Questions re GR-1SF

[filthyPierre]

Hey,

Thinking about building a GR-1SF for my first build. Have had plenty of experience fixing and enhancing guitars for myself, family and mates, but never built one from scratch before (kit either). Never had a hollow-body electric before either. I have a few questions, if someone would be so kind as to give me some guidance...

1. How thick/deep is the body? From the photos it looks rather deep, can someone give me a measurement? Couldn't find one in the specs for the kit.

2. The set neck - how difficult is it to get this right? I've only ever worked with bolt-on neck guitars before.

3. What sort of glue do you use? Is it just PVA-style wood glue, or some special super-strength formula?

4. Does the neck have a truss rod? If so, is it already in the neck when you get the kit?

5. How good is the copycat Bigsby trem unit? Is it worth splashing out for a real B70?

6. Installing the pickups, pots, switch etc - I take it this has to be done before installing the neck (for ease of access), and then once the neck is done pray that nothing ever goes wrong with the electrics?

7. Once complete, is it neck heavy? Being hollow body I assume that the neck will pull the guitar down?

8. If I use the Dingotone to stain the body, how careful do I have to be with the binding? i.e. will it stain the binding if I get any on it?

That's it for starters. Sorry for so many questions.

Cheers,

Pete

[Fretworn]

Hi Peter,

I can't answer all these questions but other will chime in as well.

3. the experts here say don't use PVA, but use an aliphatic glue like Titebond original. Pitbull does sell small containers of suitable glue.
4. the neck will have an already installed truss rod.
5. the bigsby copies on Pitbull guitars work fine. I've had no problems with the one on my thinline TL1.
6. I haven't done this but there is a trick to this where the electronics go in through the F-hole. There are details on other builds of semi-hollow guitars on the site.
8. standard wisdom is that if you polish the binding to a very fine grain the stain will have no "tooth" to bind to. If some stain gets of the binding it should then easily polish off.

[pablopepper]

My 2c worth.

1. Standard acoustic guitar depth, I believe.

2. It's as easy as setting up a bolt on, that you can't take off again. Just be thorough with your prep and it will fine.

3. Titebond. Don't stuff around with anything else.

4. Yes. Yes.

5. You can always upgrade at a later time, give the kit version a shot.

6. As Fretty says, it all goes through the f hole.

7. Unknown. Has anyone finished one of these yet?

8. Stain will get onto the binding, but it's really easy to get off. Either with steel wool, or a razor blade.

[filthyPierre]

Thanks for your replies fellas. Will order the kit. Gotta figure out the colour too, so I can order the Dingotone at the same time.

Cheers!

[Zandit75]

My 2c worth.

1. Standard acoustic guitar depth, I believe.

Sorry to be "That Guy" Pablo, but there's no such thing as a standard acoustic!! Even if it is just a Dreadnought, they vary from Brand to Brand.

[wokkaboy]

Hey Pete, I haven't built one of these kits but I would guess the body width would be about 90-100mm. They are much thicker than the ES-1G guitars. I wouldn't think it would be neck heavy, with my ES-1G the body would weigh about the same but it sits pretty neutral on a guitar strap.
I think just about any Dingotone colour will look killer on this axe.
The wiring will be accessable through the F hole and bridge pickup hole so don't worry you will be able to access the wiring if it needs tweaking or upgrading once the neck has been set
Good luck with the build !

[pablopepper]

Sorry to be "That Guy" Pablo, but there's no such thing as a standard acoustic!! Even if it is just a Dreadnought, they vary from Brand to Brand.

No, no, be that guy, you are indeed correct. I should have said average.

[Zandit75]

No, no, be that guy, you are indeed correct. I should have said average.

Haha, I was hoping you wouldn't take the wrong way!
Don't worry, up until about 18mths ago, I didn't realise just how many different variations of Acoustic Guitars there was! It's been a very informative time for me!

[filthyPierre]

Thanks Wokka! I did find some measurements on the "Additional Information" tab next to Description. It says 8 cm. However, the additional information for the ES-1G also says 8 cm, and they're clearly different depths.

I guess it doesn't really matter too much. I just wanted to make sure, with my expanding girth, that I could actually reach the strings! Guess it's a good excuse to lose weight

[Dedman]

Don't laugh , I took up guitar again after nearly 30yrs to give my hands something to do rather than light cigs or shovel food in my mouth ...it worked