Wokka's JBA-4 build diary

[wokkaboy]

G'day, got this kit from Ads about 2 weeks ago and thought I better start a build diary !

Spent quite a while sanding to remove all the machine marks, grain filled with walnut Timbermate and this is after 3 stain coats of DT bushfire sunrise. I am trying to match the colour of the headstock and body. Taking photos at night with a flash doesn't really show the true colour but getting there.

[cade711]

Theres a new trend of Bushfire Basses! Looking excellent Wokka, wish I'd used something to accentuate grain a bit more on my own!

[wokkaboy]

I also glued a flame maple veneer to the headstock. I have Tonerider pups for this so I had to enlarge the mounting screw part of the bridge pup cavity. Did that with a rounded chisel and sanded. I also stained the bridge pup cavity in case any raw timber can be seen in the gaps.

Also had a nice surprise from the posty the 2 band Belcat active system arrived and I thought the PCB board module was going to be bigger but it may fit in the cavity. I'll get a battery box and work out if I can use it or not. Would have preffered to get all the routing done before sanding/staining but I may put the battery under the pickguard.

[wokkaboy]

cheers Cade, it is a popular colour for basses ! Grain filling ash is a must as it's quite a coarse grain and no matter how much sanding you do there will be small pits in the grain. It would have popped the grain a bit more on your basswood JB. Worth doing on your next build !

[cade711]

I definitely will after seeing the difference. Thanks!

[gavinturner]

Colour is looking fantastic Wokka. Did you find that applying the DT dragged some of the Timbermate back out of the grain?

cheers,
Gav.

[wokkaboy]

cheers Gav, it wasn't too bad I don't think much TM was washed out. The first stain coat, I was careful and didn't overwork the rag. Think the trick is to give the timbermate several days to dry before the first stain coat.

@ Cade I usually use the darkest Timbermate ebony but I'd run out so used what I had walnut. Ebony will give maximum grain poppage (if that's a word) haha

[Thigg88]

Looking good wokka. Whats your plan for the 4 pots in the plate? You moving the jack?

[wokkaboy]

Hi Thigg, cheers. Yes if I can fit the battery and PCB module I will be drilling a jack plate on the bottom corner

[wokkaboy]

got more work done todaz in 40 degree heat ! Routed battery cavity and pre-amp cavity and drilled a side jack hole. Here's how it looks. I only manage small scratches with the spade drill near the jack hole but that will be covered by a plate. It all fits inside. Realised since the kit has 3 knobs and the pre-amp has volume, balance, treble and bass so I'm a chrome knob short