FrankenWashie's Second PBG Build, SV-1

[Zandit75]

I like the kit, but not a fan of the standard fretboard that comes with it. I'd pick #4

[FrankenWashie]

I like the kit, but not a fan of the standard fretboard that comes with it. I'd pick #4

Yes, me either, the exercise is likely to be a complete Fingerboard strip, then a fitting, an inlay and a slotting and fretting of the ebony I think.

[Zandit75]

Yes, me either, the exercise is likely to be a complete Fingerboard strip, then a fitting, an inlay and a slotting and fretting of the ebony I think.

What colour hardware are you using? Gold frets would awesome with gold fittings.

[FrankenWashie]

What colour hardware are you using? Gold frets would awesome with gold fittings.

I'm going to use the kit hardware, which is all black, for the build and potentially upgrade later. I want to just progress this to paint with a minimum of fuss.

[Zandit75]

I'm going to use the kit hardware, which is all black, for the build and potentially upgrade later. I want to just progress this to paint with a minimum of fuss.

Fair enough, gold frets would still look schmick on an all black guitar!

[FrankenWashie]

Fair enough, gold frets would still look schmick on an all black guitar!

Heh heh, yeah it would wouldn't it? I remember discussing an all black LP with Black binding and black frets and inlays with Dedman some time back. I guess the only problem would be wear on the frets exposing the silver underneath from when you bend.

[Zandit75]

Heh heh, yeah it would wouldn't it? I remember discussing an all black LP with Black binding and black frets and inlays with Dedman some time back. I guess the only problem would be wear on the frets exposing the silver underneath from when you bend.

Unfortunately, yes, they would wear pretty quickly. Black MOP would look really nice too.
I like the idea of a black chrome Trombone too, but there is only a cheap and nasty one available on ebay.

[FrankenWashie]

So I'm sanding away and as I've done the back I have noticed this little deviation in the line of the cut, admittedly its not hugely significant but to my eye it just looks wrong. This is better highlighted below, where i have run a pencil across it and roughed in a smoother line where I think it should run.

I got to work with trusty mr. shinto and took the cut out to the line I had roughed in.

Then it was back to sanding, the handle cut is quite interesting to try and get the machine marks out of, I now have a collection of round sanding cauls from about 8mm on up to 22mm as a result.
With the body sanded to an even 220 grit all over i decided it was time to do a mock build and see how everything sits.


Happy to report that the neck fits well, but needed to be guided slightly to the treble side to get a nice gap, string to edge both sides. the only criticism i have of this kit is that the holes for the rear two mounting screws are set quite far back, which has created a potential split issue, but other than that it is all pretty nice (florid fretboard aside).

SO the body is about to get hit with 320 and then I shall undercoat while I try and decide what colour to paint it. The neck is going to get some reshaping, mainly just bringing the heel closer to the body join and thinning down the neck. Then that will get a thorough sanding as well.

[DrNomis_44]

So I'm sanding away and as I've done the back I have noticed this little deviation in the line of the cut, admittedly its not hugely significant but to my eye it just looks wrong. This is better highlighted below, where i have run a pencil across it and roughed in a smoother line where I think it should run.

I got to work with trusty mr. shinto and took the cut out to the line I had roughed in.

Then it was back to sanding, the handle cut is quite interesting to try and get the machine marks out of, I now have a collection of round sanding cauls from about 8mm on up to 22mm as a result.
With the body sanded to an even 220 grit all over i decided it was time to do a mock build and see how everything sits.


Happy to report that the neck fits well, but needed to be guided slightly to the treble side to get a nice gap, string to edge both sides. the only criticism i have of this kit is that the holes for the rear two mounting screws are set quite far back, which has created a potential split issue, but other than that it is all pretty nice (florid fretboard aside).

SO the body is about to get hit with 320 and then I shall undercoat while I try and decide what colour to paint it. The neck is going to get some reshaping, mainly just bringing the heel closer to the body join and thinning down the neck. Then that will get a thorough sanding as well.

The other way to sand the insides of the monkey grip is to take a piece of the sand paper and roll it up so you can poke it through the gap in the wood.

[FrankenWashie]

The other way to sand the insides of the monkey grip is to take a piece of the sand paper and roll it up so you can poke it through the gap in the wood.

Yeah Doc, I started that way but its kind of hard to get consistent contact, thats why I made up the sanding cauls, they're just various bits of different gauge dowel I had lying around. They did the trick.