Marcel's RCM-4F (PBG build #3)

[Marcel]

Delivery day from Aussie Post.

One very nice RCM-4F Mahogany body with Flame Maple top and lots of pretty binding. The Maple neck feels real nice.

I was promised a JB bridge PU but as I could not find it in the kit I presume Adam didn't have a spare one floating around the PBG HQ warehouse... never mind, gives me an excuse (like I need one) to visit a few online music shops to find something suitable.

Not sure on what I am going to do with the Mahogany, but I'm giving serious consideration to a light Purple shaded burst to the flame top.

The only other thing I need now is the time to build it... so annoying when like gets in the way of interests...

[FrankenWashie]

The plan sounds great Marcel and that kit looks schmick to boot.

Ah yes, Life and work tend to get in the way of everything at the moment.

[wazkelly]

Hi Marcel, I have a set of stock Chinese J Bass PUP's that came out of my Red J Bass that you could have for free.

That top almost looks good enough to do your own take on a Mapleglo.

[Marcel]

The plan FW has more or less been there since Adam first offered the kit.

I liked what others have done with natural Mahogany under Tru-oil, and the FW Japan Brown also strikes a chord with me... The decision on which way to go on that really depends on how the Purple burst turns out. I'm envisioning a pale centre out to a near dark rim transition all in the same hue of a Regal Purple under a high gloss poly coat, which when combined with the chrome hardware should make the double binding on the body totally pop ... What I end up with remains to be seen...

The flame on the Maple top is quite well book matched, and is quite even and visible without damping down. Haven't checked centring yet. And I probably should listen to advice from forum members over which tone of timbermate is best to use on the Maple. Sadly I'm one of the worst offenders for seeing other peoples wins and mistakes when dealing with Maple tops and then promptly going off and creating my own set of new (but not unique) problems...lol

[Marcel]

What would life be if there were nil disappointments...

Did a mock build... put the neck in place, located the pick guard, place the bridge... got some 0.5mm copper wire to be pretend strings to get a pair of visual lines to check general line up and centring....

Hmmmm.... the cut line of the Maple doesn't line up with the neck centre line, nor does it go through the middle of the bridge PU route... Buggar!!.., and the flame on the Maple looks so good...Double Buggar !!!...

Yep, DB had routed the bridge PU hole in the right spot, but the Maple break line is angled and is almost 1cm below the neck line at the the bridge PU..... Buggar.!!!..

Gunna have to get seriously creative with the stain work to cover that....

[Simon Barden]

A shame, Marcel. Unfortunately it's a common problem with the PBG kit veneers. Adam is aware of it but there's only so much he can do to get the factory to improve.

[Simon Barden]

The body blanks are generally joined at an angle relative to the centre line, and I suspect some of the workers follow those lines rather than the guitar centreline.

[Marcel]

Yeah Simon, I know I can't blame Adam... it is one of those disappointments though, particularly as the flame in the maple is very nicely done ...

I was thinking a opaque Black stain streak about 2cm wide that is actually on the centre line might hide it if I do it right, Get it to widen under the bridge as it nears the body edge and then take it all around the bound edge. Turn it into two half bursts kinda thing. Might have to play with some pine flat board to get the technique right first before doing it on the build. It will loose the book matching aspect but that way it will at least keep most of the flame...

[Marcel]

Some photos of the 'disappointment'... plus one of distancing the bridge...

It doesn't look as bad in the photos as it does in the flesh....

[Marcel]

I might take you up on the offer there Waz... I'll be on the coast this weekend... I'll PM you..