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12 (Twelve) String Thunderbird
- Thread starter L. L. Elwood
- Start date
Damn with a sound like that you can eliminate the guitarist position
That is a badass looking bass.
Looks like a rock star's instrument. In a good way. Listened to the sound clip and it sounds great, too. You still playing it I hope?
Neck is Great! Stays in tune and barely have to engage the truss rod. This is a lifetime keeper. So kick ass. I LOVE IT!
Yes. Unfortunately... and fortunately that stripped truss rod causing us to install a new truss also allowed for 2 graphite rods to be put in.. Heck, I DID want to see if the original neck would have taken it.. But really the end result was to have a great instrument.. not just prove a point. Thanks for your interest!Just been back a couple of pages. The finished result in white looks excellent.
I see the neck has been reinforced to take the new extra strings.
That takes my worries away.
Result.
Oh Hell yes. My daughter noted the other day..."Whenever I don't feel well you play bass for me.. but only that 12 string..." It has a very therapeutic vibe.
Amazing bass!!! 
Awesome story, awesomer bass. Nicely done.
Am I the only one who is appalled that @smcd never issued an apology?
Am I the only one who is appalled that @smcd never issued an apology?
I never really expected an apology, and honestly the early trash talking make this an even better story, but the imperious comments were a little surprising.
Wow, late to the party for sure, but another belated kudos is definitely in order. I've always been a closet fan of coursed string basses, especially in the hands of Dug and Tom. And always an outward and open fan of T-Birds. And I love white basses, 'cuz they pop on stage and in pics. You done wrapped all three into one! Icing on the cake, it's stable, plays well, and sounds fantastic. In the past year I stopped wishing and made the leap into a Carlo Robelli 8 and a Waterstone TP-8. Now I just need to find a project where they are a good fit!
Thanks for sharing this unique and incredible build. If there was a TB Build HOF, this definitely should be inducted.
Thanks for sharing this unique and incredible build. If there was a TB Build HOF, this definitely should be inducted.
I've made some alterations to the 12 string. I've been playing it a bit more lately & I wasn't happy with the epiphone ceramic pickups so I had Mark Tenerio at Tenerio Tonewerx in Denver route some holes for two very aggressive, full Super J6 Pickups from a Mid 80s Ibanez Roadstar ll RB850. I've done a good bit of experimenting with these pickups. They are humbuckers wired for LOTS of different tonal configurations with push pots that switch each pickup to series or parallel mode.. After many experiments I've found they sound best wired so that only one coil in each pickup is active and dedicated to its own vol pot - so Vol, Vol, tone just like a jazz. Oh man.. the tone is HUGE throaty, grindy and a bit edgy. Perfect for the 12 string. The original nickle Epi pickup is now not connected. Here's a pic of the pickups in the Ibanez. Then a picture of a detour I took with two Lindy Fralin overwound Jazz pickups (that sounded ok but nothing like the 80s ibanez J6's). Also the J6's have individually adjustable poles to insure string to string balance. Nice. Now I'm going to remove the old epi bridge pickup and have some kind of pickguard made for the center raised section of the T bird to tie it all together. More soon..
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I abandoned the 2 jazz pickups.. and here's the state of the bass now:
Keep in mind.. the ultimate goal is a KILLER sounding 12 string that plays well. I'm getting real close.
@L. L. Elwood,
It is my understanding that you successfully changed the original black pickup covers and replace them with chrome.
Where did you find chrome, and did you run into problems?
I've always wanted chrome on my Bird IV, but don't want to pay an arm/leg.
I tried to change black covers to cream on one of my Pbass mods and screwed up the pup.
The good news is I got a much better pup here on TB which made my mod more of a success.
But I learned the hard way, some covers weren't meant to come off...057912
It is my understanding that you successfully changed the original black pickup covers and replace them with chrome.
Where did you find chrome, and did you run into problems?
I've always wanted chrome on my Bird IV, but don't want to pay an arm/leg.
I tried to change black covers to cream on one of my Pbass mods and screwed up the pup.
The good news is I got a much better pup here on TB which made my mod more of a success.
But I learned the hard way, some covers weren't meant to come off...057912
- Mar 13, 2008
- 18,897
- 142,236
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist Mike Lull T Bass pickups, The Bass Shop, Seattle WA.
Yes, I did pry off the old covers and replace them with some aftermarket Chrome covers that I bought here: Chrome Plated metal bass pickup cover for Gibson® Thunderbird bass guitar
However, I still have the old Chrome covers and mounting rings and the old Epiphone pickups I'd be happy to sell you for cheap if you want them. I won't be using them and you may like the sound I don't know depending on what you're looking for it's very subjective. If that's of interest to you just send me a direct message and we can work it out.
