Building a BC-1 guitar for my son

[Barno]

Hi everyone! I'm making a Bc-1 kit for my son- I got it for him for Xmas some years ago, it was supposed to be a father-and-son project, he got distracted and forgot about it - so I thought I'd make it for his 21st birthday!!

I have a few questions, so if it anyone has been through similar and can help with their opinion I'd appreciate that - it will save me messing it up!!

thanks
Barney

[Barno]

The first question is fitting the neck to the body. I've carefully sanded the body to allow the neck to fit in. It seems to fit in quite well now, but it doesn't sit flat (photo shows it better). Is the actual neck supposed to be a couple of mm above the guitar body>?

You can see the bottom of the neck is fitting into the body quite well, but the top with the frets seems quite a way above the body?

[Trevor Davies]

The first question is fitting the neck to the body. I've carefully sanded the body to allow the neck to fit in. It seems to fit in quite well now, but it doesn't sit flat (photo shows it better). Is the actual neck supposed to be a couple of mm above the guitar body>?

You can see the bottom of the neck is fitting into the body quite well, but the top with the frets seems quite a way above the body?

That looks right! The fretboard and the pickups will sit above the body. The neck also sits at an angle of about 4 degrees down from the body!

Have a look at picture 5 of my MBM-1 pictures at: https://www.buildyourownguitar.com.au/forum/showthread.php?
t=12509&p=227787&viewfull=1#post227787

It is the same.

[Barno]

Oh good! Thanks Trevor.
I was mindful of just keeping on sanding - better to check before taking more off, it's a bit tricky I'd imagine to glue the sawdust back once I'd sanded it!! haha

I'll post my next question

[Barno]

p.s. you've done a great job of the finish on that guitar 👍

[Barno]

Here's question number 2...

Page 9 of the Assembly guide says: "Don't press in the threaded inserts yet. Instead
wrap either multiple layers of masking tape or
some plastic tubing around the posts and push
them into the post holes in the body"

Mine barely go 1/2 way into the holes (I've attached a pic). If I added tape as they suggest, I wouldn't even get it started in the hole. I have got a tiny sanding bit for my Dremel, but again thought I ask / check before leaping into sanding mode!

I've attached 2 pix, one shows the inserts in to the point I can't push them in any further - they're only about 1/2 way in.

[Trevor Davies]

There are two parts to these, the insert (or bushing) and the screw-in post. (Other names are the anchor and post!) Unscrew the posts from the bushings, then put the masking tape around the threaded parts of the posts until it is just smaller than the diameter of the bushing.

The inserts are a very tight fit as friction holds them in place. They will go in after the body has the finish on.

[Barno]

Ah!! That makes perfect sense now, thanks Trevor
I'll give that a go tomorrow night when home from work.

Great stuff.

[Barno]

Hi Trevor and everyone
I took another look at the guitar today, working through pages 10-12 in the manual. I clamped (carefully) the neck to the body, added the taped-up end chrome piece. Then, added the two E strings.

The good news is they run nice and parallel along the neck. However, they seem to be touching near where the neck joins the body. I'm not sure if this is going to require a bit of sanding to lower the neck just a little more. Happy to do that - I'm mindful of course of taking wood off unnecessarily, as once it's off....

I've attached two photos which kind of show the situation. Any thoughts? (and thanks)

Barney

[Trevor Davies]

I think that should be fine! When the bushings are in, they will raise the posts and the bridge by a few mm, plus, the screw inserts can be raised (not screwed in so far) to raise the bridge and strings further. You can see this on picture 4 of my MBM-1 build at https://www.buildyourownguitar.com.a...l=1#post227787.

Having a screw on neck, also means that adjustments can be made later if needed.

It is when you do the mock-up and the strings are too high that it becomes an issue!

I hope this helps!