Saga bass kits

[SquareWaves]

I've seen a lot of mixed opinions on these from this board. I was thinking of getting a squier and frankensteining it over time but a friend is convincing me to just go the Saga route and get new hardware and pickups since I was going to do to do that to the Squier anyway. I don't mind a bit of elbow grease and like the idea of having something my own, but I'd also like something that played nicely. I played a Squier VM P bass yesterday and other then the action being a bit high, it played just fine and sounded like a P Bass. So is the Saga bass kit the abomination that some people have claimed it to be or a potentially great bass for live playing under a wall of fuzz?

[bound'n'blocked]

The guitar player I play with got one of the Saga Tele kits and put it together and out of the box it was a great instrument. Since then he has upgraded things like the tuners and bridge, and added a BC Rich neck he had hanging around, but only because he liked the look of the headstock with the tele body. It's now actually one of his favorite players and gets quite a bit of use.

I've not seen one of their bass kits in person but judging by the way his kit came out I cant see how you could go wrong for the price.

My .02

BnB

[SquareWaves]

Thanks! This and the reviews on Amazon are making this a much easier decision.

[SquareWaves]

Just found out about these Lace Music aluma P pickups. If I go through with this I might be trying these out.

Lace Music Products | Since 1979 | Electric Pickups

[bassbenj]

Originally Posted by bound'n'blocked

The guitar player I play with got one of the Saga Tele kits and put it together and out of the box it was a great instrument. Since then he has upgraded things like the tuners and bridge, and added a BC Rich neck he had hanging around, but only because he liked the look of the headstock with the tele body. It's now actually one of his favorite players and gets quite a bit of use.

I've not seen one of their bass kits in person but judging by the way his kit came out I cant see how you could go wrong for the price.

My .02

BnB

I picked up a Saga LP Guitar kit at a guitar show and put it together just for fun. I didn't spend much, I didn't expect much. Flamed maple top, all parts and hardware. Big surprise. OK, it doesn't quite have the tone of my "real" Gibson LP, but it's darn good! And the look is amazing. The fit of everything turns out an amazing instrument. I was REALLY impressed.

I was so impressed Next time I was ready to plunk 'em down for a bass kit. If SAGA had a 5 string P bass kit I would have bought a couple kits on the spot. No such luck. Apparently SAGA doesn't build "real" bass kits. But if that is no problem for you, then go for it.

If you know how to get a decent looking finish on a piece of wood, then you can do a SAGA kit. You don't even have to know how to solder (things plug together). I don't think you'll be sorry.

[thisSNsucks]

I wonder if the kits they sell at guitarfetish.com are saga kits. They look like the same thing but aren't advertised as such.

[fhm555]

Anyone tried one of these?

H8181 Bass Guitar Kit-Deluxe Quilted

[bound'n'blocked]

Originally Posted by thisSNsucks

I wonder if the kits they sell at guitarfetish.com are saga kits. They look like the same thing but aren't advertised as such.

If you mean the finished bodies,then no, they aren't. My guitar buddy is in the process of building one of those right now. According to him, they are much nicer, already finsihed but no holes drilled. The kits on the guitarfetish sight are a different wood. I think the Saga kits are basswood or something and the GF kits are palowanna(sorry I dont know how its spelled!)


Agree with the above poster about a 5 string kit. I'd love to try one of those!

BnB

[ghostdog93]

Originally Posted by bound'n'blocked

The kits on the guitarfetish sight are a different wood. I think the Saga kits are basswood or something and the GF kits are palowanna(sorry I dont know how its spelled!)

Indeed. Saga lists their kits as having basswood bodies, whereas the Guitar Fetish bass kits are pauwlonia. Pauwlonia is good for wooden surfboards, but I'm not sure what the final verdict is in their use on bass guitars.

The Saga kits look nice enough, but I don't know anyone who's built one, and I haven't seen a whole lot in the way of kit reviews on the web.

[SquareWaves]

I used to have an aversion to basswood since they were always on lower end basses but after seeing the scrap wood vs. alder thread it's certainly changed my perception. I saw something hear on treating wood with something to make it stronger, does anyone know off hand what that was called?

[Bongolation]

Originally Posted by fhm555

Anyone tried one of these?

H8181 Bass Guitar Kit-Deluxe Quilted

$400???

I don't get it. I buy real basses from real companies all the time brand new for less than that with better parts.

Why would any sane person spend $400 and all the wasted time and effort for some kludgy homemade bass with ZERO resale value?

It's just lunacy.

[Ric5]

If you have never built a bass then a Saga kit is a good place to start. But some of the stuff in a saga kit will be like factory seconds. It will function properly, but it is not as good as mighty mite or allparts.

[ghostdog93]

Originally Posted by SquareWaves

I used to have an aversion to basswood since they were always on lower end basses but after seeing the scrap wood vs. alder thread it's certainly changed my perception. I saw something hear on treating wood with something to make it stronger, does anyone know off hand what that was called?

The easiest product to find is Minwax High Performance Wood Hardener. You should be able to pick it up around $10 for a can at Home Depot or Lowe's.

[SquareWaves]

Originally Posted by ghostdog93

The easiest product to find is Minwax High Performance Wood Hardener. You should be able to pick it up around $10 for a can at Home Depot or Lowe's.

Thanks!! Ordered! Should be here in a couple of days, not sure whether to just do a matte black or trying to stain it as dark as possible.

[selowitch]

Originally Posted by SquareWaves

Thanks!! Ordered! Should be here in a couple of days, not sure whether to just do a matte black or trying to stain it as dark as possible.

Is it advisable or useful to use wood hardener on a soft wood like basswood prior to priming it?

[SquareWaves]

Originally Posted by selowitch

Is it advisable or useful to use wood hardener or a soft wood like basswood prior to priming it?

+1, any help regarding painting would be greatly appreciated. Is it possible to use a band saw in a home depot or would anyone know the best way to shape the headstock?

[ghostdog93]

Originally Posted by selowitch

Is it advisable or useful to use wood hardener on a soft wood like basswood prior to priming it?

Basically, Minwax Wood Hardener is a resin that is suspended in a solvent. When you apply it, the solution penetrates the woodgrain. The solvents evaporate, leaving behind the resin. Like the label says, it's wood hardener. It makes wood...well, hard. How hard depends on the type of wood and how much hardener it can absorb.

It's often touted as the quick and easy way to make repairs on rotting wood. I have used it in the past when I've built something out of a relatively soft wood that will see moderate or severe use, like medicine cabinet doors, for example. Using it on a basswood body would, in theory, make the wood more resistant to chips and dings.

Originally Posted by SquareWaves

+1, any help regarding painting would be greatly appreciated. Is it possible to use a band saw in a home depot or would anyone know the best way to shape the headstock?

They might rent you a bandsaw at Home Depot, but they won't let you use theirs. In this case, a bandsaw might be overkill.

A cheaper alternative would be to buy an inexpensive jig saw (I think Black & Decker has one of their newer models available for around $35) and use it to rough cut the headstock shape. You can then use some elbow grease, files and sandpaper to bring the wood to the final dimensions. You could also borrow a jig saw from someone you know, if that's an option.

I've actually cut maple, koa and even Goncalo alves (tigerwood) by hand with a coping saw, but I wouldn't recommend that to everyone. Actually, I wouldn't recommend that to anyone.

[SquareWaves]

Thanks so much!! I do have access to a jigsaw and considering I'm either cutting a standard P or Tele style headstock (most likely a P), it shouldn't be too difficult. If the wood has already been treated with a sealer, will the hardener and stainer still take?

I'll post pics of the bass when it gets here.

[Zeb Norris]

Originally Posted by Bongolation

$400???

I don't get it. I buy real basses from real companies all the time brand new for less than that with better parts.

Why would any sane person spend $400 and all the wasted time and effort for some kludgy homemade bass with ZERO resale value?

It's just lunacy.

+1

My near-flawless used Fender Jag was 455 shipped.

[SquareWaves]

Kit should be here tomorrow! I'm leaning towards the finish done on the Gibson Explorer Blood Moon.

Gibson.com: Gibson Explorer Vampire Blood Moon