ESB-4SC build

[Ian A]

Time to wire it up. I placed a piece of stiff paper over the guitar top and carefully felt where the holes are, pushing a pencil through to give me a template of the component locations. Then positioned the components through the holes in the paper. Then sorted out the wires that came with the kit for best fit. There is no consistent colour coding with the wires, but tried to keep black to earth, white live as much as I could. Soldered wires to components, threaded earth wire from tailpiece to control cavity. I found this web link VERY useful: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxr9E56qyjg parts 1 and 2. Bought tubing and dowel from hardware shop $8 well spent and reusable, as I found out later. Followed video instructions and they worked a treat. Here I encountered a problem with the wires. They regularly broke off at the solder joint. Note to self: use your own better quality wire to build the harness. Also, allow plenty of extra length. Wired up and now start trouble shooting. There was lots of hum that rolled off with the tone knob. This was the first time I found broken earth wire. Pull out offending pot and resolder. Not easy in a hollowbody. Luckily was the tone pot so close to f hole. re assemble. No output. Broken wire number two remove tone pot, etc. Broken wire number 3, live to output jack. remove, etc, replace. I added length to a couple of wires and taped them together for stability when manouvering. All is in now and working hopefully it will not need to be disturbed again. I also eliminated the hum by throwing away the lead cable that came with the kit and used a quality cable. I am thinking I will not bother with the strings that came with it either. I am accumulating enough surplus parts to build another bass!

[Simon Barden]

Yes, wiring can be an issue with hollow bodied guitars. I always use thicker wiring on my builds and guitar upgrades than the manufacturers generally use or supply. It also helps if you can tape some of the wires together for a bit of mutual support, especially if they have to be manhandled into position.

But you got there in the end, and that's the main thing. Well done!

[Ian A]

http://www.buildyourownguitar.com.au...8548&noquote=1 Yes Simon, I did tape the wires together where I could. Especially where they kept breaking: as you say, where they had to be manhandled. Waiting now for the pickup mounting bits. I'll source some strings in the meantime. Think I'll go round wound. At least for now.

[Ian A]

Waiting for parts. Got onto the saddle, sanding it down to match the curve of the top.

[Ian A]

Strings arrived Wednesday, pickup mount bits arrived Thursday. Thursday evening spent attaching bits. Getting close now. Minor adjustments to saddle for intonation.


The tailpiece has a slight lean to it, placing the strings off centre. Tried adjusting the nuts on the trapeze bridge. Tried bending the mounting bracket. No good, not enough. Too late now to start doing a bodged up job. After thought and trial and error, I placed a flat washer under the mounting bracket under the left hand screw. Lined up perfectly.

[Ian A]

Severe neck dive due to light body weight, and long neck. Seems to be cured with front strap button positioned forward on the neck heel and a wide leather strap.

[Dedman]

Have you plugged her in yet?

[Ian A]

I have plugged it in. Now I just need to learn how to play ...
Does sound good.

[gavinturner]

Looks great! You've done an amazing job. Would really love to hear a sound demo , plugged and unplugged!!!

cheers,
Gav.