Brendans PB-4

[Brendan]

Right-o picked up a P-Bass kit from the swap meet and have started to play around. Still deciding on a colour - but figure I've got a little while before I get there - still have a little ( 8O ) sanding to do and a fretboard that while it looks OK out of the box I'm sure it'll have its own challenges.

First impression - looks easier than I thought it would be - Adam - you might want to update the description - no soldering seems to be required...

Some nice grain, interested to see what the colour I pick brings out in it. Anyway - dark version of the mock build below.

Will keep you up to date.

[Brendan]

One thing - anyone know the radius of the PB-4 neck? I spoke to DB he thought it was 12" and am planning on buying a sanding block for that radius but would hate to end up with an extra... Not that I'm doubting DB, but if someone has worked it out, 'twould be appreciated.

[dingobass]

Hi Brendan.

Broke out my trusty radius gauges and yep, the radius is 12"

[WeirdBits]

If you aren't sure and don't have radius gauges, you could try making a couple of rudimentary ones yourself.

With a good ruler with a hole in one end, or a piece of wood with a hole in one end and then holes at (exactly) 10, 12, 14 and 16 inches from the end hole (think small nail holes), mark/scribe 10, 12 and 14 etc. inch arcs onto different parts of something like an icecream container lid (soft but stiff plastic), then carefully cut them out (write which is which on the plastic). If you do it accurately enough you should be able to test the neck with them and see which radius matches.

Just an idea.

[Gavin1393]

Hi Scott

You explanation intrigues me. I'm shocking at conceptializing engineering topics. If what you describe works I'd say it would be of benefit to a number of folk on the forum. Any chance you could do a thread tutorial on making the radius guages up?


Gav

[Gavin1393]

Hey Brenden!

Nice to see you have the build thread up already. I think all the Pitbull guitars are 12". Adam may correct this but certainly all the ones I have worked on are....9 or so I think!

If it has good grain, stick with a 'woody' type colour. DB's Ibanez 5 string is just bloody gorgeous. I think he used Dark Tease on that. Something like that would be awesome?

Gav

[Brendan]

Sweet - thanks guys - was about to break out the google and see if I could find a printable like below just to confirm DB from this arvo, but now he's confirmed I'm good to go!

http://www.pickguardian.com/pickguar...s%20Gauges.pdf


Many thanks.

[Brendan]

Following dmac's plan (http://pitbullguitars.com/?page_id=4...viewtopic&t=18) I have started to try to true the neck of my bass. Downside is - nothing that I can use to centre it - cavity is off centre (not an issue as its covered by pickguard - and there's some woof with the pickguard moving around, so the pickups in the guard are not an option).
So...
1. Took the neck holes (assuming that they are the best thing I have to centre the body).
2. Found the centreline for those holes.
3. Extended the centreline to the top of the guitar.
4. Took that out to somewhere near the cavity (give myself some length to work with).
5. Marked out 2 points 50mm from centre that are the same distance from the front.
6. Double checked lines and measurements.

We'll see how it all works tomorrow when I can get some string out to confirm.

As for colour - leaning towards a Dark Amber. Was saving the Dark Tease for my own IB-5 build in a couple of months...

Saw some more photos of the Strat that they did in Dark Amber ( http://www.wudtone.com/2009/10/31/50s-earth-mofo/) and it looks the business.

[WeirdBits]

Quote from Gavin1393 on May 5, 2013, 22:32
Any chance you could do a thread tutorial on making the radius guages up?

Ask and ye shall receive.

[dingobass]

Hi Brendan,

I would not trust the bolt holes to be an accurate point to line the neck up...

The easiest way to do this is to clamp the neck in, grab the E and G strings, slide them through their respective bridge holes.

Then find the scale length and position the bridge. I use a length of timber and two clamps to lightly hold it in place.

Next I drop the scratch plate and pups in.

Clamp the strings to the headstock and you will have a guide to getting the bridge, neck and pups in the correct alignment.

If I can find a spare 10 minutes tomorrow I will do a mock up on the PB kit I have here and post some pics.