Fender Precision-Bird?

[BTL]

Has anyone ever built or seen a traditional black/black/maple Fender Precision bass with a Thunderbird pickup in place of the traditional split-P?

I think the extra splash of nickel the pickup brings would make it really something special.

 

[BassAgent]

You mean something like Mike Lull makes?

 

[Rip Topaz]

Yup. Not black, though.

I call it the ThunderPea.

 

[BTL]

Yes, like both of those, except with an actual Fender headstock.

It could be a fun project using an MIM project neck, generic import body, string-through bridge and a Lollar Thunderbird pickup.

Something to think about.

 

[dedpool1052]

I know Bluesman Vintage did an early/mid '50s style one with a T-bird pickup in place of the single coil. Looked pretty killer.



*edit*
I know this is not what you're looking for, but I think this is a pretty cool spin on the early '50s P
https://reverb.com/item/83883-bruce-bennett-p-3-in-taos-turquiose-like-a-nash-k-line-or-bluesman

 

[davelowell2]

I put a Thunderbucker in a MIM P. Not black/maple...

 

[BTL]

Nice!!!

 

[Mikaelbass]

I really want to do this to my black n maple with blocks n binding jazz. Since putting thunderbuckers in my thunderbird, no other pickup pushes the tone I like as much as them.

The only obstacles I could imagine are spacing and getting a pickguard to fit. Oh, and having to remove wood from my american deluxe! But what a beast it would be!!

I would say go it! With the pickguard design you could switch between a thunder-precision or split coil precision on the fly.

 

[Dominic D]

While not exactly what you're looking for, Pino Palladino used a P-Bass with Thunderbird pickups at the Who's Half-Time show:

I assumed it was just for the Who, but I was pleased to see him using it with D'Angelo recently on SNL:

I love the look of the Gibson knobs on it.

 

[Dominic D]

Here's a quick photoshop job:

 

[BTL]

Here's a quick photoshop job:

View attachment 552349

That may be the coolest looking P bass ever!

 

[dedpool1052]

I know Bluesman Vintage did an early/mid '50s style one with a T-bird pickup in place of the single coil. Looked pretty killer.

Found it
http://www.talkbass.com/threads/fs-or-ft-bluesman-vintage-55p-with-lollar-t-bird-pickup.1043454/

 

[BTL]

Found it
http://www.talkbass.com/threads/fs-or-ft-bluesman-vintage-55p-with-lollar-t-bird-pickup.1043454/

Cool!

It's too bad the logo and tuners don't fit on the headstock, though.

 

[dedpool1052]

yeah, could never figure out why they put the logo right where the string retainer is.

 

[wvbass]

I really want to do this to my black n maple with blocks n binding jazz. Since putting thunderbuckers in my thunderbird, no other pickup pushes the tone I like as much as them.

The only obstacles I could imagine are spacing and getting a pickguard to fit. Oh, and having to remove wood from my american deluxe! But what a beast it would be!!

I would say go it! With the pickguard design you could switch between a thunder-precision or split coil precision on the fly.

I did this. You do have to do a shallow rout. If you put a ring on the neck pickup, you can use a pickguard with an enlarged J rout.

I added reflector top hats and a thunderbird logo to complete the transformation.

 

[BTL]

Here's a quick photoshop job:

Link Removed

THIS is going to happen.

 

[wvbass]

I should have gone black and maple. That is going to be great.

 

[Mikaelbass]

I did this. You do have to do a shallow rout. If you put a ring on the neck pickup, you can use a pickguard with an enlarged J rout.

I added reflector top hats and a thunderbird logo to complete the transformation.

Awesome! I did see your thread. Any advice on pickup spacing? I noticed you placed your neck pickup closer to the neck side, I was thinking maybe put it dead centre of or closer to the bridge end up the pickup route as long as it is within the pickguard. I've got some reflector tops at the ready a White tbird logo on black guard would be so sweet! No idea where to get that done:/ and I don't really wanna cut my own guard.

 

[wvbass]

Awesome! I did see your thread. Any advice on pickup spacing? I noticed you placed your neck pickup closer to the neck side, I was thinking maybe put it dead centre of or closer to the bridge end up the pickup route as long as it is within the pickguard. I've got some reflector tops at the ready a White tbird logo on black guard would be so sweet! No idea where to get that done:/ and I don't really wanna cut my own guard.

I did the bridge pickup so the the neck coil was where the J pickup was. I did the neck pickup so that the bridge coil was where the J pickup was. Were I doing it again, I would do it the other way and have the front coil of the front pickup sit where the J was. That would be pretty close to Precision pickup placement.

I've toyed with the idea of cutting a new guard so I can shift the pickup back a little. It sounds good as is; I just wonder if it would sound better.

 

[BBQV]

I like the Fender look and the Thunderbird sound too!