Step-by-step assembly instructions for the Sela Snare Cajon Kit are included in the "Assembly Instructions" manual. To aid understanding, clear pictures accompany the text. However, the best assembly guide I've found so far is this YouTube Video by Sela. Although it's in German, you'll have no problems as English captions are provided.
Index of Assembly Instructions
General Information [Page 2]
What's Included in the Kit [Page 3]
Working Area and Preparation [Page 4]
Step 1 - Gluing the Body Panels [Page 4 - 5]
Step 2 - Drilling the Holes [Page 6]
Step 3 - Installing the Snare Head Holders [Page 6 - 7]
The JCraft JB-1 features a chunky C-shaped maple neck and slab maple fretboard, both finished in clear gloss. Scale length is the standard 34 inches, but fretboard radius is a little flatter than usual at 14 inches. We also have 20 medium jumbo nickel-silver frets with really smooth ends. Kudos to the people who handle fretwork at JCraft, there's no snagging at all when you run your fingers up and down the neck. I also need to mention the subtly rolled fretboard edges, a feature usually found only on high-end instruments. Finding this on a sub-1K bass is a pleasant surprise indeed. Have I left anything out? Oh yes, let's not forget the black block inlays, which impart a strong '70s vibe. And now, before we enjoy some pics, I'd like to share a few measurements with you, my good readers.
Neck Width at 1st Fret: 45.86mm Neck Thickness at 1st Fret: 22.85mm Neck Width at 12th Fret: 62.84mm Neck Thickness at 12th Fret: 24.87mm Neck Width at 20th Fret: 69.81mm
Howdy folks! Today is the day I begin assembling a "Sela Snare Cajon Kit" by Sela Percussion. The kit comes in a hefty white cardboard box that contains "high quality parts made in Germany." Text and labels on the top of the box are in both English and German. Flip it over, and we get to decipher some Spanish, Italian, French, Polish, Japanese, and Chinese. Right then, let's take a good look at this box.
English and German Text
Text in Six Other Languages
Contents and Bar Code
"Build Your Own Cajon"
Kit Construction - Six Main Steps
I've just opened the box and now understand why it's so heavy. Packed inside are a number of wooden boards, small parts, metal and wooden devices, and a wide array of materials. Sandwiched in the middle are an "Assembly Instructions" manual and a Martin Röttger "Cajon Method" CD. On the CD are demos and backing tracks for four different musical styles [rock, bossa nova, rumba and samba], each in four variations and three degrees of difficulty [simple, expanded and continuous]. These tracks complement the "Cajon Method/Schule" section of the manual.
Manual/Cajon Method CD
Back to the contents of the box, then. Right on top are two rectangular wooden panels. Removing these panels reveals two smaller squarish panels and various small items, some wrapped or packaged in plastic. Right at the bottom of the box are two more rectangular wooden panels. The first panel features a plectrum-shaped hole, while the second sports a reddish veneer. In case you're wondering what all these items are, fear not, for I'll be identifying each and every one of them in due course.
Here’s What You See First
This Comes Next
Right at the Bottom
The box is now empty and its contents have been laid out on my work table. Quite an interesting array, isn't it? Here's exactly what you're looking at:
Two Side Panels
Back Panel
Front Panel
Top Panel
Bottom Panel
Two Snare Head Holders
Wooden Spacer
Snare Head Damping Foam
Sela Snare Head
320 Grit Sandpaper
180 Grit Sanding Sponge
Two 2.5m Lashing Straps
Two Tubes of Wood Glue
52 Wood Screws
Four Rubber Feet
Screwdriver Bit
3.2mm Spiral Drill Bit
Glue Brush
What’s in the Box
And now, as promised, I'm going to identify each and every item that's in the box. We'll begin with the three images below. In the first, we see the two side panels. The top and bottom edges of these panels have been beveled at 45 degrees. In the next image are the top and bottom panels, also beveled at 45 degrees. This beveling enables the top, bottom, and side panels to mate correctly and form four "faces" of the cajon body. Let's look at the third image now. The thin wooden board with the plectrum-shaped hole is the back panel, or "hole site." Next to the back panel is a reddish wooden board adorned with the Sela logo; this is the front panel, or "playing surface."
Beveled Side Panels
Beveled Top and Bottom Panels
Back and Front Panels
Now that we've identified all six body panels, let's move on to the smaller items. I've numbered these items for ease of identification. In the image below, [1] are the two wooden snare head holders. These holders keep the Sela Snare Head against the front panel when in use. [2] is the Snare Head Damping Foam, which can be adjusted to "alter the sound of the snare effect." [3] is the "Spacer." This is a wooden straightedge used during the installation of the snare head holders and rubber feet. [4] is the wooden Sela Snare Head. The round hole in the middle is where the Snare Head Damping Foam is inserted.
Items 1 - 4
Moving on, we have [5], which are two small tubes of wood glue. This glue will be used to bond the top, bottom and side panels together. [6] is a sheet of German "Awuko" 320 grit sandpaper, I'm sure you know what that's for. [7] is a package of two 2.5m lashing straps. These straps will be used secure the top, bottom and side panels while the wood glue dries. Finally, we have [8], which is an "Awuko" 180 grit sanding sponge.
Items 5 - 8
We're down to the last image of this post now. [9] is a 3.2mm spiral drill bit, while [10] is a screwdriver bit. Note that neither a drill nor screwdriver are included in the kit; you'll have to source your own. [11] are 52 wood screws for securing the front and back panels to the cajon body, amongst other purposes. Last but not least is [12], which are four rubber feet. These rubber feet will be screwed onto the bottom panel, or "base" of the cajon.
Folks, allow me to present a brand-new "JB-1 J-Offset 5-String Bass Guitar." It retails at less than RM1K, and is manufactured by Philippines-based JCraft Guitars. Key features include a gloss white offset contoured poplar body, 34" scale maple neck, vintage-style bridge, open gear tuners, two single-coil pickups, and a two volume/master tone control layout. Yes, this is what you'd find on a typical J-style bass - nothing out of the ordinary. In subsequent posts, we'll be scrutinizing the neck, fretboard, hardware and electronics on this JB-1. Meanwhile, here are some pics for your viewing pleasure.
We've now completed fret installation on Albert's Yamaha TRB-6P Six-String Bass, and what remains would be nut work, restringing and setup. Let's look at the strings first. Albert has decided to go with a set of DR MR6-30 Hi-Beams, gauged 30 to 125.
DR MR6-30 HI-BEAMS™
Next, we shift our attention to the custom brass nut that was installed when the TRB-6P was converted into a fretless all those years ago. My plan is to reuse this nut in the current fretted setup. However, two issues stand in the way of my doing so. The first is inadequate nut height, which can be corrected by adding a shim of suitable thickness. In the pic below, you can see that I've glued a solid chengal shim to the bottom of the brass nut.
Solid Chengal Shim
The second issue came to light when I checked the string spacing with a StewMac String Spacing Rule. In the pic below, it is clear that the slots for all but the E and B strings are not where they should be. This discrepancy is especially noticeable on the D, G and C string slots. As there's no remedy for this, the brass nut will have to be replaced.
Checking String Spacing
StewMac String Spacing Rule
Nope, I don't have a piece of brass on hand from which to fashion a replacement. What shall I use instead? Well, there is this old rosewood acoustic guitar bridge that's been in the shop for quite some time. I've sawn off a piece, and this is now our nut blank. Here's the TRB-6P with the nut blank in place and strings on. Thanks to the StewMac String Spacing Rule, I've been able to pencil in the nut slots accurately and achieve correct string spacing.
Nut Slots Marked on Rosewood Nut Blank
Having settled that, starter slots have been cut into the rosewood blank and all six strings are spaced exactly as they should be. At this point, the difference in string spacing between the old brass nut and the rosewood replacement is rather obvious. The next step, then, will be to further widen and deepen the nut slots; and finally reprofile the blank.
Strings Sitting in Their Starter Slots
Comparing Old and New String Spacing
January 2, 2024
Nut work and setup have been completed, and this Yamaha TRB-6P Six-String Bass put through its paces. I'm satisfied with the way it plays, and have shared the good news with Albert. He's currently out of town, but should drop by to pick up his baby as soon as he returns. Who knows, he might be in the mood to treat me to a demo of sorts then, which I will be sure to record for posterity.
Final Setup Completed
The Whole Enchilada
Back in the Groove
May 7, 2024
More than four months have passed, and Albert has finally found the time to drop by CA Guitar Repair. As promised, here's a short video of Albert checking out his Yamaha TRB-6P Six-String Bass, plugged straight into my workhorse Laney RB2 bass combo amp.
