HB-4s Bass build

Hello everyone, I ordered a HB-4s and had it shipped to my deployed site over seas, talk about a guitar that's been around the world. Anyway I finally got the Bass and I had a question, what wood is the bridge made out of? I'm no botanist but im taking a stab at rosewood. If someone knows for sure I would really like to know. I was thinking about using an oil finish on the bridge and a water based polyurethane on the body. I forgot to take pics of me opening the kit but I'll upload what pics I did remember to take. Also this is my first time building a guitar, kit or otherwise.

Welcome Zanzeroth. The bridge is almost certainly not rosewood, as rosewood has been removed from all the kits due to the CITES restrictions that came in last year. The fingerboard sure are made out of a man-made composite, perhaps the bridge is made out of a piece of the wood that these fingerboards get created from.

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Originally Posted by Fretworn

Welcome Zanzeroth. The bridge is almost certainly not rosewood, as rosewood has been removed from all the kits due to the CITES restrictions that came in last year. The fingerboard sure are made out of a man-made composite, perhaps the bridge is made out of a piece of the wood that these fingerboards get created from.

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I know its most likely not real rose wood. Its not as dark as the fret board though. Hmm just had a thought, maybe mahogany?

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Heres a photo of my second test fit. Ive drilled the holes for the pickups and control plate. Bridge and neck are just set on. I wanted to see how it would looked assembled. No sanding has been done.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...2b02cec8ce.jpg

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Here is after i glued the bridge on. I had to redo the outside holes for the tail piece. I initially drilled them a little to big and as a result the threads didn't grab and suck the edges of the tail piece to the body. Nothing wood glue and toothpicks couldn't fix.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...9221d4cb18.jpg

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Do you know if this is a floating bridge?

I have a semi acoustic which the bridge is being held down by the strings.

The bridge will determine the intonation so I’m not entirely sure if gluing it down first thing is a good idea.

It also makes wholesale sanding on the top a bit harder.

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Originally Posted by Old Tooth Hopkins

Do you know if this is a floating bridge?

I have a semi acoustic which the bridge is being held down by the strings.

The bridge will determine the intonation so I’m not entirely sure if gluing it down first thing is a good idea.

It also makes wholesale sanding on the top a bit harder.

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It is a floating bridge, i do have a chrome one coming with adjustable saddles. I measured the bridge before gluing it on so it should be pretty close for the intonation. As for the sanding its all by hand anyway and the bridge needs a little sanding as well.

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I didn't glue the bridge on my ES-5V (same style) but I can confirm that it takes oil nicely and will darken in doing so. So if you're looking to match it to the fretboard colour that is an option.

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Originally Posted by blinddrew

I didn't glue the bridge on my ES-5V (same style) but I can confirm that it takes oil nicely and will darken in doing so. So if you're looking to match it to the fretboard colour that is an option.

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Thanks for the info. I'm going to be storing it in a public place and didn't want the bridge to move on me or constantly have to check the intonation. Its the reason i ordered a chrome bridge with adjustable saddles, just incase i messed it up.

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Originally Posted by zanzeroth

Its the reason i ordered a chrome bridge with adjustable saddles, just incase i messed it up.

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:)

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Originally Posted by blinddrew

:)

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You can always highlight the extra text and change it to white so it doesn't show.

So i have a question about the control plate. Because pf the curvature of the top there are gaps in the center. I was wondering if i removed the pots and pcb and hit the plate gingerly with a heat gun, would it make it pliable enough to form it to the body?

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So after screwing the control plate on and letting it sit its conformed to the body. Its done, ill post images when i get a chance. The intonation is good. My only comment is i feel i could have done the finish a little better but with my limited supplies i did the best i could. If i can get this thing back home ill probably sand it down and re finish it

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Here are the finished photos. I did replace the tuning heads with 1/2 inch tuners. One of the ones that came with the kit was missing a tooth and I didn't catch it till it was finished. I also didn't notice that I bought inline 4 tuners instead of 2x2. I will say though that it stays intune better and has a lot less buzz against the frets. I'm probably going to change the pickups out though. I think I have them slightly off center so the volume isn't there and I would rather get new pickups if I'm gonna take the bass apart to fix it.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...8d307a6d22.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...8819fdd064.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...8dcbde8494.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...9934867c7d.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...08e976d70c.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...cfed246210.jpg

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Originally Posted by zanzeroth

Here are the finished photos. I did replace the tuning heads with 1/2 inch tuners. One of the ones that came with the kit was missing a tooth and I didn't catch it till it was finished. I also didn't notice that I bought inline 4 tuners instead of 2x2. I will say though that it stays intune better and has a lot less buzz against the frets. I'm probably going to change the pickups out though. I think I have them slightly off center so the volume isn't there and I would rather get new pickups if I'm gonna take the bass apart to fix it.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...8d307a6d22.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...8819fdd064.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...8dcbde8494.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...9934867c7d.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...08e976d70c.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...cfed246210.jpg

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That odd tuner arrangement actually looks right to me, when taking into account the head shape. I quite like it.
Nice job man, especially if you’ve done it with limited tools etc on a deployment site.[emoji1490][emoji1474]


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Originally Posted by FrankenWashie

That odd tuner arrangement actually looks right to me, when taking into account the head shape. I quite like it.
Nice job man, especially if you’ve done it with limited tools etc on a deployment site.[emoji1490][emoji1474]


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The tuner arrangement is because i screwed up and got an inline configuration and i wasn't going to wait a month for new ones to come in.

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If they are good quality tuners it shouldn’t matter too much. On cheaper tuners you could have tuning stability issues if the tuners are in back to front.

I actually kind of like the tuners in that arrangement.