First build

[CEFox]

I recently picked up a Jaguar style short scale kit from thefretwire for my 1st build.
I have the fret work done and the neck is sanded smoother than a pool cue. It appears to be a decent quality neck with minimal visual defects.
The pots feel surprisingly good, don't about the pick ups yet, but I don't expect much. As I expected the chrome parts are pretty low end, but functional, I'll be upgrading them.
I'm currently doing the finish work on the body and head stock. The 4 piece alder body had one bad spot on the lower waist. Just close enough to the edge to be an appearance issue. See pic below.
I'm using rit dye for the color. Charcoal grey (which turned a dark chocolate brown on the wood) on the edges. It was my intention to use the charcoal grey and dark green for a green black effect, didn't work.
On the face and back it's about 10 coats of dark green sanded back then 20 coats or so of teal. All the dye was used undiluted and rubbed into the wood both with and across the grain. It was wiped dry between coats and allowed to dry for a couple hours. It has sort of a crusty old barn wood look.
Since I have the inclusion on the lower waist to hide and I can't live with the chocolate brown "charcoal gray", the edges will be hunter green breaking to the dyed surface. Then multiple coats of gloss clear, with maybe a couple coats of metallic clear thrown in for good measure.

 

[rudy4444]

Looks good so far.
I think I'd be tempted to re-profile the lower waist. It looks like another 1/4" or 3/8" might eliminate the inclusion. Looking at the body shape, I'd prefer the lower waist to be inset a bit more, so it would be a win-win, at least for me.

I'd think they would replace the body for you, since it's such an obvious defect. Unless it was offered as a second and discounted appropriately.

 

[CEFox]

@rudy4444
Thanks, it's also my first effort at wood finishing.
I cut the area down a bit and the spot kept getting larger. I decided to quit while I was ahead.
I haven't contacted them about a replacement, but they might. It's a fairly cheap kit so I went into this with the mindset that there would be issues like this to contend with. Some wood putty and paint and it'll never be seen again.

 

[CEFox]

I've decided to keep the stock hardware for now and see how it works out. Stripping it all down to the copper and leaving it a bit rough looking.

 

[CEFox]

The neck has numerous coats of carnuba wax on it and is ready to assemble.
The body and pick guard are under the 2nd coat of wipe on poly.

 

[CEFox]

Almost done. Just need to string it up and do the set up.

 

[CEFox]

We'll it's done. Re checked/adjusted everything today after doing the initial adjustments a few days ago.
Once I got the "charcoal brown" edges sanded back a bit I decided against the hunter green paint and opted to add a couple coats of dark green dye instead. Top coated the body with Minwax gloss wipe on poly. The neck has been waxed to within an inch of its life with Maquires Gold Class Carnuba wax.
I'm also working on a walnut pick guard for it.
The pick ups aren't the worst I've heard but not the best either, with a decent, if somewhat weak vintage tone.
Playabilty wise it's as good or better than most I've owned or played over the years. I expected it to be low end Squire equivalent, it plays better than any Squire I've tried. The electronics are roughly equal.
Overall a cool project, I've already signed on to build another bass and a hollow body 6 string for my son and a Tele 6 string for my best friend.

 

[Beej]

And...the addiction takes hold...

Looking forward to the next one!

 

[naokiman]

Hey CEFox, it's been almost a year exactly. How are you getting along with your fretwire bass? I've been thinking about getting that same kit.

I may upgrade the hardware and electronics right off the bat, but I'm curious about the amount of fret and neck work that was necessary?

TIA!

 

[CEFox]

Hey CEFox, it's been almost a year exactly. How are you getting along with your fretwire bass? I've been thinking about getting that same kit.

I may upgrade the hardware and electronics right off the bat, but I'm curious about the amount of fret and neck work that was necessary?

TIA!

It's proven itself worthy of a set of Duncan 1/4 pounders, Mojotone controls, hi mass bridge and Grover tuners. It quickly became my primary player and is the best playing short scale I've ever seen. I like it well enough that I've been working on a 2nd one with J pups, 4 way Tele controls and a reverse headstock maple and rosewood neck.
As for the 1st one it required minimal fretwork out of the box and the neck has remained stable over time. I had to take care of a little fret sprout during the dry season aside from that, no issues.
Here's a pic of the 2nd one, pardon the cardboard pick guard.

 

[naokiman]

It's proven itself worthy of a set of Duncan 1/4 pounders, Mojotone controls, hi mass bridge and Grover tuners. It quickly became my primary player and is the best playing short scale I've ever seen. I like it well enough that I've been working on a 2nd one with J pups, 4 way Tele controls and a reverse headstock maple and rosewood neck.
As for the 1st one it required minimal fretwork out of the box and the neck has remained stable over time. I had to take care of a little fret sprout during the dry season aside from that, no issues.
Here's a pic of the 2nd one, pardon the cardboard pick guard.

Sounds good! Thanks for the info. The new build looks great too. Where'd you pick up that inlaid short scale neck? I think I could build my own body if I have a good SS neck to build around.

 

[CEFox]

Sounds good! Thanks for the info. The new build looks great too. Where'd you pick up that inlaid short scale neck? I think I could build my own body if I have a good SS neck to build around.

Got them from an old friend in Ky, unfortunately he retired. It's a shame , he did really nice work. I bought this one and a matching 5 string neck from him and both are very good quality and have a great feel.