OctoberBass RCA-4 First Build

[OctoberBassRCA-4]

I plan to cover the pickguard back with copper, but it wont cover either pickup. The bridge pickup will be a humbucker. The neck pup is the supplied single coil. I have a pickup ring for the neck pup, but I won't cover the back of it with copper. Plan on grounding each cavity to each other with wire. As long as it Works!
Thanks Mark

[OctoberBassRCA-4]

Well I'm wired, without any noise, still using my clear template pickguard as a prototype to see into the control cavity for any problems.
The neck nut still needs to be filed to lower the action, and the frets need to be crowned and filed, but all functions well. Had a mishap with the soldering iron on the front, (sigh), gonna be there till I finish this, and maybe address it later. And working on the plexiglas pickguard, well... Anyway, it's sounding great with the 3 way switch in either position. Just in the middle, both pups, sounds, less? Not as loud as either pup isolated. ? Neck pup Booms. Bridge pup is twangy but present. Both, eh.

[Andy40]

Hi just saw this post. I wish I lived in Nashville. but alas I don't.

I'm wondering wiht the pups whether they are out of phase?

[OctoberBassRCA-4]

Hi just saw this post. I wish I lived in Nashville. but alas I don't.

I'm wondering wiht the pups whether they are out of phase?

Andy,
Nashville is Music City, your cab driver/ Uber driver is a better musician than half the folks making recordings these days.
I've been here about 30 yrs now and LOVE TN, but Nashville traffic is horrendous, and Lower Broad is crazy crowded every night. My daughter bar tends down there and makes a killing.

I cant figure out this Guitar Fetish MusicMan bridge pup which way it's wired in regards to phasing, 4 wires coming out, two ground, one white for coil split, and one red for signal.
I have wired them up and I get some great sounds, but I think there's some more tweaking about to get what I want from them.

[wazkelly]

I put a Guitar Fetish MM PUP in my MMB4 and thought is was only 3 wire.

2 Ground wires sounds weird unless you are referring to something like a braid or shield plus the inner?

Did the PUP come with wiring instructions?

Cheers, Waz

[OctoberBassRCA-4]

Well, I'm about done with my first build.
This has been a year and 4 month adventure, spending spree. I learned a lot, patience... that I need more patience, money, time and tools.
I've now acquired a bit of tools and materials.
I learned during this, I can't ask my wife her opinion because it's taken so long, and she's seen it too much.
But I had an idea and followed it through to the end as close as I could get.
If there's a question to why "Mynabird", it's a bird that mimics like a parrot, but also a play on words, as it's "Mine-A".

There are many flaws in this build, but I do like it as it is.
I'll post more pictures as soon as I can res them down.

It's been fun!

[wazkelly]

Nice collection.

Don't see many of those Gibson's.

[OctoberBassRCA-4]

Yes Waz, a braided copper wire, black, white and red. The white is taped off till I find a coil split/Master volume pot to add to this build. Or some other option. The 3 way in middle position is kinda... eh, but new pots and switch may be the way to go. Otherwise, up switch, or down switch really ROXKS! I got 2 rehearsals tomorrow and I'll put it through the paces.
And THANK YOU for all the advise getting me through all this!

[OctoberBassRCA-4]

That's a 75 Alder Gibson Ripper, a 66 Jazz and now, a Mynabird, Lol!

[wazkelly]

Yes Waz, a braided copper wire, black, white and red. The white is taped off till I find a coil split/Master volume pot to add to this build. Or some other option. The 3 way in middle position is kinda... eh, but new pots and switch may be the way to go. Otherwise, up switch, or down switch really ROXKS! I got 2 rehearsals tomorrow and I'll put it through the paces.
And THANK YOU for all the advise getting me through all this!

Maybe swap the red for white and see if that makes a difference. Sometimes wire colours don't make sense and the white might just be the 'hot' wire.

In fact, the more I think about it these are Humbuckers and both are probably hot wires for each coil and therefore if not coil splitting maybe try soldering both on the same lug? Most 4 wire guitar HB's have red & white soldered together to complete the circuit and separated if doing coil splits.