Arzi's MMB-4 from vision to finish...

[Dekka28]

Wow Arzi that sounds like a really cool project. I will definitely keep an eye on this one.

[stan]

enjoy the new toys Arzi, have fun and post pics

[Arzi]

Hi all!

Received my kit today and had a quick mock build. Here are some pics:

Package:



Neck and body:



The neck:



Neck pocket fit:



Scratchplate fit:



The neck pocket / neck needs some fitting whitch will be quite simple sanding process.

The neck on the other hand has some back bow- about 1,5mm when checked with a straight edge. I´ve already loosened the truss rod and this was bit worse at the beginning. Any ideas on how to straighten this?

continued on the next post....

[Arzi]

Continued....

There is that flaming again in the same spot as my first build....



With bridge placed and measured at nut to 12:th x2



MIght have to widen the pickup cavity by 1-2mm to align the poles to the strings:



The control cavity is not totally shaped to the screwholes of the plate:



This tiny bit of lighter wood is a bit annoying but I think it´ll stain dark enough. After all my plan for the color will even out these a bit.



Well these are all I had time for right now.

The next step will be to fit the neck to the pocket then place the bridge. After this it will be aligning and routing for the pickups. After that fitting the preamp to the control cavity and placing the battery box.

Then sanding the whole thing and start planning the routing for the binding. At some point shaping the headstock and finding a way to maybe fit binding there also.
I´ll start this on saturday. Next month I´ll shift to another place for work where I will not have so much time to do this so have to get the carving and sanding done as much as possible this month.

Will post when I get something done.

Arzi

[wokkaboy]

kit looks good Arzi, does this model come with maple fingerboard or was it a special order ? Don't worry too much about the neck back bow yet, wait till you get the strings on and tensioned. The truss rods are dual action so if you keep winding it will reverse the bow of the neck. Don't turn it too much ! Small adjustments mean big movements

[Arzi]

Hi Woks

The maple fingerboard was a custom order. I'm not so concerned about the back bow as I am about not being able to do a good job with the frets when the time comes. If they are dual action - I might try winding it some more. Have to get it straight for the fretjob.

[Fretworn]

Looks like you could almost use that pickup for the neck pickup, and then see if you can get a bridge pickup with better spacing.

Just go easy with trying to fix the back bow. I stuffed up my first neck trying to fix back bow. There are things you can do with heat and weight to help, but one you have four bass strings on the neck tuned up to pitch you may find that the tension helps you straighten out the neck as well.

[Arzi]

Hi Fretworn

As I said before I'm not too worried about the bow since there's no twist on the neck. I might as well build the guitar, string it up, see what happens and then do the fretwork if string tension straightens the neck. Would set my mind at ease if it would straighten before everything else is put together and for the fretwork I still need a straight neck or the result will be crap. Can't do it while the strings are on anyway.

The neck could straighten if I give it some time and careful small truss rod 1/4 turns.

On the string spacing - it might help if I change the bridge saddles. I've ordered ones that are 19mm spacing as these are 20mm. Was my plan to mix chrome and gold a bit so have to see - might come in handy here too.

[Arzi]

HI

So I got some work done yesterday and practiced some of my freehand skills with Dremel and chisel.

Got the neck fitted


Got the neck bolted and Bridge placed


Pickguard tightly fits when bridge is placed correctly


Took away the plastic nut and replaced it with a bone nut


to be continued in the next post...

[Arzi]

Continues...

marked the place for a second humbucker


Drilled and started with the chisel


Voila - cleaned with a dremel


Found a place for the battery box and it was good for it now shares the route with the second pickup´s wires



To be continued...