12 (Twelve) String Thunderbird

[L. L. Elwood]

I have decided to venture forth into 12 string bass land. Not being in love with any of the manufacturer offerings out there (mostly due to body shape and over all design... and price), I've decided to "make" my own. After quite a bit of thought and consideration I've decided to use the Epiphone Pro V bass as the "bones" for this project. It's wide, 7 ply neck through construction will hopefully handle the added tension of the additional 8 strings.. If so, It's going to be one hell of a cool 12 string bass... I recently acquired a 2009 vintage sunburst Pro V that is really quite beautiful.. It's a bit darker than most of the VS finishes out there for this model.

"Before" Pics coming soon...

 

[L. L. Elwood]

 

[Shedua511]

I don't mean to be a ball breaker, but that is just not going to work.
For starters there's not enough place for 7 (seven!) additional tuners on he headstock.
Thunderbirds have a notoriously weak neck, the tension will be too much.

Beautiful bass, keep it as it is and rock it!

 

[lz4005]

It could be possible.

Might have to use steinberger tuners on the head to fit them all, or mount a few on the body.

If not, it's just one less Epi Thunderbird in the world. No big deal.

 

[joel406]

Sorry it will not work.

 

[BioWeapon]

You *might* be able to cram 10 tuners onto the headstock, but 12? I doubt it.
If you want to do 5 octave course, you could do it, but the string spacing would be tight. Like, tight.

 

[smcd]

Not only will it not work, but you're taking a bass that already has a major neckdive issue and making it MUCH worse.

 

[Veldar]

Good luck to you man.

 

[Basshappi]

Good luck to you.

Here is a Tbird 12ver conversion but the builder used a bolt-on neck.
[This invalid link has been removed]

 

[L. L. Elwood]

Ha! This looks like it's going to be some fun...

 

[HockeyDawg]

Cool! Can't wait to see the end result.

 

[Shedua511]

Ha! This looks like it's going to be some fun...

Trust me: it won't.
There are challenges and then there are impossibilities: making that bass a 12 string is impossible.
I don't really have to look at your house to tell you that it is impossible to accommodate a grown elephant... this project is just as crazy
You might be able to make an 8-string out if it, I can see fitting three guitar tuners on the headstock, but 12 is just physically impossible.

 

[KeithAlanK]

The only way to know for sure is to remove the tuners and make a photocopy of the headstock, then use that to try and fit all 8 guitar tuners in a layout that makes sense.
All strings need a clear path to the nut without crossing, no crazy angles that cause binding, all tuners in order so it doesn't require a map to tune.

Pretty sure you'll have to fill-in the present tuner holes and start fresh and then refinish, even AFTER you realize that an 8 is a far better idea with a greater chance of success on this particular instrument.

You'll still need to cram a bunch of lead in the control cavity or on the end of the strap to maintain balance.

Good luck.

 

[Apolicious]

Guys, come on. Such negative nancies. Let the dude try it out, and see what happens. There could be a clever solution none of us have thought of yet.

(Although, to any mods out there, wouldn't this be best posted in the luthier's corner?)

 

[Shedua511]

It's not negativity, it's realism and experience. My goal ultimately is to save the OP from making a mistake, and an expensive one at that.
After all, isn't that why we post on a forum? Free advice

 

[Korladis]

Everyone's a critic.

 

[smcd]

Not criticism, sage advice. Better yet, free sage advice.

 

[J Gold]

If it works, give one each to Nikki Sixx and Jeff Ament, and you'll be the man!

 

[Savage_Dreams]

Not only will it not work, but you're taking a bass that already has a major neckdive issue and making it MUCH worse.

this was my immediate thought too! you will not enjoy playing a 12 on this kind of bass. as someone who has played a number of 12's, i wouldnt think of picking up a 12 with that body style even if it was a production line model.

 

[hdracer]

I don't mean to be a ball breaker, but that is just not going to work.
For starters there's not enough place for 7 (seven!) additional tuners on he headstock.
Thunderbirds have a notoriously weak neck, the tension will be too much.

Beautiful bass, keep it as it is and rock it!

The Epi's use a scarf joint and are much stronger than the Gibsons.