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Thread: April Guitar of the Month (for Guitars and Basses finished in March 2018)

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  1. #1
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    Thumbs Up RCA4 Bass

    I will throw my RCA-4 bass into the mix.

    Finish - Sanded down to 240grit and stained using Wudtone Burning Sky and Hot Auburn
    Neck - Frets levelled and dressed using similar methods to those mentioned by Ahabs_beard
    Hardware - Tuners as supplied with the kit. Bridge a 'no-name' item from ebay that I liked the look of. Control cavity cover, neck pup surround and truss rod cover I made myself.
    Electronics - Pickups as supplied with the kit. Wired for stereo with new pots, caps, switch and jack sockets.
    For those who don't know (and I didn't properly understand when I set out on the build) the bass has two jack sockets. One mono which works as normal and one stereo which separates the outputs from the two pickups then using a splitter cable each pickup can be run to separate inputs (eg two different amps).

    Build diary is here http://www.buildyourownguitar.com.au...ead.php?t=8183

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  2. #2
    Member Ahabs_beard's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Gary B View Post
    I will throw my RCA-4 bass into the mix.

    Finish - Sanded down to 240grit and stained using Wudtone Burning Sky and Hot Auburn
    Neck - Frets levelled and dressed using similar methods to those mentioned by Ahabs_beard
    Hardware - Tuners as supplied with the kit. Bridge a 'no-name' item from ebay that I liked the look of. Control cavity cover, neck pup surround and truss rod cover I made myself.
    Electronics - Pickups as supplied with the kit. Wired for stereo with new pots, caps, switch and jack sockets.
    For those who don't know (and I didn't properly understand when I set out on the build) the bass has two jack sockets. One mono which works as normal and one stereo which separates the outputs from the two pickups then using a splitter cable each pickup can be run to separate inputs (eg two different amps).

    Build diary is here http://www.buildyourownguitar.com.au...ead.php?t=8183

    Click image for larger version. 

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    Holy crap! And I thought competition would be easier this month - looks like I'm wrong!
    I've always been really apprehensive about buying kits with binding, in case I get the stain over them...
    How exactly do you go about making sure that the white binding stays (or gets) clean?
    “All our previous positions are now exposed as absurd. But people don’t draw the obvious conclusion: it must also mean then that our present situation is absurd.”
    - Terence McKenna

  3. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ahabs_beard View Post
    Holy crap! And I thought competition would be easier this month - looks like I'm wrong!
    I've always been really apprehensive about buying kits with binding, in case I get the stain over them...
    How exactly do you go about making sure that the white binding stays (or gets) clean?
    When I saw your guitar I thought - no point entering this month Same could be said every month though.
    I wouldn't think it possible to do something unique with a Strat but you have managed it!

    I think some people manage to successfully mask the binding but the majority just stain over it then scrape the binding clean afterwards with a blade which gives a nice clean edge.
    It is not that difficult but mighty tedious and certainly in my case gives continued entertainment in spotting bits that have been missed

  4. #4
    Overlord of Music Fretworn's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ahabs_beard View Post
    Holy crap! And I thought competition would be easier this month - looks like I'm wrong!
    I've always been really apprehensive about buying kits with binding, in case I get the stain over them...
    How exactly do you go about making sure that the white binding stays (or gets) clean?
    If you polish the binding smooth first then it can be quite stain resistant making it easier to clean up after.
    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

  5. #5
    Member Ahabs_beard's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Gary B View Post
    I think some people manage to successfully mask the binding but the majority just stain over it then scrape the binding clean afterwards with a blade which gives a nice clean edge.
    It is not that difficult but mighty tedious and certainly in my case gives continued entertainment in spotting bits that have been missed
    When you say 'mask', you mean just covering it with masking tape when staining, and hoping for the best, right?
    Stewmac have a good video; is this what you meant by scraping? I'm a noob, but I'm gonna try to hound all you guys for as much information as I can get! haha

    Quote Originally Posted by Fretworn View Post
    If you polish the binding smooth first then it can be quite stain resistant making it easier to clean up after.
    What exactly do you mean by polishing? Like, steel wool, sanding sealer etc? What products do you recommend? Cheers!
    “All our previous positions are now exposed as absurd. But people don’t draw the obvious conclusion: it must also mean then that our present situation is absurd.”
    - Terence McKenna

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ahabs_beard View Post
    When you say 'mask', you mean just covering it with masking tape when staining, and hoping for the best, right?
    Stewmac have a good video; is this what you meant by scraping? I'm a noob, but I'm gonna try to hound all you guys for as much information as I can get! haha



    What exactly do you mean by polishing? Like, steel wool, sanding sealer etc? What products do you recommend? Cheers!
    I'm new here myself so maybe not the best to be giving 'advice'
    Masking - yes, covering the binding with masking type. My view was that I don't have a good enough eye or steady hand to get it just right (especially on the really narrow binding on the guitars top) so would be likely to get stain on the binding and have to scrape anyway or, even worse, get tape over the wood and miss bits with the stain.
    The Stewmac vid is it. He makes it look easy! I like the tool he uses - I did all mine with what he calls a utility blade (Stanley knife blade in the UK)
    I don't know about the polishing, would be interested to hear if Fretworn replies on that.

  7. #7
    Overlord of Music Fretworn's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ahabs_beard View Post
    When you say 'mask', you mean just covering it with masking tape when staining, and hoping for the best, right?
    Stewmac have a good video; is this what you meant by scraping? I'm a noob, but I'm gonna try to hound all you guys for as much information as I can get! haha



    What exactly do you mean by polishing? Like, steel wool, sanding sealer etc? What products do you recommend? Cheers!
    Our resident luthier, Dingobass, suggests polishing the binding with 0000 steel wool prior to staining.
    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

  8. #8
    Hi Guys here is some photos of my first build. EX-1 kit Bass wood. Antique white Nitrocellulose finish.
    I started with the frets levelled crowned and polished.
    Then sanded and shaped body neck and headstock with 320.
    Set the neck in place.
    Applied 5 coats of Sealer primer with a light sand with 600 between coats.
    Applied 5 coats of top coat and left for two weeks to cure.
    Flat sanded the finish with 1200 then sanded with 1500 then 2000.
    Polished finish with Meguiars ultimate compound.

    Fitted a set of EMG active pickups HET SET,Gotoh tuners(cosmo Black) Tusq nut.
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  9. Liked by: mango, wazkelly

  10. #9
    Member Guvna19's Avatar
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    Mar 2017
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    Quote Originally Posted by Lukas View Post
    Hi Guys here is some photos of my first build. EX-1 kit Bass wood. Antique white Nitrocellulose finish.
    I started with the frets levelled crowned and polished.
    Then sanded and shaped body neck and headstock with 320.
    Set the neck in place.
    Applied 5 coats of Sealer primer with a light sand with 600 between coats.
    Applied 5 coats of top coat and left for two weeks to cure.
    Flat sanded the finish with 1200 then sanded with 1500 then 2000.
    Polished finish with Meguiars ultimate compound.

    Fitted a set of EMG active pickups HET SET,Gotoh tuners(cosmo Black) Tusq nut.
    Click image for larger version. 

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    hi Lukas - Wow, that looks mint !

  11. #10
    Thanks Guvna19

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