Chuck’s JB-4 “ Bass IV” build

[Chuck]

As long as you can't smell the solvent any more (any your nose is pretty sensitive at this), you should be OK on the clear coat hardness. The Stewmac finishing book says 1 week minimum, preferably 2-3 weeks, but also gives the smell test as a good indication of when it's ready.

Yep, that's what I've been following too Simon.

[Simon Barden]

So, we're certainly reading from the same book!

[Chuck]

Make a pickguard, he said. It'll be easy, he said... Well, not that easy!! Today I played around with the custom pickguard. The general advice is to do a rough cut with a Dremel then file and sand. What no one ever tells you is "how" to Dremel it. After a bit of searching it seemed the Dremel 561 bit, a general purpose cutter, was the right attachment. Well, it was, but it wasn't easy. It was a bit like using a rogue router - although maybe I just need to spend more time getting to know my Dremel. Anyway, rough cut was done, then a bit of filing (lower left of the photo below). I think I'll get there okay. The interesting challenge is going to be the two pickup holes to put in it!! Stay tuned....

[Simon Barden]

I'd have tried fixing the Dremel in position above or underneath a flat surface with the cutting bit poking up through or into a hole, so that you move the pickguard, rather than the Dremel. You can then clamp strips of wood to the flat surface to act as guides when cutting straight edges. I'll need to knock something up for making my pickguard, but I won't be doing that until the pickups are in place and I can measure the correct distance between them.

[Simon Barden]

In lieu of making anything myself, I just ordered the Dremel routing table. Looks like its the right size for pickguards. Hopefully it will be robust enough to do the job.

[Chuck]

Bit of a hiccup that should probably also go in the "great mistakes of guitar building" thread! I've realised that I've cut the pickguard upside down!! The film you peel off is on the bottom - god knows how I didn't notice when I started! I thought I might be able to get away with it by polishing the "top" when I'm done but last night noticed there is a very fine line running across the middle of it that I doubt I'll be able to get out. Ah well, another bonehead play ;-) I've decided to keep going and finish it off, if only to get a bit more practice on the process. If indeed it does look too bad then I'll make another one.

[Simon Barden]

If you ever build a left handed version of the same guitar, it will come in handy.

[Chuck]

If you ever build a left handed version of the same guitar, it will come in handy.

Ha! I've actually made another left/right stuff up on a different thing recently. I'll take some pics and post later...

[wazkelly]

Might be able to polish it with some ultra fine cutting compound or the stuff they use to take the dull look off headlights as they are mostly acrylic based plastic which is same as a scratch plate.

[Chuck]

Might be able to polish it with some ultra fine cutting compound or the stuff they use to take the dull look off headlights as they are mostly acrylic based plastic which is same as a scratch plate.

Cheers Waz, I'll give that a crack. I tried some ScratchX but it's probably not harsh enough. Even if I do need to another one I have certainly learnt a great deal about how to get the next one right!