! So after fitting the neck onto the body, we realized there were some gaps in between and had to fill it up with a wood filler. After some measurements, he drilled holes for the bridge, tuners and strap pins as well. Next, on to sanding!
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content...001_182355.jpg
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content...001_182407.jpg
16-10-2013, 10:53 AM
Tim

Welcome Priscilla enjoy the build take your time .look forward to your build and ask questions we are always ready to help
16-10-2013, 10:56 AM
groundfloordoofus

And on the very next day, we sanded away...

So here's how it looks after I sanded the neck and body with 220 grit. And as usual, fiance helped with some sanding too.
It was my first time sanding ever and I actually enjoyed it very much. Anyhow, I couldn't help it but to continue admiring those lovely grains on the ash body.

Up next... Wudtone application!

http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content...003_191623.jpg
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content...003_191640.jpg
16-10-2013, 11:05 AM
groundfloordoofus

Oops sorry guys! It's been more than a week since I started this build! It's just that I've accumulated so many photos and have yet to start my build diary on this forum! :p

So next up! Wudtone application! I went for Amber because I really like a more 'natural' wood colour. My Wudtone arrived a couple of days after the kit. So here's the first base coat! I chose a satin finish as well. So after the 1st base coat, the grains are starting to become more prominent! I intended to stain the neck amber as well. However as you can see, it didn't seem to absorb the wudtone as well as the ash body did. So we decided to go for a walnut stain for the neck instead, which my fiance already had from his previous builds. So we waited for a couple of hours and applied the 1st walnut coat on the neck.

So up next would be applying my 2nd amber base coat on the body as well as the 2nd walnut coat on the neck.

http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content...008_140352.jpg
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content...008_140854.jpg
16-10-2013, 11:14 AM
groundfloordoofus

So I waited for 2 days before applying the next coat!

This is the 2nd coat of amber on the body and 2nd coat of walnut for the neck! The walnut turned out to be slightly orangey as I applied the first coat of walnut on top of the initial amber coat. Grains on the ash body looking even better!
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content...010_141231.jpg
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content...010_141240.jpg
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content...010_141249.jpg
16-10-2013, 11:20 AM
groundfloordoofus

Another 2 days between coats.

So this would be my 3rd coat! Forgot to take photos of the neck though.

http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content...014_133712.jpg
16-10-2013, 11:29 AM
groundfloordoofus

Another 2 days between coats!

Here is my 4th coat of amber! and 4th coat of walnut on the neck!
Everything is looking pretty good. Grains are ever lovely. The walnut stain looked pretty orange initially, and after the 4th coat of walnut, we actually decided to do a diluted ebony stain on top of the walnut to make it slightly darker to create more contrast with the amber body.

Up next.... 1st top coat!
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content...014_140215.jpg
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content...alnut-coat.jpg
17-10-2013, 08:51 AM
gavinturner

The amber is looking great - the grain has really popped! Love the subtle colour.
Great work.

Cheers,
Gavin.
17-10-2013, 11:35 AM
groundfloordoofus

Quote:

/<\\/p>[]<\\/p>/Quote from Tim on October 15, 2013, 19:53
Welcome Priscilla enjoy the build take your time .look forward to your build and ask questions we are always ready to help

Thanks Tim!
17-10-2013, 11:36 AM
groundfloordoofus

Quote:

/<\\/p>[]<\\/p>/Quote from gavinturner on October 16, 2013, 17:51
The amber is looking great - the grain has really popped! Love the subtle colour.
Great work.

Cheers,
Gavin.

Thanks! Yeah, I'm going for the natural look. I think it's gonna look like a warwick.
17-10-2013, 09:31 PM
groundfloordoofus

Got down to applying my 1st satin top coat!

Using 2 toilet rolls as a make-shift stand...
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content...016_133700.jpg
18-10-2013, 02:47 AM
wokkaboy

looking good Priscilla, got to love that makeshift stand !
for your information the control cavity isn't routed for the back plate so the plate won't sit flush with the body, I found out right at the end of the build. I built an IB-5 in amber as well and love the look and it plays as well !
18-10-2013, 10:03 AM
groundfloordoofus

Quote:

/<\\/p>[]<\\/p>/Quote from wokkaboy on October 17, 2013, 11:47
looking good Priscilla, got to love that makeshift stand !
for your information the control cavity isn't routed for the back plate so the plate won't sit flush with the body, I found out right at the end of the build. I built an IB-5 in amber as well and love the look and it plays as well !

hey thanks!
Yeah, i realized it pops out :( and it doesn't really fit too well over the cavity either :/ I had to get another back plate... Yeah, I saw your build and it looked real good. I only did 4 coats of amber though. Haha. and the walnut's looking real good with the amber right now.
18-10-2013, 10:28 AM
groundfloordoofus

2nd satin top coat!

Well, the finishing coats can't really be seen very clearly on photos, but it actually does look better in real life and it has a very nice feel to it actually. I don't see many people using satin finishes on this forum, but I think satin finishings are great on natural wood colours.
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content...017_142430.jpg
18-10-2013, 10:36 AM
stan

it's coming up really well, great work
18-10-2013, 11:18 AM
lawry

Looks fantastic. I particularly like the grain below the pickup cavities.
18-10-2013, 10:36 PM
SIMpleONe89

Wow excellent work!
19-10-2013, 12:18 AM
groundfloordoofus

Hi guys, any one have any suggestions for satin coats? I am wondering how many coats I should apply... So far I have applied 3.
19-10-2013, 08:23 AM
Tim

I have found 3 is good as a minimum so anymore will be a bonus.
Are you happy with how it looks now.
if so stop.
21-10-2013, 10:47 AM
groundfloordoofus

Quote:

/<\\/p>[]<\\/p>/Quote from Tim on October 18, 2013, 17:23
I have found 3 is good as a minimum so anymore will be a bonus.
Are you happy with how it looks now.
if so stop.

Yeah pretty happy with my 3rd coat!
thanks tim!
21-10-2013, 10:51 AM
groundfloordoofus

After 3 top coats....

and after getting help assembling everything together....

here it is! the final product! walnut and amber looking good...
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content...020_223816.jpg
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content...020_223833.jpg
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content...020_223853.jpg
21-10-2013, 11:48 AM
Tim

very nice :)Gotta love an IB-5
21-10-2013, 03:31 PM
Brendan

Another beautiful IB-5 - can they turn out any other way?
22-10-2013, 03:25 AM
robin

Well done Priscilla, a beautiful looking bass.

Having had the joy of building one myself, I know how you are feeling right now, and just as an added bonus, they sound awesome too.

Well done.

rob
22-10-2013, 03:44 AM
wokkaboy

yes well done Priscilla, the amber colour is pretty well identical to my IB-5. Looks like you didn't recess the control cover but hard to see in the photo. Could be the camera angle but low B and G strings fingerboard offsets don't look the same but may be the angle of the photo taken. Enjoy playing it now !
23-10-2013, 07:20 AM
Cananzi

well done. looks great!
23-10-2013, 07:34 AM
groundfloordoofus

@wokka
Yes we didn't measure the bridge properly so it's slightly off towards the low B side. We measured according to the pickup cavities but I guess that wasn't a good idea as the neck wasn't inline with the pickups. From the picture the misalignment is exaggerated due to the camera angle. Nonetheless it plays and looks good!
24-10-2013, 12:16 AM
wokkaboy

Hi Priscilla, thanks for that, glad the camera angle exagerated it, glad it plays well, I'm wrapped with mine too. Enjoy your creation now !
24-10-2013, 04:44 AM
groundfloordoofus

More photos...
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content...-edit-9697.jpg
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content...-edit-9703.jpg
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content...-edit-9705.jpg
24-10-2013, 04:47 AM
groundfloordoofus

Just a side note,

I just recently got a bass amp for myself, the Ampeg BA 108, to practice on.
It's pretty good for the price, as a basic practice bass amp!
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content...-edit-9712.jpg
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content...-edit-9715.jpg
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content...-edit-9695.jpg
24-10-2013, 04:58 AM
pablopepper

Can't go wrong with an Ampeg. I love my Micro CL.
24-10-2013, 07:43 AM
adam

Great colour choice. Every one of these IB-5's have turned out amazingly. Looking forward to seeing how the Ash ST, TL and EX kits turn out.