Hello fellow players! Excited to start my JB-4 bass build, but am worried about soldering as I've got zero experience.
Hello fellow players! Excited to start my JB-4 bass build, but am worried about soldering as I've got zero experience.
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
Build 18 HB-4S Kustom
Build 17 WL-1 Kustom
Build 16 TL-1TB Kustom
Build 15 PBG-2-
Build 14 FTD-1
Build 13 RD-1 Kustom
Build 12 DM-1S
Build 11 MKA-2 -
Build 10 Basic strat
Build 9 JM Kustom
Build 8 FV-1G
Build 7 ES-2V
Build 6- Community prototype
Build 5 LP-1LQ
Build 4 ES-5V
Build 3 JR-1
Build 2 GD-1
Build 1 TLA-1
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
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
Stan's LP Build for my Sister: http://www.buildyourownguitar.com.au...ead.php?t=3146
Benson Pickup Strat mod: http://www.buildyourownguitar.com.au...ead.php?t=5229
Epiphone LP headstock fix: http://www.buildyourownguitar.com.au...ead.php?t=3410
Martin Backpacker Repair: http://www.buildyourownguitar.com.au...?t=5038&page=3
'57 Harmony Jazz guitar project: http://www.buildyourownguitar.com.au...ead.php?t=2972
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.
Current builds:
GPB-4B: https://www.buildyourownguitar.com.a...548#post184548
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
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
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!!
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
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