EX-5 Build Diary - My First Build Bridge Pilot Hole Question

[MusicStudent1]

It has taken me FOREVER to begin, but I am happy to finally start! Happy weekend!

[Andyxlh]

I like it... looks to me as if you are doing a job which requires a mask inside the house. Presumably you aren't married.
Or you are very, very brave.

[MusicStudent1]

I like it... looks to me as if you are doing a job which requires a mask inside the house. Presumably you aren't married.
Or you are very, very brave.

Ha ha! I must be very brave because my wife is the one who took the photos! She is a good sport. I wear the mask because the sawdust really gets to me. I’m working on the project in the garage.

I just finished about an hour sanding the neck and body with 150 grit. Then I went another hour with the 220 grit. I plan to dampen the wood as recommended tomorrow and keep at it with the 220, then 320. I am surprised at how soft the wood is. After all that sanding, I don’t really notice much of a difference. There aren’t many dings or machine marks any more but the paper is sure scratching the wood even at 220 grit. I am block sanding and going around all the edges without the block.

This reminds me of building pinewood derby cars with my son when he was in Cub Scouts! Good times! (He is 21 now.)




Then, it’s onto Grain Filler!!


Then, more sanding, then more grain filler, etc. etc.

Actually, this is fun. I’m having a good time so far.

[Kick]

Another EX1! Have fun man

[cork sniffer]

This photo made me LOL.
Not laughing at you MusicStudent1, laughing at myself.
I mow the lawn without shoes, don't own any eye, hearing or lung protection. After I got a welding flash I did start using a welding mask. Now in my twilight years I may change my name from Cork Sniffer to Di*k Head :-)

[wazkelly]

I can relate to that. Qualified with a Cert IV in OHS and usually whipper snip & mow the lawn wearing Qld Safety Boots (thongs). Wear glasses so that will do for safety goggles, and pop some earbuds in the ears to hear iPod above noise made by the mower. No good on the whipper snipper as it's db level is off the dial and iPod volume control can't beat it. Not a fan of dust masks as they tend to fog up my glasses so I do all the messy stuff outdoors and try not to breathe in any dust or fumes. That pretty well sums up my PPE checklist!

[MusicStudent1]

The parts have been sanded and sanded to the point where I think it’s enough. If anything, I bet I overdid it. I made this “Drying Area” today. It’s not really a spray booth. I’m going to do all spraying outside and the neck and body will just hang to dry in the garage in this little tent I made.

You guys may laugh but I mainly made it to practice drilling pilot holes with my hand drill for the neck and bridge. I haven’t used the hand drill in years and used wood screws to fasten it together after drilling pilot holes.



This will be tested this evening when the parts are coated with grain filler and hung there to dry.

You know, by the time I get the hang of this, the project will be over. I should build another kit right after this since I’ll know what I’m doing a little more by then (I hope). Maybe an EX guitar kit to match the bass....Hmmm.

[wazkelly]

The parts have been sanded and sanded to the point where I think it’s enough. If anything, I bet I overdid it. I made this “Drying Area” today. It’s not really a spray booth. I’m going to do all spraying outside and the neck and body will just hang to dry in the garage in this little tent I made.

You guys may laugh but I mainly made it to practice drilling pilot holes with my hand drill for the neck and bridge. I haven’t used the hand drill in years and used wood screws to fasten it together after drilling pilot holes.



This will be tested this evening when the parts are coated with grain filler and hung there to dry.

You know, by the time I get the hang of this, the project will be over. I should build another kit right after this since I’ll know what I’m doing a little more by then (I hope). Maybe an EX guitar kit to match the bass....Hmmm.

Why not, that is exactly what I did. Both bodies are exactly the same size, pup routs and control cavities are in different places, and obviously different sized necks too.

Sent from my SM-A520F using Tapatalk

[MusicStudent1]

I am somewhat trying to replicate my favorite guitar from my youth, the 1986 Washburn “Ace Frehley” model AF-40V with my proposed builds. The EX kits are as close as I can get, so I’m going for a gloss black/silver look which is what my old guitar was.

That is a guitar that was built once and probably never will be again. It’s sort of a left hand Explorer shape and was very ergonomic. Sat in your lap, no problem. No strap needed when sitting, access to all 24 frets with a big chunky neck, I loved it and shouldn’t have sold mine.

Your EX instruments are very well done! I didn’t realize the body was the same size for both guitar and bass. Great workmanship. I just finished another midnight sanding session and wiped everything down with mineral spirits to prepare for grain filler.

[wazkelly]

That Washburn does look a bit like a butchered Lefty Explorer. Explorer shape is surprisingly ergonomic considering it's rather long and angular shape. The EX5 is very, very neck dive heavy and suggest locating the strap button in the middle of neck mounting plate as I have done recently. If placed on the upper horn/lump I found it wanting to drag down all the time and couldn't seem to find a balance point. All good now. Guitar is not such a problem as the neck is way shorter but I may still get around to relocating strap button too.

In case you were interested in doing a matching guitar here are the comparison shots taken late Jan 2016....