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You could just get the kit and give it a try. I've watched a lot of CZcams videos to try and figure out what to do. It might be a little easier if you got a kit that did a bolt-on neck. "Real" Explorers are set necks, but a bolt-on would be easier for a first build. Either way, you'll never know until you try. Thanks for watching and let me know what you decide to do!

I do not have the JS-140. Actually this Jem Jr is the only Ibanez I own. But the JS-140 looks really nice. The Soda Blue finish is really cool. Anyway, I hope you like whatever you get. If you can't decide maybe just get both! :) Thanks for watching.

Thanks! It really did turn out well. As I go down this journey of guitar kits, I seem to get a little better every time. This was a challenge of doing this multi-tone dye technique. I don't know if I did it "right", but it turned out right! Thanks for watching!

Al!! Very good to hear from you! Keep on strumming.

Very nice build .🤘 I have a question about the neck pocket. I'm doing my own kit build and I have a gap of .004 on each side of the neck before I do any prep work .Should I make this tighter and if so how to do that?

I'm sure what you mean? If you mean the placement on the body, that is where it needed to be for the correct scale length. Let me know if I'm on the right track. Thanks for watching.

Thanks! This was my first build with a set neck and I really wanted that cherry color. I turned out great. It's a fun guitar to play and sounds good. thanks for watching!

good luck. Let me know how the build goes. Thanks for watching!

Thanks for watching. I hope you have a good build.

It is in great shape. The finish looks great and the clear coat is locked in. The neck and fretboard are one of the nicest one's I've done. Super silky feeling and plays great. Thanks for watching!

@@jrgguitars3620 thank you!!!

The crackle finish was a learning process for me. I watched a lot of CZcams videos to get an idea of what to do. Then I did testing on scrap wood. I also painted the guitar once and didn't like it. I had to sand it down and do it again. The big thing is to be prepared when you get ready to paint. The setup time is super quick. I panted the under lying color (black) with regular paint and let it dry for about 45 min. Then I did the crackle paint (white) It basically starts drying as soon as I lay it down. So you have to quick with the process. You can't go back and do a second coat. So prepare and work fast! Good luck, let me know how it goes. Thanks for watching.

If you're talking about the thing at about 2:35, that's a fret beveling file. I bought it from Amazon a few years ago. the one I bought is not available anymore, but there are a bunch of different ones still up there. Not too expensive: $10-15 US for cheap ones, or $30+ for nicer ones. It does a nice job of knocking the ends down and keeps a consistent angle to the fret ends. Thanks for watching!

Thanks!. That was a fun little track to put together. Thanks for watching!

​@@jrgguitars3620I'll buy one for sure thanks for the video budd

Thanks for watching! I had a package in the background on a shelf with identifiers on it and I didn't see it until I had already shot the video and was almost done editing. So I just blurred in DaVinci Resolve. Thanks!

I'm sorry. I didn't read your comment correctly. The background music is something I downloaded from CZcams Studio: The Coming Storm - Ethan Meixsell. It is this: czcams.com/video/H-4y1AkzhU0/video.htmlsi=PZ0ObE_PEd-He75V

Thank you. It always amazes me when the stain goes on and it starts to look good. I'm excited about it, for sure. Thanks for watching.

Thanks! It really is coming together. My actual progress is ahead of the videos, since I have to edit and upload. I really like the look of it. It is going to look, feel and play amazing! Thanks for watching.

Very nice! It was a fun build and turned out really nice. Good luck, and let me know how it goes. Thanks for watching.

Eddie Van Halen famously cut up his "Explorer" (it was actually an Ibanez Destroyer). I could have thinned them down and it would reduce some weight. But I wanted to make this one a pretty classic shape. Maybe on the next one! Thanks for watching.

I don't know the actual angle. I sanded it down by eye and kept checking the angle in relation from the fretboard to the bridge. It was a learning process and I have done it again with another guitar by clamping stops to the sides of the neck to help create the angle. I have a pretty good description of it on this video: czcams.com/video/BZHVsjH-tPY/video.htmlsi=AVUiPRqSYvNt7jSU&t=247 Thanks for watching!

The nut slot is not too bad. I think what you saw was the dark area under nut is a sliver of fretboard. As the fretboard ends, there is a small sliver of darker wood from the fretboard that remained uncut when the cut for the slot. I have already popped the nut off when I started to crown and level the frets (Look for that video soon!). The slot looks ok to the point where I may not touch it; it is cut at nice sharp angles. I think I may invest in a new nut though. It's a cheap upgrade that would yield great results and also I think a black nut would look better. Thanks for watching.

@@jrgguitars3620 I meant the bottom of the nut isn't flush. its at 2:29, or is that the part you mean is the sliver of fretboard where it looks like a gap?

@@asdfasdfasdfsadf7868 Yes! It is the bottom of the nut area. The darker colored fretboard extends with a sliver that sits under the nut. I have decided to go with a new nut. I purchased a Tusq nut that should be a nice upgrade. It is also black and I think that will look better with the final setup.

That's too bad about the packing. But at least the kit is ok inside the box. I hope the videos can provide some help. Let me know how it goes. Thanks for watching!

@@jrgguitars3620 Yeah man, for sure! I'll post pics of it when I'm done on my channel. I have a pretty neat plan for the finish that I might make a video on if it turns out nice.

@@NaUtiCaL36 Yes! I can't wait to see it.

I haven't messed around with 50's wiring, but maybe I should. To be honest, I don't use my volume or tone near enough anyway. I'm stuck in my high gain rut of turning everything on 10 all the time. lol Thanks for watching.

It could be a good option. This would be a nice addition of humbucker pickups too. I found the fit and finish to be great and it is a very nice looking guitar. Thanks for watching.

I'm no expert, but I'm pretty sure they are nickle. They were polished well out of the box.

I found this pretty good. I've read others had problems like you speak of, but mine was good. Maybe they've fixed some production problems. I have messed with the trem though. It would not stay in tune. I ended up blocking it, so it's a one-way tremolo now. That made it very stable. Thanks for watching.

No worries.

The guitar was actually set up pretty well out of the box. The nut was cut well and the tuning machine pretty good. I did a slight truss rod adjustment and set the action to my preference. No high spot on the frets either. I guess I got lucky. Thanks for watching.

I bought a Harley Benton SC-550. I received it in 3 days played great. All for $400.

@@hockeyman2274 I think a lot of Harley Benton guitars come in good shape. The price is really good. I had one come with a slight ding on the neck. They took care of the problem and it was no problem.

Thank you!

It is very nice. Super clean. Thin, fast neck. I have battled tuning stability. I finally blocked the tremolo and that really helped. I think you should get one! 😉

I understand that. It’s not a deal killer for me. I does give some cool character for the fretboard. I’m lot even sure how a return/exchange would work with this vendor. But I decided it’s not worth the time. It makes the guitar have something different too. Thanks for watching.

Wow! I'm glad to be an inspiration, thanks! I did not put any strap buttons on prior to the end of the video series. I wasn't sure where to put them, but after looking at a bunch of pictures online I see they are mostly on the back edge of the body and guys are having the strap go over the top or behind the pointy extension. As far as the front strap, I've seen some on the back of the body (where the neck joint is) and some on the little angled potion on the edge. I liked the idea of the angle portion on the edge but worried about the strap slipping off. I have some other guitars with Schaller strap locks, so I purchased some of those so all my straps would be interchangeable. I'm embarrassed to say the strap buttons are still sitting in the package they came in. I need to get to that. lol Thanks for watching!

Here we go for sure!! This thing is going to be sweet. Thanks for watching.

Lets go!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

Lets go all day long baby!

Thanks. The signal chain is all "in the box". I am using my Line6 Pod Go and going USB out directly to my PC and recording in Cakewalk by Bandlab. The backing track was one I found on CZcams. As far as the patches I'm using on the PodGo, it is my Marshall Plexi emulation, I've got an EQ emulation in front to boost the signal and push the amp a bit. After the Amp and Speaker, I run a delay and then reverb patch. It is a pretty simple signal chain, but sounded pretty good. Thanks for watching!

For all the videos I record I am usually using my Line6 PodGo. It is just a lot easier to record good sounding stuff that way. I don't need to mic a cab and try to control all the echos and ambient noise in a room. As far as patches, I use a Marshall Plexi with a boost in front. For some of the heavier stuff I'll use a 5150 emulation. I'll use an EQ emulation in front of the Amp to drive it a little harder. Of course I drench it in Reverb and add some Flanger or Phaser depending on the riff I'm playing. Thanks for watching!

Thanks! ML kit? That’s a Dean style, dime bag kinda thing, right? Those are cool. There are so many designs I’d like to do. I’ll put it on the list! Thanks for watching.

Very nice! A Firebird should be on my list too! I hope it goes well. Keep me posted on the progress. Thanks for watching!