It’s time to retrofit my Firefly FFJA Baritone, which because of its 30″ scale length, I call a bass VI. But that’s just semantics, eh? It’s a great guitar (yes, bass guitar) and I especially like the reverse headstock. It is a much more natural way to tune a stringed instrument with the tuners on the bottom of the headstock. Guyker was nice enough to send me some active pickups for it, so let’s get to it!
After removing the original pickups and pick guard, since this will be an active bass, I would like to add a battery box so I don’t have to unscrew the pick guard every time I need to change the battery. Inside the cavity, I marked off a spot (in silver Sharpie) that was out of the way of the controls and marked holes where the screws for the battery box will go on the back side of the body then drilled holes.
On the back side of the body, I masked it off and lined up the battery box with the holes I drilled then traced around the outline of the box with a pencil so I knew how much material to take out.
On the tape template, I scored the line with a razor blade where the box will recess into the body, so there won’t be as much paint flaking off when I drilled. Using my drill press and forstner bits, I hogged out the middle part then finished it up with a chisel.
As careful as I tried to be, there was a fair amount of tear out and a piece came out but I was able to glue it back in. I think this is indicative of plywood bodies. As much as I would like to say this turned out nicely, it didn’t. I rushed it and made the hole a bit too wide, so there’s a strip of black vinyl wrap under the battery box to hide my mistake. Maybe I’ll swap that out for a sticker or something, but it is what it is, eh? I glued that piece back in and installed the battery box. On to wiring.
