Byo guitar J bass User manual

www.byoguitar.com

J Bass

Guitar Kit Assembly

Instructions

Introduction

J Bass Intro - 1 -

Warning

These instructions assume that you are familiar with the safe operation and use of woodworking machinery

and woodworking tools, and understand the techniques used to assemble this project. If you do not qualify

for both of these criteria, STOP building this project for your own safety. Read and understand the owner’s

manual for the machinery you intend to use, take a woodworking class or visit your local library for more

information. Woodworking machinery and tools are inherently dangerous because they use sharp edges

that can and will cause serious personal injury including amputation and death. Do not underestimate the

ability of these tools and machinery to cause injury. Never operate any tool without all guards in place and

always wear approved safety glasses. For your own safety, please heed this warning.

Warning

Always wear safety glasses or goggles when operating equipment. Everyday glasses or reading glasses are

not safety glasses. Be certain the safety glasses you wear meet the appropriate standards of the American

National Standards Institute (ANSI). Because there are various ways to cut and join wood, you can make

substitutions for the methods stated in this manual. We try to suggest the easiest methods possible.

However, only you know your skills with each piece of machinery. Never compromise your safety by using

a cutting method with which you are not comfortable. Instead, find an alternative approach that will yield

the same result.

WARNING

Some dust created by power sanding, sawing, grinding, drilling, and other construction activities contains

chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm.

Some examples of these chemicals are:

Lead from lead-based paints.

Crystalline silica from bricks, cement, and other masonry products.

Arsenic and chromium from chemically treated lumber.

Your risk from these exposures varies, depending on how often you do this type of work. To reduce your

exposure to these chemicals: work in a well ventilated area, and work with approved safety equipment,

such as those dust masks that are specially designed to filter out microscopic particles.

Introduction

J Bass Intro - 2 -

Contents......................................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.

1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................- 3 -

1.1 Material Check List....................................................................................................................- 5 -

1.2 Additional tools/materials required: ........................................................................................- 7 -

2Mockup and Fit Check ..................................................................................................................- 1 -

2.1 Check Guitar Body & Neck mounting holes......................................................................- 1 -

2.1.1 Drilling the Mounting Holes in the Guitar Body......................................................- 1 -

2.2 Checking the Mounting Holes in the Neck........................................................................- 2 -

2.2.1 Drilling Mounting Holes in the Neck .........................................................................- 2 -

2.3 Check the Neck to the Body Fit ...........................................................................................- 2 -

2.4 Fit check & alignment of the Pickguard and the Audio Controls (items 2 & 3 on

materials list).....................................................................................................................................- 3 -

2.5 Fit check the Bridge ..............................................................................................................- 3 -

2.6 Check Strap Pins....................................................................................................................- 4 -

2.7 Check Tuner Alignment .......................................................................................................- 4 -

2.8 String Tee Position................................................................................................................- 4 -

2.9 Mockup and Fit Check complete! .......................................................................................- 4 -

3 Finish .................................................................................................................................................- 1 -

3.1 Finish Application Steps ............................................................................................................- 1 -

3.1.1 Solid Color finish: ..............................................................................................................- 1 -

3.1.2 Pigmented Translucent, Gel stain or alcohol dye finish:...................................................- 2 -

3.1.3 Penetrating Stain or water based dye finish:....................................................................- 2 -

3.2 Explanation of Sequence Steps:................................................................................................- 2 -

3.2.1 Sanding the Body and Neck ..............................................................................................- 2 -

3.2.2 Appling Grain Filler............................................................................................................- 3 -

3.2.3 Applying Sanding Sealer....................................................................................................- 3 -

3.2.4 Solid Color Primer .............................................................................................................- 3 -

3.2.5 Burst and Translucent finishes..........................................................................................- 3 -

3.2.6 Clear Top coats..................................................................................................................- 4 -

3.2.7 Buff finish ..........................................................................................................................- 4 -

4.1 Attach the Neck to the Body.....................................................................................................- 1 -

4.2 Installing Component Wiring & Installation..............................................................................- 1 -

4.2.1 Preparation & Installation of the Pickups and Audio Panel..............................................- 2 -

4.2.2 Bridge & Frame Ground Wire Installation ........................................................................- 3 -

4.3 Installing the Nut.......................................................................................................................- 3 -

Introduction

J Bass Intro - 3 -

4.4 Installing the Tuners..................................................................................................................- 4 -

4.5 Install the Strings.......................................................................................................................- 4 -

4.6 Installing the Strap Pins.............................................................................................................- 4 -

4.7 Installing the String Retainer.....................................................................................................- 5 -

5. Setup ................................................................................................................................................- 1 -

5.1 Adjust the Guitar Neck: Truss Rod............................................................................................- 2 -

5.1.1 Adjustment Check.............................................................................................................- 2 -

5.1.2 Adjustment........................................................................................................................- 2 -

5.2 Bridge Saddle ............................................................................................................................- 2 -

5.2.1 Checking String Height......................................................................................................- 3 -

5.2.2 Bridge Saddle Adjustment.................................................................................................- 3 -

5.3 Nut Action .................................................................................................................................- 3 -

5.3.1 Measurement....................................................................................................................- 3 -

5.3.2 Nut Adjustment.................................................................................................................- 3 -

5.4 Pickup Height ............................................................................................................................- 4 -

5.4.1 Treble (G string) adjustment: Neck pickup .......................................................................- 4 -

5.4.2 Bass (E string) adjustment: Neck pickup...........................................................................- 4 -

5.4.3 Adjustment of the Bridge Pickup ......................................................................................- 4 -

5.5 Intonation .................................................................................................................................- 4 -

5.6 String Lubrication......................................................................................................................- 5 -

5.7 …Other Hints.............................................................................................................................- 5 -

1Introduction

Thank you for purchasing a BYOGuitar.com guitar kit. This kit includes everything you need to build a

complete custom guitar. In addition to the construction of your guitar, you will need to consider the

finish –natural, solid color and possibly a design that will make your guitar unique. We suggest you do

some research to determine your finish preferences. Procuring the required finishing materials,

especially if they have to be ordered, will allow expedite your guitar project.

We carry a full line of finishing products that give you the beautiful finish you are looking for, whether a

clear natural finish or a bold, colorful finish. We also carry an instructional DVD made by Behlen that will

give you step by step instructions to help you achieve the look you want for your custom guitar.

TIP: Get some finishing ideas by visiting BYOGuitar.com and BYO Guitar on Facebook

(http://www.byoguitar.com/gallery/index.html)

Introduction

J Bass Intro - 4 -

Fig 1 Major Components in Your J Bass Guitar Kit

These instructions assume you are familiar with the anatomy of a guitar. Refer to Figure 1 for many of

the terms used in the assembly of your guitar.

Introduction

J Bass Intro - 5 -

1.1 Material Check List

In preparation for the building of your guitar, all required material should be checked both for type and

quantity. Use the following check list to ensure all piece parts are included. If you customized your

order (ex. different tuners), ensure that these parts are accounted for. Please contact BYOGuitar if there

are any discrepancies.

J Bass Material List

Item

Component

Quantity

Description



1 J Bass

Body



1 J Bass

Neck



Miscellaneous

materials (see

below)

BYO J Bass

Guitar Kit



1 Pickguard

with

mounting

screws for

Pickguard &

Audio Panel

J Bass

Pickguard



Partially wired

Audio Panel

w/output jack,

volume &

tone controls

J Bass

Audio Panel

TIP: use small interior packing

box to inventory and organize piece parts

Introduction

J Bass Intro - 6 -



4 mounting

screws, 1 ½”



4 springs

Pickguard

mounting

material



1 Neck pickup



1 Bridge

pickup

J Bass

pickups



Bridge



7 mounting

screws, 7/8”

Bridge

components



1 mounting

plate



1 plastic

mounting

gasket



4 screws, 1¾”

Neck

Mounting

material



4 Tuners



4 Tuner hole

collars/inserts



16 screws,

3/8”

Tuners



2 Holders



2 plastic

washers



2 screws, 1”

Strap

Holder

materials

Introduction

J Bass Intro - 7 -



1 String “Nut”



1 string tee

w/mounting

screw, ½”

String Nut &

Guide



4 strings

Strings



Output Cable



2 Allen

wrenches (1

for adjusting

bridge, 1 for

adjusting

neck)

Other

1.2 Additional tools/materials required:

Drill & drill bits

#1 & #2 Phillips

screwdriver

Wood glue

Masking/painters tape

Finishing/painting

material

Sand paper 220 &

320 grit

Guitar strap

Soap or candle

Feeler gauge

ruler

Introduction

J Bass Intro - 8 -

The remainder of the assembly instructions is divided into four sections:

Section 2 –Mockup & Fit check: in this section, all components will be checked for proper

alignment and ensure that all holes have been drilled.

Section 3 –Finishing the Body and Neck: after fit check, the components are removed from the

neck & body to allow the selected finish to be applied. This will allow you to customize your guitars’

color(s). As the finishing will likely require several coats with sanding between each coat, ensure that

the finish is completely dry.

Section 4 –Assembly: the final assembly is the next step - once the finish has been applied and

completely dried. In this section, all of the components are installed, internal wiring connected and

strings attached –your guitar will ready to go!

Section 5 –Setup: in this section, initial adjustments are made to your guitar, such as the height

of the pickups.

Again, we thank you for your purchase of a BYO Guitar and we look forward to seeing pictures of your

unique guitar! We also look forward to providing you with the guitar for your next project from our

Custom Shop where you can select the wood for the body and neck as well as customizing all of the

other components.

Let us know if your music, school, church or scouting organization would like to undertake a group

project –BYO Guitar can supply multiple kits or custom guitars.

Some Ideas for Finishing Your Guitar and Examples of Our Custom Shop Products

Section 2 –Mockup and Fit Check

J Bass Section 2 - 1 -

Section 2 Contents

2Mockup and Fit Check ..................................................................................................................- 1 -

2.1 Check Guitar Body & Neck mounting holes......................................................................- 1 -

1. 2.1.1 Drilling the Mounting Holes in the Guitar Body......................................................- 1 -

2.2 Checking the Mounting Holes in the Neck........................................................................- 2 -

2. 2.2.1 Drilling Mounting Holes in the Neck .........................................................................- 2 -