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NBD '77 Ibanez double neck SG/EB-3 copy

JEDI BASS

Supporting Member
Jan 26, 2008
11,735
9,061
Knoxville, TN
New bass day was actually a few days ago, but...

Here's the photos from the TB FS thread:

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The guitar half plays like a dream with great action! All the switches and knobs work perfectly. The bass half plays very well also, but has one high fret near the joint that I'll need to tap in or have levelled... still has VERY nice low action though. The bass has been modded quite a bit w/ non-original pickup (one's missing) and bridge, and is also missing the p'up selector switch.

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Here you can see the Fender Tele style bridge and single coil pickup (someone was a Tele fan ;) that were installed at some point in it's 30+ year history. Also, a chrome cap was placed where the p'up switch should be (near the neck joint).

Also, a piece of single ply pickguard material has been cut and double-sided taped to cover the neck p'up hole.
 
The hardware was originally all gold, but of course its all worn and tarnished now.

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I've decided to upgrade the bass side, but I WON'T be getting all gold components. My goal is more toward function than looks, w/ the ever present COST issue as well ;). Plus, I haven't seen any gold EB-3 pickups, and the neck "mudbucker" doesn't have many fans here on TB I've noticed.

So, for pickups I've decided to go with a Dimarzio DP120 Model One, like what Billy Sheehan uses... and a favorite upgrade amongst TBers. And for the bridge p'up, an Allparts Gibson-style humbucker.

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That Tele bridge has to go too!! The intonation issue is enough, but the fact that the E and G strings are too close to the edge of the fretboard drives me nuts!

I've got one of these coming

fenderbridge.jpg


I'll be able to space the strings wherever I want without spending a hundred bucks or more for a hipshot bridge. And hopefully I won't need to drill any new holes. And I'm going to cover the bridge w/ a Gibson style bridge cover because 1)my forearm and/or shirtsleeve is scraping on the bridge when I play the guitar, and 2) it'll look MUCH better! Here's the cover that's coming.

bridgecover.jpg
 
Further adds to the awesomeness of the instrument itself.

Yeah! A friend at work asked how much a refin would cost. There's no way I'd do that! Right now it feels like an old pair of bluejeans... so comfy! She wouldn't feel that way if she wasn't worn in.

Also, I noticed by looking at her wounds that both necks and the body appear to be mahogany... can't beat these "lawsuit" copies!
 
Don't have a mudbucker. It didn't come w/ the original pickups. I bought the Dimarzio DP120 for the neck position. Could have gotten a chrome mudbucker for a few bucks less, but like I said.. most folks don't seem to like 'em and the less chrome I have clashing w/ the faded gold of the guitar the better :) at least aesthetically.
 
let me know if you want to get rid of that tele style single coil...

great new bass. i could actually use one of those for switching between guitar and bass for one of my projects.

Will do. It actually doesn't sound half bad w/ just that 1 p'up! I plan on using it today at band rehearsal, in place of my Laklands, Fender, and MM... we'll see what the guys think.

That Tele pup looks like it may be a SD, it's got huge polepieces.

And good point about using it in projects! Imagine what you could do w/ a looper pedal LIVE!! I've got a Boss RC-20XL that I got in trade gathering dust somewhere.

OR, if you're sitting at your portable recorder coming up w/ song ideas...

And, BTW both the guitar and bass can be played at once if you want. It's got a 3-way switch, HAHA!
 
Thanks guys, it IS cool as hell! I'm really having fun w/ it!

Weather (ice on roads) and illness have killed band rehearsal tonight. So, I'm going to work on getting the new bridge installed... it's not going to bolt right up unfortunately. I'll figure something out.
 
So I attached the bridge w/ 3 screws. I'll need to plug two previous holes before drilling the last 2 due to close proximity.

I decided to drop in the DP120 while I had the strings off, will solder later after I get a diagram and 3-way switch.

The hole was just a smidge too tight and I wanted a little wiggle room. So I used my dremel.
 

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