3rd build: AIB-1Q

[Andyxlh]

At least you can play it! Can I suggest some push-back cotton-covered cable for the wiring? PB have it in their shop. It's way nicer than the plastic stuff, and doesn't make a bubbly melty mess if you get a bit much heat into it. If you are using the stock pots now you could solder up a new set of electrics using better Bournes or other pots from PB and then transfer it across when you are ready
Also, the old-school poisonous lead based solder seems to work a whole let better than the tin based stuff too, and tinning the metal is a good idea

[blinddrew]

Looking nice!

[Simon Barden]

I see you've broken the trem arm off it already.

Looking great.

Now, just get it working!

[dozymuppet]

Stick a pin in it. It's done.

Plenty of stories to tell with this one, but it's done, and it plays like a beast.













Relieved to have something out of the workshop for the first time in what must be at least six months.

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[ross.pearson]

Man, that is beautiful.

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[Rabbit]

Looking awesome! That top is pretty stunning. The finish realy brings out the depth of the grain.

[dozymuppet]

Final notes:

Definitely a few faults with the kit, particularly with the control cavity and the barrel jack, and dealing with the switch height. I had to make some mods to account for both of those, but I didn't realise this until deep into the project, after I'd already put a pretty finish down. It was solvable, but inelegant. If I'd taken the time to discover that when I got the kit, I would have considered sending it back.

Hardware upgrades:
- Grover locking tuners
- Graphtech nut
- Entwistle Dark Star pickups
- Guyker (Hipshot knock-off) bridge
- Realtone flat knobs

Body finish:
- U Beaut water-based dye
- Home brew glass poly

Neck finish:
- Tru-oil
- Home brew statin poly

Headstock finish:
- SCA gloss black spray (over the top of 5 different attempts)

Body mods:
- Extended control cavity
- Custom cavity cover (SCA spray over 5mm maple, recessed 3mm to deal with the switch height)

I'm going to replace the angled mounting rings with some flat black metal ones, because the bridge pickup in particular is too close to the strings without looking a bit weird.

I'll probably also replace the Guyker bridge with a real Hipshot at some point, because the quality is a bit iffy (but not too much of an issue at the moment).

[m0j0]

That is a delicious looking specimen. Top marks.

[blinddrew]

Good work there fella!

[McCreed]

Very nice, and a great advertisement for what the potential of that kit is.

Ever since you posted photos of that blue top, I've eyeballed the kit in the PBG Shop more than once! Good on ya!