Gavs ESB-4 Hollowbody Bass

[Brendan]

John / Gav - these kits do seem to have some variation in them - tried getting all my tuners in and they seem to be a snug, but comfy fit. I'll check the neck seating on mine and see how it looks.

[Gavin1393]

Hi Gav,

If you have a router and a neck pocket jig/template this would work best. If not, i think that you might need to file the pocket down that 1mm or therabouts to get it as level as you can.

[gavinturner]

Thanks Gav, unfortunately no router or templates, but I do have a bastard file that might serve. Will probably be ok if i take small steps and test often. Will also take Scott's advice about an initial action test with the current height.

cheers,
Gav.

[gavinturner]

hi guys,

Filed out the neck pocket today with my bastard file. Just flattened it out a bit little by little. The height at the end of the fretboard has come down a bit and the neck is sitting much better in the pocket. There is a little gap at the heel, but not enough for me to worry about. I may fill it with Timbermate once the neck is on, or I may go back for a little more filing. Not sure.







Anyway, I'm much relieved. The neck alignment was good straight out of the box and even with the neck lowered into the pocket the strings are still flat on the deck at zero bridge height. Now I can stop worrying about the fit!

cheers,
Gav.

[lawry]

Looking pretty snug in there Gav and should be OK with a bit of spakfilla ;-)
This'll be a nice brother to the florentine I reckon.

[gavinturner]

hi guys,

This morning I took the plunge and attempted my second ever burst using ColorTone dye - a so called "poor man's burst". I prepared the body with a light sand down of 360, 400 and 600 grits. At 600 grit I did a single pass of grain raising using Metholated Spirits, but the maple hardly needed it.

This time around I didn't perform a 'trace-dye' on the wood to check for glue spots. I was instead prepared to stop dying if any glue surfaced and perform a sand back to remove it. Amazingly, this kit exhibited no glue spots at all around the binding or veneer join. The quality of this kit is awesome!

I performed the burst using ColorTone Vintage Amber as a base, and then applying ColorTone Red Mahogany around the edges. I was Also going to darken the edges even more with a few drops of Tobacco Brown, but I like it now and don't want to muck with it.



Gotta say I'm pretty damn pleased with it. The edges are nice and dark with the red mahogany bleeding into the flame maple as it reaches for the centre of the guitar. The centre has retained it's bright Amber hue and has not been muddied with brown. All in all a pretty awesome result - I'm right chuffed with myself. Now on to the back and sides!

cheers,
Gav.

[gavinturner]

As a postscript to my previous post.. I just took the masking off the binding and it's as clean as. The magic 471 pin-striping tape from 3M does it again!!



cheers,
Gav.

[dingobass]

Noice, very noice!
Looks like you lucked out with the neck fit/ angle.... I had to shim mine at the butt end of the heel to get the neck sitting at the correct angle, and to get a nice flat action...

[Fretworn]

Very pretty! Another Gav masterpiece.

[wokkaboy]

looks excellent Gav, for a 2nd burst you must be stoked ! Look forward to seeing this beast progress. Remember to psyche yourself up for the wiring !