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Thread: New to this building thing

  1. #1

    New to this building thing

    Hello fellow players! Excited to start my JB-4 bass build, but am worried about soldering as I've got zero experience.

  2. #2
    Overlord of Music Dedman's Avatar
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    Hi
    It's not nearly as hard as it sounds. Buy a decent soldering iron and solder from JayCar. I had never soldered before my first kit and ended up re-wiring it from scratch with no probs. Watch a few "how to solder" vids on youtube , you'll be fine
    Build 19 PSH-1 Kustom
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  3. #3
    Overlord of Music Andy40's Avatar
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    Oct 2015
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    Hi Xwing. You'll be great at soldering, easy as pie. you'll need some more kits to practice on too
    Build #1 - ST-1 - Completed
    Build #2 - LP-1SS - Completed
    Build #3 - TLA-1R - Completed
    Build #4 - SGD-612 - Completed
    Build #5 - ES-1G - Completed
    Build #6 - STA-1HT | Completed
    Build #7 - ST1JR - Completed
    Current Build #8 - JBA-4
    Build #9 - Semi-scratch build Tele x 2 - Completed
    Current Build #10 - PRS-1H
    Current Build #11 - AGJR-1 - Completed
    Current Build #12 - ATL-1SB
    Current Build #13 - GST-1
    Current Build #14 - FBM-1

  4. #4
    GAStronomist stan's Avatar
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    Aug 2013
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    Geelong, Vic
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    Hi mate and welcome, I have a few tips in my strat rewire Benson pickup thread, link in my signature.
    Mainly, keep the tip of the iron clean, it greatly helps in getting the solder to flow as opposed to being a molten blob that sits on the iron and doesn't transfer to the lug or wire.

    Give it a go and ask plenty of questions, you'll be fine, enjoy the journey

  5. #5
    Moderator Brendan's Avatar
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    XWing - not too many solders on a JB-4, so don't stress... Anyway, welcome to the party - ask any questions - we were all newbies once.

  6. #6
    Overlord of Music Fretworn's Avatar
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    May 2013
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    Hornsby Area, Sydney, NSW
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    Welcome X-wing
    Current:
    GTH-1

    Completed:
    AST-1FB
    First Act ME276 (resurrected curb-side find)
    ES-5V
    Scratchie lapsteel
    Custom ST-1 12 String
    JBA-4
    TL-1TB
    Scratch Lapsteel
    Meinl DIY Cajon
    Cigar Box lap steel

    Wishing:
    Baritone
    Open D/Standard Double 6 twin neck

  7. #7
    GAStronomist wokkaboy's Avatar
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    Dec 2012
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    Perth WA
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    welcome to the forum Xwing, have a bit of soldering practice before you attempt the real thing. As said there aren't many wire connections on a JB-4. Start a build diary and let us know your build plans. Ask any questions you have there, don't rush the build and good luck !
    Current Builds and status
    scratch end grain pine tele - first clear coat on !
    JBA-4 - assembled - final tweaks
    Telemonster double scale tele - finish tobacco burst on body and sand neck

    Completed builds
    scratch oak.rose gum Jazzmaster - assembled needs setup
    MK-2 Mosrite - assembled - play in
    Ash tele with Baritone neck - neck pup wiring tweaks and play in

  8. #8
    Mentor Chuck's Avatar
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    Aug 2016
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    Welcom Xwing - just echoing everyone else's comments but the key for me was just mucking around soldering bits of wire to a bit of metal just for practice, and obviously lots of YouTube videos (and only when I get at least three different ones saying roughly the same thing do I think I'm on the right track!). I'm still very hit or miss, but when I get it right I feel like a fair dinkum fully qualified electrician!!

  9. #9
    GAStronomist wazkelly's Avatar
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    Welcome XWing. Lots of good advice already and only thing I can add is that the iron needs to be really hot and if it has more than one setting, go with the hottest most of time.

    From memory this kit has a pre-wired control plate so you only have to connect a few PUP wires plus earth wire from the bridge. It will probably take longer for the iron to heat up than to do the job.
    # 1 - EX-5 https://goo.gl/fQJMqh
    # 2 - EX-1 https://goo.gl/KSY9W9
    # 3 - Non PBG Tele https://goo.gl/W14G5g
    # 4 - Non PBG J Bass https://goo.gl/FbBaFy
    # 5 - TL-1AR GOTM Aug 2017 https://goo.gl/sUh14s
    # 6 - MMB-4 Runner-up GOTM Oct 2018https://goo.gl/gvrPkp
    # 7 - ES-1 Runner-up GOTM Aug 2018https://goo.gl/T9BEY8

  10. #10
    GAStronomist wokkaboy's Avatar
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    Hi Aadamdun, welcome to the forum, how much wood working skills have you got and can you solder wire joins ?

    probably a TL or ST kit to start on, but depends on your experience and what sort of guitar you like

    EDIT looks like you deleted your post !
    Current Builds and status
    scratch end grain pine tele - first clear coat on !
    JBA-4 - assembled - final tweaks
    Telemonster double scale tele - finish tobacco burst on body and sand neck

    Completed builds
    scratch oak.rose gum Jazzmaster - assembled needs setup
    MK-2 Mosrite - assembled - play in
    Ash tele with Baritone neck - neck pup wiring tweaks and play in

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