My FVB-4 Bass build

[Hutchi86]

Hi All

This is my first Pit Bull kit (but not my first kit build). Ordered the kit in July 2019 but it was on back-order so I have had to wait until now for it to be delivered. On first inspection it looks like it was worth waiting for.

Body and neck both seem pretty good. I have had to drill a hole from the body cavity to the input jack hole since that wasn't there. I have also had to widen the channel for the pup wires through to the body cavity as the bridge pup didn't sit properly when I did the trial assembly. Neck is not as tight in the pocket as I would like but I can soon shim that.

Started work on the neck today. It had a pretty big back bow so a bit of truss rod adjustment needed to get it flat. Then I levelled the frets, and crowned and polished them. Then cleaned everything up and finished with a little fretboard oil to make it all look nice. Very pleased with the results.



Current plan is for a black metallic finish. Also looking to fit a pick guard if I can design a shape I like. Not sure whether to change the pups at this stage - I might just see how the ones supplied sound first.

[wazkelly]

G'day Hutchi86.

Didn't realise the tuning pegs were not symmetrical on these?

Mirror or polished alloy scratch plate on black would pretty cool. Suggest trying the standard kit PUP's before upgrading as the specs suggest they should be OK. Might need to make sure they are not buried too deep into the body as that can quite often be a reason for low output and the supplied springs are mostly pretty useless. Some high density foam wedged underneath usually helps to sort things out.

Cheers, Waz.

[Simon Barden]

The PBG web photos show non-staggered tuners, but I'd imaging that staggered ones will help with the tuner fitment on the A and D strings as the tuners will be very close together.

[Hutchi86]

Hi Waz -yeah the tuners look pretty neat being staggered. Quite like the suggestion of a mirror scratch plate - will have to look into that. I had thought I might need to get some foam under the PUPs so your comment confirms that for me - thanks.

Thanks for the thoughts on the supplied PUPs - will give them a go and hopefully save a few pennies.

Hutchi86

[Hutchi86]

Hi Simon - yeah, would all be a bit crowded if they weren't staggered.

[wazkelly]

Hi Waz -yeah the tuners look pretty neat being staggered. Quite like the suggestion of a mirror scratch plate - will have to look into that. I had thought I might need to get some foam under the PUPs so your comment confirms that for me - thanks.

Thanks for the thoughts on the supplied PUPs - will give them a go and hopefully save a few pennies.

Hutchi86

Back in the 80's I had an Ibanez Explorer that I refinished in Black and had an actual glass mirror cut for the triangular pick guard which ended up about 4-5mm thick. Looked great and I had tons of fun reflecting the light show back into the crowd.