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Fenderbird

#24
P. Aaron said:
Is there a 'correct' distance on where to mount the P-neck into a 'Bird body?

I understand the neck dive issue, and would want a comfortable playing range.

What's the sweet spot if there is one for setting the neck?
Click to expand...

You will want to move it farther into the body for better balance. But that will also make higher fret access harder.
 
#25
Din Of Win said:
Fenderbird threads always give me a GAS attack!!!


I REALLY wish i was comfortable with routing and/or knew a lutier... or ANYONE with woodworking skills.

:(


Silverburst Epi bird with a Rosewood P bass neck... :crying:
Click to expand...

The amount of wood that needs to be removed can be done with a dremmel tool. Just go slow and be careful. You don't need a full woodshop to build parts basses and frankenstein basses.
 
#26
There are several guys who build custom bodies and sell them on ebay. They usually make them from alder and then can put a quilted or flamed maple top. They will come with a fender sized neck pocket. The price will be somewhere from $90 to $200.

A used Epiphone body will run less than that in most cases.
 
#27
TBird1958 said:
I made mine from an Epi body and Mighty Mite Jazz neck (P bass necks are too big for my hands) and found it far easier to shave the sides and heel of the neck to fit the Epi's pocket. Mine intonated properly and is easy to play, no long reach to the low frets. Much better than the Warmoth body.

And a close up, the end of the heel was trimmed so the fretboard would fit into the body the same as an Epi neck.
Click to expand...

Every time I see pictures of this fenderbird I start looking for parts - but then somehow lose my nerve.
 
#28
dinogroovie said:
Every time I see pictures of this fenderbird I start looking for parts - but then somehow lose my nerve.
Click to expand...

Indeed!

The neck I choose was not expensive, Mighty Mite J necks are about $25-30 on ebay, all the work was done one the neck's heel not the Epi body. I went at it slow, making templates of the Epi's pocket and I marked fret locations with tape so I knew how much wood to remove from the heel. Sounds complicated but if fact it was pretty easy, a very rewarding first project bass.
 
#30
Barkless Dog said:
Entwistle found the P bass lacking warmth & low end & the Tbird lacking treble & punch (also fragile necks).

It is the really the combination of a Maple bolt on neck with a MAHOGANY body with Tbird pickups that make it a Fenderbird. It's the best of both worlds. Boutique builders have been using this formula for years (except the tbird pups).
Click to expand...

So wouldn't an Epiphone Thunderbird do this all for cheaper? It has a bolt on maple neck attached to a mahogany (more likely "Sen" mahogany) body?


No Fender look, but the tonal goal would be met.
 
#31
My interpretation of the Fenderbird theme:

5092659927_d20d96ab67_b.png


  • Body: Epiphone T-Bird Gothic
  • Neck: Warmoth P-neck
  • Tuners: Hipshot Ultralight
  • Pickguard: taken from a Std. Epi T-Bird
  • Pickups: S.D. Basslines SSB4

The construction is relatively easy with just a little mortising on both the neck and the body: I took some material off the sides of the Warmoth's neck heel (approx. 1 mm each side) to adjust to the narrower neck cavitiy. In order to place the 20th fret in the right position on the body I extended the neck cavitiy a little further towards the bridge. I used a Dremel with 565 multipurpose cutting kit.
 
#34
Barkless Dog said:
True, I believe only the Goth Epi bird has a mahogany body?
Click to expand...

The Silverburst has a mahogany body as well.....although some speculate that the epi mahogany is not the same as the gibson mahogany....

BTW here are some bodies on eBay right now:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Epiphone-Thunderbird-Ltd-Edition-Bass-Guitar-Body-Black-/390272020669?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item5ade0670bd#ht_5414wt_753 $49
http://cgi.ebay.com/Warmoth-Thunderbird-Bass-Body-FULLY-LOADED-/140490460555?pt=Guitar&hash=item20b5e24d8b#ht_500wt_901 $300

There are also a few tbirds going for cheap right now as well.
 
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#40
Hi. A few names I recognise here. :)

A couple of weeks ago, I was lucky enough to have lunch with Peter Cook, who :) created the Fenderbirds, for John.

I am hoping to compile details of Peters work, over the next few months - I have two of his instruments - a Firebird Twin
and an Axis Bass. Anyone else here know of any other Peter Cook instruments?? :)

PeterCookFBirdTwin.jpg


PCookAxis.jpg


PCookAxis7.jpg


Peter made the Fenderbirds and the Explorerbirds. :)
 

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