abutton

[kimball492]

Almost a Nike Tick Jeez that's so annoying .Can it be be sanded Alan .if not just tell people it used to be Keef Richards Guitar he burns his all the time

[abutton]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for putting a positive spin on my stuff up

Dave - that burn must have really hurt - it was bad enough just burning my fingers

Hey kimball that guitar is wild - I love the woodgrain!

And I agree - just put it down to experience - definitely a talking point - and one day maybe I will even laugh about it .... aggghh!

Does anybody know if I have to earth the dual humbuckers to the bridge post - it didn't say to do so in the video and then I found a video that deals just with earthing dual humbuckers???....

I have installed the tuners, pick guard and control panel cover - I hope the offset of the tuners is correct - I just wanted to screw everything in to get it as complete looking as possible

Have attached some updated photos

Cheers,

Alan

[abutton]

Hi Guys,

Another issue - I just received the bone nut but it doesn't seem to have any real slots for the strings.

It only has a very minor slot at the tip of the nut but I don't think the strings would even fit or locate into them.

There is no real groove like the other nuts on my guitars?? see pics

Do you have to grind the slots in yourself - how?

Also the slots aren't more wider spaced than the current plastic one so I don't see how the nut is going to fix the strings being too far inside the edge of the neck

Sorry a heap of questions - if someone can advise I would really appreciate it - want to get some strings on it so I can see if it is going to intonate

Still don't know if I need to earth the humbuckers to the bridge post?

Thanks in advance,

Alan

[wokkaboy]

hey Alan,
the build coming along on the home stretch now, looking good. The earth wire from each humbucker will be soldered to the back of one of the pots, usually a volume pot. The earth wire from the bridge will also be soldered to the same pot. Looks like you have copper shielding in the control cavity so you won't need to earth each pot.
With the bone nut you need nut files. The shallow slots are for locating the slots. A set costs about $90+ but last a lifetime. Best thing I'd do is put the plastic nut back on and string it up once the wiring is sorted. At least you will be able to play it and I'd intonate it once you sort out a bone nut. If you don't want to spend much buy a pre-slotted bone nut on ebay.
Another option is to get some old guitar strings and use E A D strings like dental floss and create a slot in the nut placed in a vice. With the G B E strings you may be able to deepend them with a very thin saw but you risk ruining this nut.
Are there any other forumites close to you that may have a set of nut files ?

[dingobass]

Whoa! Looks like the b slot is a bit funky... I think I know what happened there.
I must have accidentally packed a dud in the last batch, usually I check them all before I send them to PBG HQ but that one slipped past.... My bad, I cut twenty nuts that day and was bozeyed at the end of it. The joys of age and dodgy eyes.
Note to self, get your eyes checked, DB..

The slots do look wider as these are compensated slots, which means the slots on the E A & D are slightly wider spaced to compesate for the string width..
Flick me an email at dingobass@pitbullguitars.com with your address, and for good measure let me know the width of your neck and I will cut you a new one on the house...

[abutton]

Thanks heaps Wokka and dingobass

I didnt realise that the bone nut needed the slots filed into them - probably a bit exy at this stage to purchase the file set

I thought the slots themselves looked O.K. - you're probably being a bit hard on yourself dingobass - it is more that I didn't know that the nut didn't come with the slots - that is me just not knowing what I don't know.

All good learning though - I will send you an email anyway - not sure if I can pay extra and get the slots put in?

I have already installed the bridge and saddle - is it O.K. just to pull the post out and insert the earth wire or should I glue it back in?

I think it is a tapered/slotted fit so I am worried it wont hold if I pull it out and just put it back in?

Not sure whether I was supposed to glue them in originally now that I think about it?

If I use the plastic nut for now will it play in tune if it is not intonated?


Sorry, so many questions but really keen to finish it off - even with all the stuff ups I am extremely happy with how it has come up

Thanks again,

Alan

[wokkaboy]

Hey Alan,
if you have banged in the bridge post bushes all the way they will be hard to remove. They are tapered and you won't need glue. Here's a cool method to remove the bush without damaging the finish and damaging the bridge post. Note I'm pretty sure its the treble side tailpiece bush that has the hole for the earth wire to the cavity, have a look where the hole is in the control cavity and line up which post bush you have to remove.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1ppKxEIF1M

when you put the bush back in, make sure the earth wire has plenty of bare wire making contact with the bush and tap it back in place. Do not use glue, trust me they aren't going to come out.

Sure you can intonate the guitar with the plastic nut, you may have to intonate it again with the bone nut when it arrives as a difference in the height of the string slot will affect intonation.

With a new neck and new strings the neck needs to be played in a bit before it will hold tune. A good exercise is to stretch the strings once you have wound them on the tuner posts.

Best of luck, hope you can get it playing soon !

[abutton]

Thank you Wokkaboy - you are a God send!

I have viewed the video and it seems straight forward enough

I think the hole went to the bottom saddle post but I will check the way you suggested

Before I do it - when I completed the electrics I checked if the humbuckers worked by touching it with a screwdriver thru the amp and checked that the corresponding humbucker worked to the 3 way switch setting and it all worked perfectly - does this mean I still have to earth it to the bridge?

Is there anything I should do with the height of the humbuckers - I havent touched the adjustment - or is this part of the intonation process?

To wind the strings onto the tuners I guess you just stick the string thru the hole and leave enough string for 3 - 4 turns and then tighten it to tune it

Thanks again Wokkaboy - you must want me to complete this as much as me just to give you a break from me! - ha!

Cheers,

Alan

[wokkaboy]

hey Alan, no problem I am happy to answer your questions as I've made plenty of mistakes not knowing correct procedures.

Yes you still have run an earth wire from bridge to the common earthing point - usually back of a volume pot. Without the bridge earth wire you will get an ugly hum from the pickups.
Once you have set the bridge height, depending on how high/low you want the string action and nut slot heights are set the pickups are generally set about 2-4mm below the strings. Make sure you fret the strings to 22nd fret to check the strings don't touch the pickup pole screws.
I'd buy a string winder are only a few bucks from a music store. Saves getting sore wrists turning the tuners by hand. Generally get at least 2 turns of the string around the tuner peg.
Expect it to go out of tune a bit when strings are new and the neck hasn't been played in. Also helps to stretch the strings so they are tightly wound around the tuner pegs.
Good luck

[ihasmario]

The headstock and the eyes/mouth are great. Good job