5-string semi-hollow
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5-string semi-hollow
Recently received my Pitbull 5-string kit. It arrived in less than a week from AUS to Canada, which was impressive; and all intact which even more impressive.
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I was at work when it arrived so I had my wife text me pictures! In other words, I don’t paint my toe nails.
I started with some general sanding using 200 and 600 grit paper. I also applied a special mixture of vodka and kook aid, but not to the guitar [emoji851].
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I also used a dremel tool to rout the pickup cavities slightly, as the pickups were too tight at first and didn’t actually fully seat.
Once the sanding and light routing was done I applied a water-based stain. I used a light brown stain followed by an even lighter black just to fill in some pores and achieve a rustic look.
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More to come...
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Nice work. These are great looking kits.
Welcome aboard mate, there is no judgement here, if you want to paint your toenails you go right ahead.
Nice colour that has brought out lots of grain definition.
I am very excited to see another one of these kit being done! Subscribed! [emoji3]
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I debated over a few different stain colours, all variations of brown, but ultimately chose the lightest colour so that I could achieve anything darker simply by adding a second or third coat. I also chose the water based stain so that I could use essentially any topcoat finish on top of it.
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Applying the black stain was done by dabbing paper towel directly into the stain and then rubbing off the excess onto scrap wood, then letting it dry a little so that it was almost like a dry black marker. I was able to rub this into the brown stain while not affecting the colour of the brown, only filling in black into the pores of the wood.
I didn’t bother masking off the binding with any tape before staining. Rather, I simply sanded the binding lightly with a 600 grit sand paper after staining. The binding cleaned up nicely. However, I was going for a more rustic reclaimed wood luck, so anyone wanting to achieve a cleaner effect may want to mask their bindings first.
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I let the stain dry for only a few hours before applying a top finish of Tru-oil gun stock oil. I started with a single coat of oil on the back of the guitar, and decided it only needed one coat. This oil starts to feel glossy and smooth if you apply multiple coats, and I did not want that feel for the back of the guitar. The wood is sufficiently sealed, but I left it so that it still has a nice wood feel.
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I then applied the first oil coat to the top of the body, and I must admit I overapplied the first coat and so I needed to sand it down quite a bit before applying additional coats. After the first coat...
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I put a second and third tru-oil coat on the top of the body, but applied it much much much lighter and it dried beautifully. It’s smooth to the touch and sealed, but it still feels like wood, not a glassy lacquer or plastic finish feel which I wanted to avoid.
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As for the neck, I used water-based stain on the peg head followed by tru-oil; however, on the back of the neck I used Osmo Polyx-oil hardwood wax. I really wanted to avoid any glossy plastic feel on the back of the neck, and instead wanted something more similar to a music man neck feel, with a more satin real-wood finish, and two coats of the polyx-oil was perfect. I didn’t even need to sand it down after the two coats.
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Clearly I was not going for finesse in transitioning between the unfinished neck and the stained headstock! Perhaps I should have used masking tape for a cleaner line, but I am trying to achieve a rustic look overall, so it’s OK by me.
Now to begin assembly...
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These really are a great looking kit, can't wait to see the assembly and the end result.
Turns out putting copper shielding in the pick up cavities is about as fun as applying super sticky Band-Aids while wearing latex gloves. I’m not sure I really need the copper, but it sure looks cool and it makes me feel super cool; so there’s that. [emoji41]
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Overkill with humbuckers but if it makes you feel good, job well done.
Just have to wonder how tight the PUP's were in the holes before adding copper tape? If tight like on my EX-5 they may want to peel back the copper tape on the vertical sides.
I couldn’t find any recommended way to install the sting ferrules, but they went in relatively easy with a little persuasion from the handle of the screwdriver…hitting them no harder than I’d “shlappa da bass” imitating Flea back in the 90’s.
Chicka chicka bow...
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Now I’m installing the tuning pegs. A lot of people in the forums recommend using a screw wax (insert any number of jokes here), But I’m just using my wife’s lip balm partly because it’s here and partly because it’s kind of cool and alternative… Sort of like Eddie Vedder just chillin in a city park in Seattle circa 1991; y’know, before things blew up.
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I have read horror stories about these small screws breaking into the wood if they’re not lubed up, so you’ll need to scrounge up some lip balm!
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The pick ups were quite tight before the copper tape, and as I installed the copper that’s exactly what I was thinking… There’s no way they’re going to fit now! Live and learn…Quote:
Originally Posted by wazkelly
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Lately I have been struggling with getting the wiring to work properly. Part of this is my novice soldering skills, and part of this is that the pit bull wiring diagram for this model just doesn’t seem to work. With some advice from this forum and chasing down alternate diagrams on line I am still working on the wiring. In the meantime, I chose to replace the plastic control cavity cover with a wood version I mocked up using scrap wood in the garage. I used the same stain and finish as I did on the rest of the body.Quote:
Originally Posted by Qolabear
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I also chose to pick up some black brass volume and tone knobs. I found the stock knobs to set too high, and they didn’t have the same feel that I’ve grown accustomed to on my other guitars.
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In the same spirit as the black knobs, I chose to put the tuning keys on barbeque skewers, and then spray paint them black. These they’ll match the volume knobs which I think is a nice touch.
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I’m now moving on to addressing the action and the frets, once I sort out this goddamn wiring. [emoji848]
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Wow nice! Soon we will have 2 of these finished and in circulation!
Nice work with the tuning pegs, cool mod. The FC looks pretty neat too.
Looking great!! Love the tuners! (I may have to "borrow" this idea!)
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I’m joining the chorus of approval for your tuners. Good looking guitar and good looking car.
Nice touches on those couple of mods which look great.
Today I finally got back to figuring out the wiring. Thanks ChefBrianNYC for helping there!! The wiring diagrams provided on the company’s website don’t work. I’ll just leave it at that! After I got the wiring done it was just a matter of assembling everything and installing a new set of strings.
Here are some vanity shots. I will post a video of how it sounds ASAP…
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Super sweet man! Can't wait to hear it!
Thanks! Just playing it this afternoon and the two things that jumped right out at me are first, the neck is quite a bit different than any other guitar I have. It’s a lot beefier and thicker; clearly a different radius than I’m used to. Second, the tone pots seem to be either completely rolled off or completely open with no in between, so I’m still trying to learn where the sweet spots are combining tone with the different pick-up options from the switch. More to come!Quote:
Originally Posted by ChefBrianNYC
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Looks really nice, well done! I like the doggo on the headstock too, I thought it was engraved at first.
Hey guv, I am building the same kit (though much more modestly) and thr D'Addario super long scale strings appear to be too short. Which strings did you use?
Looks awsome! Great mods and finish. In just purchased the same kit and am also confused with the wiring. Would it be possible to send me a sketch or picture of your wiring? Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
lfinn
Let me know if you still need this. I can send a diagram!Quote:
Originally Posted by lfinn
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Hi, i have one of these kits coming in the post, if you have that wiring diagram it would be greatly appreciated, thanks
It Looks amazing! I am just about to start work on this same bass. I am worried as I couldn’t find any wiring instructions for the DHB-5 but I may have missed it.
If you still have the diagram for wiring I would love a copy.
Looking so good. Thanks for the inspiration. I actually saw both of your projects which helped push my limits so thank you!!
Another Semi-hollow bass in the making here ...
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Heya, I am having the same problem. Please could someone help me out with what strings to use? It needs to be longer than 34" scale. Thanks!Quote:
Originally Posted by Peace_less