Ex-4 Bass Build

[NyanFloyd]

Got my kit in the mail today everything fits perfectly!
Might as well start with an overview of what my build will end up as.
Ex-4 specs:
Color: Behlen Solar lux "Sea Blue" on the body and neck
Black headstock
Black custom pickguard
Brass nut
Hipshot machine heads with drop D "Bass Extender"
Stock humbuckers with split coils and a 6 way switch
2 tone pots
1 master volume pot

I figure nothing says 1984 better than a black n blue explorer! Pics coming soon

[wazkelly]

Sounds good NyanFloyd.

2 tones pots is a different approach and interested to eventually hear the split sounds once you have wired it up.

Welcome to the forum and will keenly keep an eye your progress.

Cheers, Waz

[Simon Barden]

Sounds great! You obviously know what you want.

[Andy40]

I'm sure Wazkelly will watch this with interest. ooooo brass nut...I like the sound of that

[wazkelly]

Brass nuts do have a ring to them, got one on the blue Tele, but you need lots of time and effort if it needs to be filed down.

[Hobastard]

It stands to reason, for me at least, that the material that the string last touches has an influence on the Tone, If the nut is too dissimilar to the Frets the Open notes sound different to the Fretted notes. That's my opinion anyway, Bone seems to do a good job even though it is very different to Fret Wire.

I have only made 2 Brass Nuts, but both times I just removed the stock item and made a copy of it from a piece of brass scrap.
Seemed to work OK.

This time around I bought a Chinese one that is slightly oversize, that I will file to suit.

[NyanFloyd]

Got lots done this week, the neck is almost finished it just needs a few more coats of lacquer and my custom headstock logo. I'm loving the way the blue stain turned out because it still shows the grain from the maple neck and it kind of gives it that worn vintage feel with the satin finish. I also traced out a pickguard on a piece of paper, and the black lines show roughly where I will have to rout in order to install my 6 way toggle switch.

[wazkelly]

Nice blue colour.

[NyanFloyd]

Thanks! I really want to start on the body but I can't really do anything until I get the extra bits routed. I don't have a router so I'm going to have to wait until my buddy is free to let me use his Woodshop for a weekend.

[wazkelly]

Ok, so you are going for a traditional 6 stringer looking scratch plate & 3 position switch.