RD-4 build. An ode to doom metal.

So my kit came in this weekend and it was surprisingly (or not really) good quality...

The Good:
-The neck fits the body flush and tight. Better than most major brands’ fully built instruments.
-The neck is straight, the frets are clean, and the headstock is preshaped, thank god.
-No parts were missing, which is nice as something to note.

The Bad:
-The body had 2 imperfections: one ding and kind of a gouge. Pretty sure I can sand them out.
-The pickguard was hot off the press! In that, the shavings hanging off of it weren’t cleaned off, a quick touch of sandpaper will fix it.
-The body was multiple pieces, like 3 or 4. Between that and the imperfections my original plan of staining might have to changed. Time will tell.


So my first impression upon opening it was this thing is SOLID. It has a good weight to it and seems well balanced. We’ll see it IS an RD after all.

Plans/mods/upgrades:

Bridge - going string through, anyone have tips on where to get ferrules? I can’t find top ferrules for the life of me.
Pickups - Dimarzio Model J
Electronics - Going mad scientist on this one. VVT w/Series Parallel switch, onboard OD/boost. Also relocating the input to the side instead of the front because FRONT INPUTS ARE STUPID!!!



Chapter One: SAND, SAND MORE.

150 grit followed by 220. Damn it’s smooth! Need to pick up 320/350 to make the neck smooth, possibly hit the body one last time. Little bit of hole cleaning too.

That was it for day one, as I work a late schedule and I was sanding at 4AM in my apartment and my neighbors/fiancé/cat already think I’m a loud stupid asshole.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...d0a005c655.jpg

Cat Tax:
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...0d5a0d2aa0.jpg


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Nice looking kit. I like the shape. I like the cat too.

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Originally Posted by DarkMark

Nice looking kit. I like the shape. I like the cat too.

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Thank ya!


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Wow that's a cool looking bass. I've never noticed this one in the shop before. Have you compared the size of the Dimarzio Model Js to the pickups it came with? On my RCA-4 the J pickup is a tad bit smaller than most normal J pups and would require routing of the body to fit.

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Originally Posted by BJMtz

Wow that's a cool looking bass. I've never noticed this one in the shop before. Have you compared the size of the Dimarzio Model Js to the pickups it came with? On my RCA-4 the J pickup is a tad bit smaller than most normal J pups and would require routing of the body to fit.

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I haven’t. The body cavities are routed pretty big. So worst case I’ll have to make a new PG, which I was throwing around regardless.


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Cool as. The bodies are almost always multiple pieces, but it looks like you have a pretty good grain match. Once stained and assembled it can be hard to notice. Also dents will come out with a bit of steam - a clean rag and an iron will do the trick most of the time.

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Originally Posted by Sonic Mountain

Cool as. The bodies are almost always multiple pieces, but it looks like you have a pretty good grain match. Once stained and assembled it can be hard to notice. Also dents will come out with a bit of steam - a clean rag and an iron will do the trick most of the time.

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Thanks. One is a chunk missing so that trick might not work. The other might be a dent of sorts, so that would work.

Still might stain anyway, there’s enough going on that it might be hidden. The bottom curve has a pretty obvious cap though, that’s what I’m worried about.


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Well its up to you, but if you do stain and don't like it there isn't anything stopping you from going a solid over it afterwards. When I did the Black Cherry build in my signature- I initially stained it red and didn't like it - so I stained jet black over the top instead. It wasn't until I cleared that I saw it had a deep, subtle purple stain as a result of the two stains. Completely unintentional, but it looks unreal. There are lots of possibilities - and sometimes boo-boos turn into happy accidents.

https://i.imgur.com/q9U9wkUl.jpg

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Originally Posted by Sonic Mountain

Well its up to you, but if you do stain and don't like it there isn't anything stopping you from going a solid over it afterwards. When I did the Black Cherry build in my signature- I initially stained it red and didn't like it - so I stained jet black over the top instead. It wasn't until I cleared that I saw it had a deep, subtle purple stain as a result of the two stains. Completely unintentional, but it looks unreal. There are lots of possibilities - and sometimes boo-boos turn into happy accidents.

https://i.imgur.com/q9U9wkUl.jpg

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I REALLY like that color man!


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Okay so I sanded the body 120 - 250 - 325, and a quick shot of 400 on the neck. Smoooooooth!

My choice of color? Black Rit Dye!
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...87d896cd2e.jpg

I got the idea from the Guns and Guitars channel on YouTube. I had the dye lying around and figured I’d give it a shot.

I’m actually pretty happy with how it looks, it looks weathered:
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...b003312208.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...b0df64c520.jpg

Despite how much I sanded (and boooy did i sand!) there were still some deep pits I didn’t catch and they were clear as day once I started dyeing. In my frustration/haste I attempted to pack the color into those areas and made some dark spots. I grabbed some rags and tried to rub it off but rubbed other areas in the process and the result is honestly pretty cool IMO. Good thing I’m not into “pretty” guitars. It looks like a chunk of wood from the Black Pearl.

The neck on the other hand, came out DAMN GOOD:
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...84be8f1a69.jpg

The neck thus far has honestly been the All Star of this build. The frets were damn near perfect out of the box and it took the dye like a champ. I’m super happy with it. I might put another coat but it looks great as is. We’ll see how it looks once dry.


Cat tax:
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...ca28c1ee90.jpg



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So I decided to sand back the dye using 500 grit to smooth it off. Aaaaaaand now it’s relic’d:

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...31c8790524.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...82dd97fee5.jpg

I should rename this build diary “Lemony Snicket’s a series of happy accidents”. I LOVE how the neck looks with the wood exposed on the edges. The body I did second and I held back a bit on the sanding based on how the neck went because I know it’ll go through it’s own natural relicing (read: getting the shit beat out of) process as I play it. The aforementioned dark spots faded a little as they dried up and needed minimal sanding to even out.

I like how the body and neck look as is so...one layer and done, word. On to finishing!

So...I love Tung Oil. I know it’s controversial in guitar finishing but A. I like it and B. I had some already lying around. It’s my build and I’ll Tung if I want to!

Cat tax. Josie doesn’t care.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...f5fd41fd66.jpg


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2 coats of tung oil applied and the body and neck have a nice smooth finish. I might buff the neck to make it glassy smooth but it’s still got an awesome feel to it.

Time to start slapping parts on!

Cavity shielded up and the tuner ferrules(or whatever they’re called) pressed in. I didn’t take pics because it was 3AM and I was dog tired. I marked holes for the tuners and backplate. I ordered a set of DiMarzio Model J pickups off Reverb for $50(!) so I’m just waiting for those. I’m excited to start wiring but also not looking forward to it because it’s such a pain in the dick. For wiring I’m going double volume w/series/parallel switch and onboard OD. I want to reroute the jack to the side because front mounts are UGLY and I don’t have a 90degree cable.


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Getting some Krist Novoselic vibes from this build.

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Originally Posted by Airwick

Getting some Krist Novoselic vibes from this build.

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Same. I’m not a big Nirvana fan but his signature bass is a huge inspiration.


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Sorry for the lack of pics but I work stupid hours and this was all done at like 4AM: wired the electronics up for the cavity, banged in the bridge ferrules, relocated the front input to the side, installed the tuners and neck.

I had to wait for the neck to be put in so I can properly align the pickups buuuuuut....https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...d7c74ec4e1.jpg

So the Model J pickups are the same size and spacing as the pickups that came in the kit but they’re all too damn wide. Ugh.

Anyways, I knit what you’re here for. here’s a hunk of the Black Pearl that broke off in the shape of an RD Bass:

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...77d8a3209c.jpg

Oh, the pickguard.....bedliner. It destroys my fingertips and picks but it looks super cool.

Cat tax, yes it’s a unicycle:
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...d8942bdb35.jpg


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Also, yes. My apartment is a goddamn mess.


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All the best ones are - sign of a creative mind (or something like that) ;)

Those J Bass pickup routs are not cut for upgrades and quite often need a bit of reshaping to fit the better PUP's.

To add to the confusion sometimes the Bridge PUP can be wider than the Neck one. Quick check with a multi meter usually sorts them out with the higher number destined for Bridge position.

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Originally Posted by wazkelly

Those J Bass pickup routs are not cut for upgrades and quite often need a bit of reshaping to fit the better PUP's.

To add to the confusion sometimes the Bridge PUP can be wider than the Neck one. Quick check with a multi meter usually sorts them out with the higher number destined for Bridge position.

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The thing is the Model Js are the same exact size and spacing as the kit pickups.


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That is weird.
On my J bass i dropped in Entwistle pups and the lugs were slightly more outbound than kit ones. Overall width was the same.

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On this bass, the neck pup rout appears to be smaller than the bridge pup rout (or at least the mounting lug cut-outs are closer together. But the pups are designed to be located within a scratchplate, so the general rout has been made larger, probably to allow some sloppiness in the routing location, but also allowing both standard kit and normal Fender-sized pickups to be fitted.

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Originally Posted by wazkelly

That is weird.
On my J bass i dropped in Entwistle pups and the lugs were slightly more outbound than kit ones. Overall width was the same.

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Agreed, on the jazz bass I swapped out the stock scratchplate for a clear one, and found the lug holes on the Fender guard needed a little filing as the lugs on the kit pickups were a little too close together, but the hole in the scratchplate was the same size.

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Originally Posted by Simon Barden

On this bass, the neck pup rout appears to be smaller than the bridge pup rout (or at least the mounting lug cut-outs are closer together. But the pups are designed to be located within a scratchplate, so the general rout has been made larger, probably to allow some sloppiness in the routing location, but also allowing both standard kit and normal Fender-sized pickups to be fitted.

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Well yeah, but the pole spacing is off nonetheless.


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But then it is a copy of a Gibson bass (with a Gibson style bridge) using Fender-style pickups. From what I can make out, (in Imperial units), Gibson 4-string bridge spacing is 2.055" (52.2mm) and Fender 2.25" (57.15mm). So that 5mm less width is the main reason the pole pieces are out. It really would have been better for the kit to come with soapbars.

If it came with soapbars I would have bought 3 by now.


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Aaaaand it’s finished, need to do a few more tweaks to the setup (including taking down the skyscraper of a nut that it came with, Jesus Christ) and figure out the neckdive common with cool shaped instruments.

Here’s a total spec sheet/breakdown:

Color: Black Rit Dye sanded back with 500 grit.
Pickguard and truss rod cover painted with bedliner
Finish: Tung Oil
Moved the input jack from the front to the side to allow for more in the control cavity and because front mounts SUCK
Electronics:
-Dimarzio Model J pickups
-Vol, Vol, Series/Parallel and 5 position On-Board OD/Boost Circuit

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...bd1ca4549d.jpg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...727d4ff7fa.jpg
Yeah I know, little bit of overspray. Kinda hard not to get with bedliner

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...1048f86e6c.jpg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...3cb8500156.jpg

It sounds mean as hell, I’ve never done a series/parallel switch and now I’m going to to it in EVERYTHING. The mid boost and Db gain sound awesome. The OD/Boost Circuit is something I had lying around and I never use tone knobs so I figured I’d have some fun with this and give it a ton of tonal variations. 20 in total to be exact.

My favorite setting right now is both pickups in series and the boost at 3, which gives it a tasteful amount of grit.


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Nice work, that has come together really well.

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Originally Posted by Sonic Mountain

Nice work, that has come together really well.

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Thanks dude!


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Just out of curiosity Mr Matt Pike’s Shirt, how many coats of Tung oil did you apply?

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Originally Posted by DarkMark

Just out of curiosity Mr Matt Pike’s Shirt, how many coats of Tung oil did you apply?

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2 coats. Minwax specifically, but I know that Fornby’s is the go-to for Tung Oil loyalists. I just had MW lying around from when I used to make bentwood rings

One super thick coat that I let dry for about 20 minutes then buffed with a rag, let sit overnight then a lighter coat that I repeated the dry/buff process with. I hit the neck with a quick back and forth of 500 grit. It’s not glass smooth like a neck with a shinier finish. It’s more of a baby power smoothness, if that makes sense.


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This came out really cool!

Also your place mats remind me of the evh frankenstrat :cool:

[QUOTE=Matt Pike's Shirt;171201]2 coats. Minwax specifically, but I know that Fornby’s is the go-to for Tung Oil loyalists...

Thanks. Looks good, looks like it would be nice to the touch.

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Originally Posted by Richy17

This came out really cool!

Also your place mats remind me of the evh frankenstrat :cool:

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100% the reason why I got them.


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