Build Log - GuitarWorx.com.au Jazz Bass Guitar Kit – Lots of Pics - Page 4

Blackstar1099 · 14th March 2011, 12:36 AM

Very nice Stewey!

Garido · 14th March 2011, 8:37 AM

Fantastic. Absolutely fantastic. I've always wanted to do this and you putting up a log has not only re-inspired me but given me a guide to follow. Wonderful, just wonderful.

Stewey · 14th March 2011, 10:43 AM

Thanks guys. I am really happy with how the colour turned out. These offset shapes really do look good in a vintage colour.

Excellent to hear Garido, the more people building guitars (and posting build logs) the better!

Optimus. · 15th March 2011, 2:06 AM

Man, I'm very inspired after reading this thread. I think I want to make one just like it but spray-paint it gold instead.

Beautiful work!

Veilspade · 15th March 2011, 9:58 AM

Bloody Awesome!

I have just ordered the Grand Angus kit from Guitar worx, so ill see how it goes

Cheers

Blackstar1099 · 15th March 2011, 8:16 PM

I didn't think mine was worthy of it's own thread so here's my telemaster all put together.

I had some issues.

The neck was way back-bowed. It was choking and buzzing on most strings. I've done at least a half turn of the truss rod today. I thought I'd let it settle overnight before tweaking again tomorrow as it's still not flat.

A rubber washer for one of the strap buttons was missing. I couldn't find a similar one at Bunnings. I'll try somewhere else soon.

The slot on the nut at the 6th string is way too high. I'll need to file that down. Probably the other slots too.

I've learnt a lot about guitar maintenance in the last few weeks. Probably even enough to do some on my other guitars. My Ibanez JS100 needs a fret dress.

Optimus. · 15th March 2011, 8:39 PM

I am Über enthused by the builds shown here. So much so that I went to the site to check what bass kits they had available.

I really like their SG shape guitar:
http://www.guitarworx.com.au/product...uitar-Kit.html

... So I emailed and asked if they did Grand Angus Bass Kits. They don't but said if they get enough requests then they would make some...

Group buy, anyone?

Blackstar1099 · 15th March 2011, 8:56 PM

Interesting. I thought they imported them. The web site says they don't stock any parts because they receive the kits from overseas. They're made by a company called Morris. Maybe they just put in a request to Morris.

On that note, one other issue I had was the instruction manual that came with it. It's for Saga kits. Mine's a Morris. A lot of the info was relevant. A lot was not. It talked about 3 screws for the bridge when there was 4. The wiring instructions are all wrong too.

Ooh. One more thing. I used the strings that came with the kit. Just checked the gauges with my digital calipers. It's a standard set of 9-42 except for the D string which was .026. Weird. I wasn't going to use them anyway once the finish was done and I put it back together anyway but just thought I'd mention it.

Ravennoir · 16th March 2011, 12:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blackstar1099

Interesting. I thought they imported them. The web site says they don't stock any parts because they receive the kits from overseas. They're made by a company called Morris. Maybe they just put in a request to Morris.

On that note, one other issue I had was the instruction manual that came with it. It's for Saga kits. Mine's a Morris. A lot of the info was relevant. A lot was not. It talked about 3 screws for the bridge when there was 4. The wiring instructions are all wrong too.

Ooh. One more thing. I used the strings that came with the kit. Just checked the gauges with my digital calipers. It's a standard set of 9-42 except for the D string which was .026. Weird. I wasn't going to use them anyway once the finish was done and I put it back together anyway but just thought I'd mention it.

Thats weird, mine didnt come with any instructions (not that they were really required)

Optimus. · 16th March 2011, 1:37 AM

I think I'll go start a kit-guitar thread to stop shitting-up this awesome build log but it seems that Saga are re-badged Morris kits (or whatever Morris is re-branding themselves) and being sold for an extra $100.

Stewey · 16th March 2011, 9:51 AM

Good work Blackstar. With the rubber washer you can just use some felt like most other guitars use, keep taking it easy with the truss rod too.
The nut that came with mine was complete garbage, I just swapped it out.

I definitely would think about getting an SG bass if you did end up going down that path Optimus.

samos · 16th March 2011, 11:30 AM

Awesome, simply awesome!

Would be great if they did acoustic varieties as well!

Blackstar1099 · 16th March 2011, 1:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stewey

keep taking it easy with the truss rod too.

A question for you Stewey. The last couple of turns of the truss rod felt real easy. It felt loose. It seems like if I keep turning it, it won't do anything. Would it start to tighten as it starts to bend the neck in the opposite direction? I've never adjusted a truss rod before, so I'm not sure how it should feel.

Stewey · 16th March 2011, 2:27 PM

It should be loose when it is right in the centre of its adjustment range, i.e. dead flat. It will start to feel tighter and tighter to turn as you bend the neck more.
My procedure is to turn the rod about a quarter turn at a time and bending the neck by hand in the direction I want it to go. Then I do another quarter turn after checking with my straight edge that the last turn had the desired effect.
After a full turn I will let it sit for a few hours and go do something else.
Keep in mind this procedure is only for necks that are way out of alignment. Normal necks should only ever need the slightest turn of the rod.

Samos, I would love to be able to buy a reasonably priced acoustic kit, even if it didn't end up sounding fantastic. The kits on the market are too expensive for someone who just wants to have a go. The people who could justify the price will just build their own from scratch anyway.

Optimus. · 16th March 2011, 2:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stewey

I definitely would think about getting an SG bass if you did end up going down that path Optimus.

http://forums.overclockers.com.au/sh...8#post12981788

14th March 2011, 8:37 AM	#47
Garido Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Parramatta, NSW Posts: 3,216	Fantastic. Absolutely fantastic. I've always wanted to do this and you putting up a log has not only re-inspired me but given me a guide to follow. Wonderful, just wonderful. __________________ TRADE REP (50+) \| CAR: TOYOTA CROWN WORKLOG \| PC: WORKSTATION WORKLOG PC: Intel E6500 @ 3.6, 9600 GSO 384MB GDDR3 @ 650/1625/970, Intel G41, 4GB DDR3 1333MHz WTS: Rebel Sport Vouchers $100 WTB: Samsung SSD/HDD, DDR3 RAM, nVidia 8600GT, Dual Monitor Stand, Lenovo S10e Battery

14th March 2011, 10:43 AM	#48
Stewey Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Brisbane Posts: 462	Thanks guys. I am really happy with how the colour turned out. These offset shapes really do look good in a vintage colour. Excellent to hear Garido, the more people building guitars (and posting build logs) the better! __________________ I'd Rather Be A BASS Player Club Member #07 OCAU Guitar Players Club

15th March 2011, 8:56 PM	#53
Blackstar1099 Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Melbourne Posts: 157	Interesting. I thought they imported them. The web site says they don't stock any parts because they receive the kits from overseas. They're made by a company called Morris. Maybe they just put in a request to Morris. On that note, one other issue I had was the instruction manual that came with it. It's for Saga kits. Mine's a Morris. A lot of the info was relevant. A lot was not. It talked about 3 screws for the bridge when there was 4. The wiring instructions are all wrong too. Ooh. One more thing. I used the strings that came with the kit. Just checked the gauges with my digital calipers. It's a standard set of 9-42 except for the D string which was .026. Weird. I wasn't going to use them anyway once the finish was done and I put it back together anyway but just thought I'd mention it. Last edited by Blackstar1099; 15th March 2011 at 9:02 PM.

16th March 2011, 9:51 AM	#56
Stewey Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Brisbane Posts: 462	Good work Blackstar. With the rubber washer you can just use some felt like most other guitars use, keep taking it easy with the truss rod too. The nut that came with mine was complete garbage, I just swapped it out. I definitely would think about getting an SG bass if you did end up going down that path Optimus. __________________ I'd Rather Be A BASS Player Club Member #07 OCAU Guitar Players Club

16th March 2011, 2:27 PM	#59
Stewey Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Brisbane Posts: 462	It should be loose when it is right in the centre of its adjustment range, i.e. dead flat. It will start to feel tighter and tighter to turn as you bend the neck more. My procedure is to turn the rod about a quarter turn at a time and bending the neck by hand in the direction I want it to go. Then I do another quarter turn after checking with my straight edge that the last turn had the desired effect. After a full turn I will let it sit for a few hours and go do something else. Keep in mind this procedure is only for necks that are way out of alignment. Normal necks should only ever need the slightest turn of the rod. Samos, I would love to be able to buy a reasonably priced acoustic kit, even if it didn't end up sounding fantastic. The kits on the market are too expensive for someone who just wants to have a go. The people who could justify the price will just build their own from scratch anyway. __________________ I'd Rather Be A BASS Player Club Member #07 OCAU Guitar Players Club Last edited by Stewey; 16th March 2011 at 2:29 PM.

14th March 2011, 12:36 AM	#46
Blackstar1099 Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Melbourne Posts: 157	Very nice Stewey!

15th March 2011, 2:06 AM	#49
Optimus. Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 2,962	Man, I'm very inspired after reading this thread. I think I want to make one just like it but spray-paint it gold instead. Beautiful work!

15th March 2011, 9:58 AM	#50
Veilspade Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Sydney Posts: 146	Bloody Awesome! I have just ordered the Grand Angus kit from Guitar worx, so ill see how it goes Cheers

15th March 2011, 8:16 PM	#51
Blackstar1099 Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Melbourne Posts: 157	I didn't think mine was worthy of it's own thread so here's my telemaster all put together. I had some issues. The neck was way back-bowed. It was choking and buzzing on most strings. I've done at least a half turn of the truss rod today. I thought I'd let it settle overnight before tweaking again tomorrow as it's still not flat. A rubber washer for one of the strap buttons was missing. I couldn't find a similar one at Bunnings. I'll try somewhere else soon. The slot on the nut at the 6th string is way too high. I'll need to file that down. Probably the other slots too. I've learnt a lot about guitar maintenance in the last few weeks. Probably even enough to do some on my other guitars. My Ibanez JS100 needs a fret dress.

15th March 2011, 8:39 PM	#52
Optimus. Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 2,962	I am Über enthused by the builds shown here. So much so that I went to the site to check what bass kits they had available. I really like their SG shape guitar: http://www.guitarworx.com.au/product...uitar-Kit.html ... So I emailed and asked if they did Grand Angus Bass Kits. They don't but said if they get enough requests then they would make some... Group buy, anyone?

16th March 2011, 1:37 AM	#55
Optimus. Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 2,962	I think I'll go start a kit-guitar thread to stop shitting-up this awesome build log but it seems that Saga are re-badged Morris kits (or whatever Morris is re-branding themselves) and being sold for an extra $100.

16th March 2011, 11:30 AM	#57
samos Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Melbourne Posts: 7,644	Awesome, simply awesome! Would be great if they did acoustic varieties as well!