A TB-4 Build whilst a BG-46 dries.

[andrewdosborne]

It's the same for the 2x control knob holes on my ES-5V. Maybe this is to avoid copyright issues?

Good looking kit btw. I was actually watching this vid last night

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PF5uWbwJ_s8

[ozzbike]

It's the same for the 2x control knob holes on my ES-5V. Maybe this is to avoid copyright issues?

Good looking kit btw. I was actually watching this vid last night

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PF5uWbwJ_s8

That is a great clip....I have had it tagged as a favourite for some time now...and honestly it was the final straw in my decision making process to buy and build this kit.

I have heard two issues with T Birds mainly:-

1. The three point bridge pulls out at the back from string pressure....thinking about using epoxy resin to hold mine in. (I have actually been thinking about only doing the epoxy on the two bridge mounting bushings that do not carry the ground wire. Just to TRY to ensure a good earth connection. As the song says two out of three ain't bad. )

2. The guitar itself is very headstock heavy and can droop forwards...to the point that some people are unable to play it as they find they must hold it up all the time...even with a strap.

https://www.lysator.liu.se/~wizkid/m...underbird_mod/

I am thinking about doing this fix....but using black strap locks or strap buttons....see how they look at that time.

[ozzbike]

I reckon that "POSTAGE" will end up being a large cost on this build. I think a note for future reference is to order as much as I need from PBG to come with the kit at the time of that purchase....and then WAIT.

I have just made my third order with Real Parts. A black electro-socket recessed american thread jack socket and four x black metric spline fitting black numbered bell knobs. So that is 3 x $7-90 in postage I have paid....fondler of the man sausage right here.

Oh well she will look better and play and be better for it.

I got some black schaller strap lock buttons and locks coming from a previous supplier in the land of rice for $9-99...3 x sets of 2 for that including POSTAGE. Grrrrrrrr.

[ozzbike]

This place only gets better and better. P.M. to PabloPepper this morning......Truss Rod cover made and in the mail.

Thanks Pabs.

[ozzbike]

I have just put her away for the weekend. I sanded through 80, 120, and 180 grit. I found some really nice grain on the neck and on the back of the body. The neck has segment of flame on the bottom edge up near the headstock. The body has flame and areas of quilt on the back....wow....can't wait to stain and Tru Oil this body.

The top with the square edged carved into it is really hard to sand and not tear out or round over.

May have to hands on research this a little....thinking a slight round over may be the best outcome.

I have to say the this is by far the best quality PBG kit I have ever had. The step up for me is a huge selling point. Thinking about looking at some of the tricky ones I have dodged whilst watching others tribulations.

Bravo PBG....Bravo little Chinese guitar making dudes. I like your work a lot.

[wokkaboy]

wow good news update Ozz, glad you are happy with the kit. Haven't seen one of these built yet so following the thread. I'd round over that slightly higher edge on the top. Should look choice and Bravo to Pabs for such a quick turn around for the TRC !

[Simon Barden]

Whatever you do, don't fit the treble bleed kits. If you keep it passive, then if you turn one pickup volume right down - say to get only the neck or bridge pickup, then you'll basically get silence as the bleed kit passes all but the very lowest frequencies to ground. Waz had that problem on a Jazz bass. The bleed kits only really work well on guitars/basses with a master volume control, such as a Strat or Tele.

If you've already got Schaller strap locks on your other guitars, I'd be wary of cheap copies. Fine if you only ever use the copies, but I bought some post-only copies (as I've already got loads of straps with Schaller strap-locks on) and the posts were slightly larger than a standard Schaller, meaning that the straps wouldn't fit on them and I had to buy more real Schaller items.

As Waz says, you don't need active pickups to fit an active pre-amp (and many basses with active pres have passive pickups). Of course with the Belcat pre-amp you'll need to drill another pot hole, if there's space to do so, plus find room for the pre-amp block and the battery. Looks like you've got it, and there's enough spare wood under the backplate to easily enlarge the cavity if necessary. It will give you a master volume, pan pot, plus treble + bass controls (so you could fit a treble bleed to the volume pot if you wanted).

[ozzbike]

Whatever you do, don't fit the treble bleed kits. If you keep it passive, then if you turn one pickup volume right down - say to get only the neck or bridge pickup, then you'll basically get silence as the bleed kit passes all but the very lowest frequencies to ground. Waz had that problem on a Jazz bass. The bleed kits only really work well on guitars/basses with a master volume control, such as a Strat or Tele.

If you've already got Schaller strap locks on your other guitars, I'd be wary of cheap copies. Fine if you only ever use the copies, but I bought some post-only copies (as I've already got loads of straps with Schaller strap-locks on) and the posts were slightly larger than a standard Schaller, meaning that the straps wouldn't fit on them and I had to buy more real Schaller items.

As Waz says, you don't need active pickups to fit an active pre-amp (and many basses with active pres have passive pickups). Of course with the Belcat pre-amp you'll need to drill another pot hole, if there's space to do so, plus find room for the pre-amp block and the battery. Looks like you've got it, and there's enough spare wood under the backplate to easily enlarge the cavity if necessary. It will give you a master volume, pan pot, plus treble + bass controls (so you could fit a treble bleed to the volume pot if you wanted).

Simon,

I have a PBH Bass with treble bleed circuits on both volumes (I think).....PB and humbucker. I have two other PB only Basses with bleed circuits on the single volume pots. I have a PBJ bass with bleed circuits on both volumes.....PB and J pickups.

None of them give me any issues. Maybe I wired them wrong.....but they all work fine. I basically have treble bleed circuits on nearly everything.....the BG-46 is a no no....advised of this by weirdy.

Job for tomorrow for me....open the control cavities on my basses with multiple pickups and no selector switch or master volume....and see what I have. You have made me curious.

[wazkelly]

Or to stick with 3 controls just skip wiring up the blend pot and tape it up to stop it rattling around inside the control cavity.

[Simon Barden]

Or to stick with 3 controls just skip wiring up the blend pot and tape it up to stop it rattling around inside the control cavity.

But he's got two pickups and no selector switch. So either needs a blend pot or a switch. Either way, an extra hole would be required.