My first kit bass build

Looking good so far. There are a couple of builders on here who install a line just at the bass edge of the board. I did that on a Squire 5 string neck I converted. Installed matching lines on most of the board and white at the edge. I like that look. It might be @Beej ? If not, he might remember who it is.

As far as stringing, I usually measure 2 tuning posts past where the string will hit the tuner, or a couple of inches, put a 90 degree bend in the string and cut it off an inch or so past the bend. Then the bent part goes down in the hole in the center of the tuner and start winding. Ideally, you’d want 2-3 wraps around the posts. Once you start to actually set it up, go to the hardware, setup and repair forum and search “witness points” and do that. Also, you want the winds to go down the tuners, towards the headstock. It looks like yours might be going up. That helps pull the string down through the nut and gives a good break angle and will help avoid rattles and all sorts of other odd issues.

Keep us posted and welcome to TB!

 

Where'd the kit come from?

What are your finishing plans?

And, welcome!

 

Every builder has their own favorite finish, but I really like the ease of wipe on satin oil based poly. It's forgiving and easy to work with and builds thickness in fewer coats than many "oil" finishes.

 

I suggest Tru-Oil, it really is stupid easy, just sand up to 320 or 400 grit, wipe on the Tru Oil, wait a few minutes, then wipe off the excess. The more coats you put on, the shinier it gets, so just keep putting it on until you like how it looks. Be warned, this bass building hobby is addictive, and may lead to from-scratch builds eventually. Have fun!

 

Good call going fretless. Pics when your finished.

 

Looking great so far. A kit is a fun, educational way to get to building stuff. Have fun and keep posting progress pics.

Oh, it starts out innocent enough with a kit. "I can just build one, I can't get hooked just building one" Then you move up to a couple parts basses for a little bigger thrill. "No prob, I can quit any time I want" Yeah, you keep telling yourself that, But..... inevitably you will find yourself with a pile of wood for scratch builds because you have a bass building monkey on your back, and that monkey has claws and long sharp teeth.

 

This bass has interested me for a looong time now.

I have a few questions. Are the neck pocket dimensions same as what fender/squier uses on their jazz bass V's?

I wouldn't mind building that bass at all fretless as it comes, but it is obviously better if it fits a squier jazz bass V neck for a quick conversion down the road.

 

I like it w/o the p-ups, perfect for some ‘players’ I know.

 

Looks like pretty good quality for that price. So long as the neck is good you can always upgrade electronics and hardware if needed. Have fun!

 

I use Danish Oil almost exclusively on my woodturnings. Wipe on, wipe off, reapply until it looks like you want it. It's a mixture of penetrating oil and varnish. Watco 1 pt. Natural Danish Oil-265503 - The Home Depot

 

Danish is great if you want a satin finish, but it never really gets up to a high gloss, and seems to take longer to cure. I've used it on a lot of furniture over the years, and it holds up well. One nice thing about Oil finishes, is you can wet sand with the oil itself to fill the grain if you really want to get up to a high shine. I like to let a little grain show through on oil finishes myself, so I tend just to skip the wetsanding or grain filling. Oil finishes can be "repaired" (within reason) by adding more oil, but if you tend to beat on your guitars, or want something more durable, a wipe on poly might be better. How are the pots and wiring in the kit? That's often where they cheap out, with little Alpha mini pots, thin gauge wire, and bad jacks. Luckily all that stuff is pretty cheap, switchcraft jack and a couple of CTS pots is short money.

 

looks good, OP! congrats on your fretless choice --- and good luck with your kit build!

 

Wow, checked out the website. Really good deal for a low risk build, you've got to let us know how it turns out.

 

Right on. Stain it purple!

 

Plus, I'm going to disassemble it anyway once I figure out how I'm going to carve and finish it.
What "carving" are you planning?