- Apr 6, 2013
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- Agent for Scandinavian countries: Stick Enterprises Inc.
In all fairness, this being a 5 to 12 conversion, we're talking about 7 additional strings, not 8 
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12 (Twelve) String Thunderbird
- Thread starter L. L. Elwood
- Start date
No one is up in arms, nor is anyone "badgering" you. They're trying to give you advice - good advice that you should heed.
Anything is possible, go for it! Congrats to you for thinking outside the box.
The negative Nellies here likely inexperienced in this kind of work.
The negative Nellies here likely inexperienced in this kind of work.
.
My thoughts exactly!
There's way too much negativity in TB in my opinion.
Thankfully this topic hasn't yet descended into veiled insults as so many others seem to.
My thoughts exactly!
There's way too much negativity in TB in my opinion.
Thankfully this topic hasn't yet descended into veiled insults as so many others seem to.
that may be true, and good luck on it, but i will be super impressed if that when you add the weight of strings and tuners it doesnt neck dive.
Regarding the comment on BC Rich 10 strings, the Bich 8 string was basically a factory-modified 4 string. The ball ends of the octave strings went through holes in the headstock. That worries me a bit, but it's into four decades now and the headstock hasn't snapped off yet.
The Kramer Duke used a Schaller bridge on a headless design similarly:
Of course this would take some careful woodwork, but you could save some space at the headstock. Have to rout out the back section, down to a thickness the tuners would work with.
If tension is a concern, you could always tune it down a step. Careful selection of strings would also help. Prepackaged 12 sets can be pretty thick and high tension. If you like thick strings, you may need to adjust to thinner.
The Kramer Duke used a Schaller bridge on a headless design similarly:
Of course this would take some careful woodwork, but you could save some space at the headstock. Have to rout out the back section, down to a thickness the tuners would work with.
If tension is a concern, you could always tune it down a step. Careful selection of strings would also help. Prepackaged 12 sets can be pretty thick and high tension. If you like thick strings, you may need to adjust to thinner.
This is a great thread. Personally, when somebody tells me I can't do a thing, it makes me try even harder to prove the naysayers wrong.
I'm building a 12 string for a client right now that is a modified Thunderbird shape. He gave me an idea of what he wanted and I sketched out a few things and he picked out and approved the shape himself. I told him it would probably neck dive and his exact words to me were "If I was concerned about neck dive I wouldn't play a twelve." He plays twelves and eights exclusively and accepts neck dive as a given for the type of instrument he plays.
My point in all of this, is that if neck dive is not an issue or concern for the builder, why is it such a concern for all of the hand wringers so worried about larryelwood wasting his money. If he can afford to do it and wants to try, let him. Let's not confuse helpful advice with basic negativism. There's already enough of that in the world today.
I'm all behind you larryelwood. Can't wait to see how this turns out.
Subbed.
I'm building a 12 string for a client right now that is a modified Thunderbird shape. He gave me an idea of what he wanted and I sketched out a few things and he picked out and approved the shape himself. I told him it would probably neck dive and his exact words to me were "If I was concerned about neck dive I wouldn't play a twelve." He plays twelves and eights exclusively and accepts neck dive as a given for the type of instrument he plays.
My point in all of this, is that if neck dive is not an issue or concern for the builder, why is it such a concern for all of the hand wringers so worried about larryelwood wasting his money. If he can afford to do it and wants to try, let him. Let's not confuse helpful advice with basic negativism. There's already enough of that in the world today.
I'm all behind you larryelwood. Can't wait to see how this turns out.
Subbed.
It think it would be a lot easier to buy an import Hamer 12 string Chaparral (set neck designed to handle the EXTREME tension of 12 strings) and modify the body shape to that of a T-bird. I've seen it done before to great effect by Baz Cooper. This way you already have the hardware, too.
- Mar 13, 2008
- 18,898
- 142,253
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist Mike Lull T Bass pickups, The Bass Shop, Seattle WA.
Baz is the MAN!
Here's Mike Lull with one of Jeff Ament's basses built exactly that way - following what Baz had done.
Jeff playing the same bass, he doesn't seem to be struggling with any neck dive - OP, go for it, that Epi's neck is plenty sturdy!
You know, I almost pulled the trigger on a white Korean Chaparral to do that exact thing about 3 months ago. But instead I bought a mid 80s Ibanez Roadstar RB850 and converted it to an 8-string with very favorable results...that actually lead to this.
Baz is the MAN!
Here's Mike Lull with one of Jeff Ament's basses built exactly that way - following what Baz had done.
Jeff playing the same bass, he doesn't seem to be struggling with any neck dive - OP, go for it, that Epi's neck is plenty sturdy!
Cool, TBird 1958, I thought eventually someone from the Outpost would jump in and back me up on this
- Mar 13, 2008
- 18,898
- 142,253
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist Mike Lull T Bass pickups, The Bass Shop, Seattle WA.
Cool, TBird 1958, I thought eventually someone from the Outpost would jump in and back me up on this
It's where all the cool kids are!
- Mar 13, 2008
- 18,898
- 142,253
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist Mike Lull T Bass pickups, The Bass Shop, Seattle WA.
BTW I've peeled plenty of pickups and potted them into chrome covers as well (dispite some obviously misinformed comments to the contrary it works very well.)
It's looking great!
It's looking great!
Dude, you're killing me! First the Ibanez 8 string conversion has me looking around on the web for an old Roadstar to convert. Now this 12 string Thunderbird thing has me thinking how cool that would be, especially after that pic of the Lull bass pops up.
I can't wait to see how this bass turns out!
I can't wait to see how this bass turns out!
Headstock filled and drilled...
Still waiting on a few tuners...
Nicely thought through.
Well that's one thing the naysayers and finger waggers said was impossible already accomplished. I'm not into multi-course basses myself, but I hope you make a success of it just to humble the all-knowing - although they probably won't stick around if there's any chance of them being proven wrong.
Neck dive needn't be an issue either, there's an easy mod involving an extended strap button that puts the strap out towards the 12th fret.
