Winter Build Off 2026 - 5 String Fenderbacker

[mapleglo]

Well, I went ahead and ordered an extra set of pots from Amplified Parts as a back up. Because.

Still waiting for the Lace pickups to ship.

I also noticed I seem to have missed a spot sanding on the upper horn.

It's that little wave there. I can feel the bump. I could sand it smooth, dab it with danish oil, let it dry for a few days, then do the Howard's Feed and Wax thing. Or, just let my OCD drive me crazy for the rest of my life. What does everyone think?

 

[Matt Liebenau]

Well, the gold top, carved top Tele in my thread is about to get its third paint job because it was “good enough” at least two other times. I’ll learn eventually…

 

[MonetBass]

Well, I went ahead and ordered an extra set of pots from Amplified Parts as a back up. Because.

Still waiting for the Lace pickups to ship.

I also noticed I seem to have missed a spot sanding on the upper horn.

View attachment 7451452

It's that little wave there. I can feel the bump. I could sand it smooth, dab it with danish oil, let it dry for a few days, then do the Howard's Feed and Wax thing. Or, just let my OCD drive me crazy for the rest of my life. What does everyone think?

If you know it's going to bug you, go ahead and fix it.

 

[Lo-E]

I could sand it smooth, dab it with danish oil, let it dry for a few days, then do the Howard's Feed and Wax thing. Or, just let my OCD drive me crazy for the rest of my life. What does everyone think?

Something’s gonna drive you crazy. Why shouldn’t it be that?

Well, the gold top, carved top Tele in my thread is about to get its third paint job because it was “good enough” at least two other times. I’ll learn eventually…

Well, I’m still re-re-refinishing that P-Bass over on What’s On Your Workbench! If it’s worth doing right, it’s worth doing over.

 

[mapleglo]

Yeah, you all know I'm going to fix it, right? ;P

 

[Bruce Johnson]

Well, I went ahead and ordered an extra set of pots from Amplified Parts as a back up. Because.

Still waiting for the Lace pickups to ship.

I also noticed I seem to have missed a spot sanding on the upper horn.

View attachment 7451452

It's that little wave there. I can feel the bump. I could sand it smooth, dab it with danish oil, let it dry for a few days, then do the Howard's Feed and Wax thing. Or, just let my OCD drive me crazy for the rest of my life. What does everyone think?

Fix it now, to soothe your soul.

 

[mapleglo]

I got to work fixing the oversight this morning.

Sanded with 120, 220, 320, and 400. Then covered with a coat of Danish Oil.

Now I'll go put on a second coat, and let it cure for a few days. My OCD can rest easy.

 

[mapleglo]

Gotta love Amplified Parts. I received the parts I ordered yesterday.

That's better than Amazon, which foolishly sent my package from Washington State to Kentucky for delivery today. Yeah, that's not going to happen.

Turns out, I was just notified that due to an "unexpected issue", there's a delay. Yeah, like y'all sent it to the wrong facility issue.

Well, I guess when one delivers eleventy hundred billion packages, a few of them are bound to be mis-directed.

 

[mapleglo]

Swapped out the black knobs for silver.

 

[mapleglo]

Still waiting for those pickups to be shipped...

[tapping foot with arms crossed]

 

[mapleglo]

Just heard from Lace. They are now saying early next week for the pick ups.

 

[Pep]

That’s one beautiful bass.

 

[mapleglo]

Now we are cooking with gas.

They should be here in a couple of days.

 

[mapleglo]

Pickups arrived.

 

[JFlo]

If you are able to record a demo when the bass is complete I would love to hear what these pickups sound like.

 

[postalflunkie]

If you are able to record a demo when the bass is complete I would love to hear what these pickups sound like.

Samples before and after pickup swap.

 

[mapleglo]

Too late for samples from before.

Wiring:

Yeah, so sue me. I used masking tape. The shrink wrap shrunk during soldering and I had no electrical tape.

And It Lives! Sounds great! Much more clear, higher output, well worth the upgrade. If nothing else, I'll make a recording when I gig with it next week. Still not sure what strings I'm going with. I have some light gauge Rotosounds on there now.

Edit - Oh yeah, and I swapped out the knobs for smaller ones.

 

[Matt Liebenau]

Too late for samples from before.

Wiring:

View attachment 7463762

Yeah, so sue me. I used masking tape. The shrink wrap shrunk during soldering and I had no electrical tape.

View attachment 7463763

And It Lives! Sounds great! Much more clear, higher output, well worth the upgrade. If nothing else, I'll make a recording when I gig with it next week. Still not sure what strings I'm going with. I have some light gauge Rotosounds on there now.

Edit - Oh yeah, and I swapped out the knobs for smaller ones.

Don’t sweat it too much. Fender and/or Gibson “back in the day” used masking tape on their wiring harnesses. You’re “previntageing” it…

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Damn! That came out fantastic! Really like the nod to Rickenbacker without being a direct copy. Another great build. Warp Engineering at it's Finest.

 

[TerribleTim68]

For what it's worth, I prefer the top over the back. Both are beautiful, but I think you chose the right one.