- Mar 13, 2008
- 18,898
- 142,256
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist Mike Lull T Bass pickups, The Bass Shop, Seattle WA.
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12 (Twelve) String Thunderbird
- Thread starter L. L. Elwood
- Start date
Though the back of the neck isn't finished completely as well as the front of the headstock..I figured it was time to string the T bird up to see if in fact it would all hold together!..
Here's what happened....
Even barely roughed in as far as cutting the nut and saddles... an AMAZING sounding 12 string bass!!
The neck, though some believed that there was no way 12 strings would fit, is almost too wide! But it's workable for sure.
The Strings are a comfortable spacing even up to the nut.
Still experimenting with Bridge string spacing.. I kind of like this set up but may opt for closer octaves... we'll see..
The only thing that was unavoidable.. some string overlapping on the G string. If they don't mind, I don't!
Just roughed in, the nut is still very high which is good, it will allow for some string spacing experimentation.
Daisy Approved.
I have yet to plug it in. It sounds freaking amazing acoustically. Like a piano, bass and guitar all at once.. So cool! I'll continue to post images as the finish is buttoned up and of course the obligatory video/sound link as soon as i get it set up properly!!
No issues with neck bowing. In fact i barely had to engage the truss rod to keep the neck flat. All is good.. There may be some settling over the next few weeks months.. but i have a LOT of room for truss rod adjustment.
Also, as one poster predicted, pretty neck heavy, as expected. I already moved the strap buttons and fixed about 70% of the neck dive. A wide leather strap should remedy the rest.
12 STRING TBIRD!!!!!!!!
Here's what happened....
Even barely roughed in as far as cutting the nut and saddles... an AMAZING sounding 12 string bass!!
The neck, though some believed that there was no way 12 strings would fit, is almost too wide! But it's workable for sure.
The Strings are a comfortable spacing even up to the nut.
Still experimenting with Bridge string spacing.. I kind of like this set up but may opt for closer octaves... we'll see..
The only thing that was unavoidable.. some string overlapping on the G string. If they don't mind, I don't!
Just roughed in, the nut is still very high which is good, it will allow for some string spacing experimentation.
Daisy Approved.
I have yet to plug it in. It sounds freaking amazing acoustically. Like a piano, bass and guitar all at once.. So cool! I'll continue to post images as the finish is buttoned up and of course the obligatory video/sound link as soon as i get it set up properly!!
No issues with neck bowing. In fact i barely had to engage the truss rod to keep the neck flat. All is good.. There may be some settling over the next few weeks months.. but i have a LOT of room for truss rod adjustment.
Also, as one poster predicted, pretty neck heavy, as expected. I already moved the strap buttons and fixed about 70% of the neck dive. A wide leather strap should remedy the rest.
12 STRING TBIRD!!!!!!!!
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Wow! That came out really, really nice.
I bet the TB+ sound great on a coursed string instrument. I have X2Ns (guitar version) on a couple of mine, which are a tad more overwound, and those are just fantastic with the octaves. Bell-like, warm, and gutsy.
It's good to experiment and try different spacings. Amazing how much difference that makes. My favorite so far seems to be the tightly spaced octave+root configs, like on my B12S:
With that tight spacing and the string bottoms lined up on the same plane, it makes it easy to articulate just the root notes when I want and essentially mute the octaves with my left hand fingers when needed. It's also easier for me to play fingerstyle with the roots on the bottom like this (I have a Ric setup the other way, and need to change that). I hate having to swap instruments between songs, and so I'll play entire sets on the 8 and 12 - and just make it sound like a 4 string when the tune calls for that.... and let 'em rip on the other songs!
Again, awesome work on this. Congrats.
I bet the TB+ sound great on a coursed string instrument. I have X2Ns (guitar version) on a couple of mine, which are a tad more overwound, and those are just fantastic with the octaves. Bell-like, warm, and gutsy.
It's good to experiment and try different spacings. Amazing how much difference that makes. My favorite so far seems to be the tightly spaced octave+root configs, like on my B12S:
With that tight spacing and the string bottoms lined up on the same plane, it makes it easy to articulate just the root notes when I want and essentially mute the octaves with my left hand fingers when needed. It's also easier for me to play fingerstyle with the roots on the bottom like this (I have a Ric setup the other way, and need to change that). I hate having to swap instruments between songs, and so I'll play entire sets on the 8 and 12 - and just make it sound like a 4 string when the tune calls for that.... and let 'em rip on the other songs!
Again, awesome work on this. Congrats.
Been following this one since you started & I have to say...it's bloody gorgeous! The headstock bothers me a bit, as the strings overlap, but overall a VERY nice job!!! Makes me want an 8-string Bird. lol Maybe I'll mod one after I'm done tinkering with the Classic IV I have on order.
Thanks awilkie84! Yeah.. The G string overlap is the only visual that kind or irks me as well.. but..I'll forget it soon enough! Also, if you do convert a 4 string Tbird to 8, I'd recommend going with the 4 string Tbird Pro.. Neck is a little wider than your classic, also, the Tbird pro has the standard bolt on bridge not the countersunk Gibson style tbird bridge that your classic has. Much easier to just slap on the Schaller 8 string bridge...
- Apr 18, 2008
- 16,011
- 1
- 31,716
- Disclosures
- I'm highly opinionated and extremely self-assured
Oh hell yeah!
Fan-effing-tastic - congrats!
The overlapping strings at the headstock, while perhaps a bit unsightly, are unlikely to cause any functional problems, especially with the unwound (plain) G octave strings.
Glad to hear about the truss rod - that's kinda important!
Sent from my asteroid using Awesome
Fan-effing-tastic - congrats!
The overlapping strings at the headstock, while perhaps a bit unsightly, are unlikely to cause any functional problems, especially with the unwound (plain) G octave strings.
Glad to hear about the truss rod - that's kinda important!
Sent from my asteroid using Awesome
Project costs:
Tbird Pro 5: $395
Schaller Bridge: $75
Knobs:$10
Pickup Covers/Rings: $50
Strings: $32
Truss Rod replacement/Graphite rod install: $150
Finish for Neck/Headstock: $8
Finishing materials: $12
Total Cost: $732
Approx Time invested so far: 15 hours.. Will probably spend another 6 hours or so getting the finish right and experimenting with string spacing and final set up.
Tbird Pro 5: $395
Schaller Bridge: $75
Knobs:$10
Pickup Covers/Rings: $50
Strings: $32
Truss Rod replacement/Graphite rod install: $150
Finish for Neck/Headstock: $8
Finishing materials: $12
Total Cost: $732
Approx Time invested so far: 15 hours.. Will probably spend another 6 hours or so getting the finish right and experimenting with string spacing and final set up.
He's off on another Mother Theresa-level sage advise dispensing quest, there can be no doubt. He's done here.
That bass is gonna be gorgeous. Congrats on a real cool mod! Nice clean execution.
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Octaves a bit closer together might be nice, as long as they don't hit each other. Depends on preference. Personally, I like all of the strings as low as possible at bridge/nut without buzz to maximize playability.
Great project!
Great project!
Larryelwood I saw this post today, read through the whole thing and I'm blown away! Congrats on a killer unique project!
