DIY Saga Bass Kit: Mastering Your Musical Destiny
Start of the DIY Saga Bass Kit Project
How the DIY Saga Bass Kit project started.
A long time ago, when I was a child, I played the bass guitar in a school band. After many years had passed, I had the opportunity to try playing again. And you know what? I enjoyed it immensely. So, the idea of the DIY Saga Bass Kit was born.
So…
“Saga” again. DIY Saga Bass Kit. Again, because I already used the Saga Kit for my first “Tele” project.
For those who are unfamiliar, Saga is a musical company that produces various guitar kits. These kits are essentially clones of well-known models. The current kit I’m working on is marked as PB-10, with “PB” standing for Precision Bass.
However, one should not expect to build a top-of-the-line instrument with this kit. While the body and neck are decent, the pickups and other parts are relatively cheap. The quality of the final product will depend on how much one is willing to invest in upgrading the $100 kit.
DIY Saga Bass Kit. Open It!
Now, let’s take a look at what’s inside the DIY Saga Bass Kit:
- Pre-sealed body (no need to apply a primer coat)
- Neck with the saddle head (can be shaped as desired)
- Pre-loaded pickguard (volume and tone controls already mounted)
- Plastic bag with strings, bridge, tuners, and other metal parts
- Pickups
First step: peg head.
Let’s get started. The first thing to tackle is the peg head. Straight out of the box, it has an unattractive paddle shape. After some research, I found the shape I wanted and printed it. I then transferred the shape onto the peg head.
The only tool needed for this is a fretsaw, which can be found in any hardware store for around $10. Alternatively, it’s sometimes labeled as a jigsaw for cutting plywood.
Peg Head Shape.
Be patient and careful during this process. With some precision and attention to detail, the ugly paddle shape will transform into a nice PB-shaped peg head. Feel free to shape it to your personal preference or create something unique. To gather some inspiration, I simply googled “PB peg head chart 1:1” since I was too lazy to come up with fresh ideas.
Painting: Neck
For the painting process, I used aerosol cans of acrylic paint. However, it’s important to note that the label’s claim of being suitable for indoor and outdoor use should not be trusted. It’s best to strictly use it outdoors to avoid any potential health risks. Even when working in my backyard wearing a mask, I had to retreat several times due to the strong fumes. So, make sure to wait until the toxic cloud has dissipated with the wind.
To protect the fretboard from the paint, I used masking tape from a hardware store. Be careful to apply it over the corners, ensuring that the fretboard is fully protected from all sides.
I suspended the neck using a piece of scrap wire placed between the patio and the fence in my backyard. To prevent the wire from touching the neck surface, I inserted a long metal nail into the tuner hole and tied the wire to its ends. This setup allows you to paint underneath the wire.
Painting the neck is relatively easy, especially if you use transparent paint. I typically apply two coats to the neck. The Saga kit necks are well-prepared, so they don’t require excessive painting. Keep the spray can at a distance of 20-30 cm from the surface to prevent large, heavy drops from forming. This will help you avoid thick paint leaks on the neck.
DIY Saga Bass Kit. Body Painting "Art".
Initially, I decided to paint the body a burgundy color, similar to that of wine. To create a suitable painting environment, I kept my winter car tent for as long as possible. The air temperature should be above 15 degrees Celsius for optimal painting conditions. I had to wait for warm days, risking a fine for keeping the tent on my driveway longer than permitted.
To suspend the body, I used a rope and a nail. It’s crucial to have a long enough nail to ensure that the rope doesn’t come into contact with the painted body. I inserted the nail through the hole for the neck screw.
First disappointment:
However, I encountered my first disappointment when I noticed a leak on the edge. But I reassured myself, thinking I could fix it with sandpaper. Unfortunately, I ended up sanding through the paint, exposing the body underneath.
Final coat!
I’ve made 3 coats with the interval about 2-3 hours between.
What I’ve got as a result you may see in the following images.
It’s mate and a slightly bumpy (like goosebumps) surface.
Long story short!
Undeterred, I decided to resand the body and apply a black coat instead. This time, I sanded carefully, and to my surprise, the result was astonishing. Initially, I thought it was a total disaster, but when my wife exclaimed, “Wow!”, I looked at it from a different perspective. It looks great and unique, don’t you think?
P BASS BODY THERE IS FOUR HOES IN IT FOR THE NECK BUT YOU SEE THERE HAS GOT TO BE FIVE ONE SMACK DOWN IN MIDDELL YOU DRILL A SIZE OF A QUARTHER COIN INTHE BODY BECAUSE ITS A FENDER SQUIER P BASS THE END P.S PUNK STYLE I LIKE DALE BURNS