Maddog's 2nd build: PBH-4 "Bass Overkill"

[Maddogm]

So the hardware list is:
Babicz FCH bridge
EMG PX and MMTW pickups with BQC system EQ
Gotoh GB-640B tuners and other assorted black hardware
Bone nut by DB

for the EQ system I think I might need to expand the control cavity so I tried to mount it to the pickguard to check and discovered the pots have thicker poles so don't fit

another issue with the pickguard is it has a cutout for the truss rod which I feel shouldn't be there:

[lawry]

This should be a really sweet axe, man. I've got EMG pickups in two of my basses and they sound fantastic, so I reckon you'll be pretty happy with them. Looking forward to seeing how this progresses.
Cheers

[Maddogm]

love the texture on the back:


A couple of marks on the sides which will need some attention:



There are also a few spots on the headstock like this:

[Fretworn]

A couple of marks on the sides which will need some attention:

Wow. I wonder if this is a plug, or just the tiniest sliver of the next piece of work from the multi piece slab they cut these from.

[Maddogm]

So I'm going to need to enlarge the pot holes on the pickguard, are there any tips/gotchas I should look out for?
Current thinking is just drill through with a slightly larger drill bit until it fits

[keloooe]

Go slow, make sure your bit is straight, try putting some wood underneath to not damage the guard. That's my advice!
Also I think the truss rod adjusts from the heel end, take a look at the heel and if there is a hole in the neck just under the fretboard, that is where it is adjusted from.

[Maddogm]

Go slow, make sure your bit is straight, try putting some wood underneath to not damage the guard. That's my advice!
Also I think the truss rod adjusts from the heel end, take a look at the heel and if there is a hole in the neck just under the fretboard, that is where it is adjusted from.

Yeah, I just don't like the notch in the pickguard, though from looking around it's not uncommon

Turns out EMG are messing with me, expanded out the pot holes to 8mm (my largest bit), only to discover 2 of the 4 pots are 9mm (or probably imperial equivalent)

[stan]

hey maddog, go to your favourite seller of tools and get an inexpensive set of spade bits. they usually range from 10-25mm. as long as they are straight, cheapies will be fine for timbers like pine and basswood, etc, and a way quicker and nicer way to open out holes

[Maddogm]

ok, so I've got the pots fitted into the pickguard and I am going to have to modify the cavity if I want to install them in the order I want.
The catch being I'd probably need to modify if to the point that I wouldn't be able to screw it down and therefore would need a custom pickguard.




yeah, I know I'll have to re-run the wires

Btw. the order I was planning on is (from closest to the strings to furthest):
Master volume (push-pull pot: when pulled switches the humbucker to single coil)
Balance
Stacked pot- mid range eq
Stacked pot- bass/treble

the catch is the stacked pots with their attached electronics take up the most room but I want to put them in the thinnest part of the cavity.

Do I modify the cavity or am I better off reversing the order? (yes I might be thinking out loud here)

[dingobass]

Not a lot of wiggle room there.....

I am sure that Pablpepper could make you a kick butt custom scratch plate, then you could go mental and rout the cavity to fit it all in.