When the bond is there, that's saying something.
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Show me your customised Thunderbirds!
- Thread starter dannybuoy
- Start date
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- custom thunderbird
When the bond is there, that's saying something.
Here's my Fenderbird, Aerodyne neck, EMG 35CS pickups, passive, string thru Hipshot. This thing is a beast!
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When I think of a "customized 'bird"... I think of beautiful figured tops, expensive professional refins, or total custom pieces that involve one's passion and many hours of hard work. I wasn't gonna post mine here, cuz it ain't really none o' those things. I traded my Goth for this Korean TB IV, cuz I needed the larger neck that this TB IV had. After spending some time with it... this guy just didn't seem to have "it". It was the same "vintage sunburst" that we're all familiar with. The neck was better... but not great. The pickups, didn't have the T-bird "snarl"... they sounded kinda thin & uninspiring, and there were always hum & static issues. The list goes on. One day, I just kinda snapped. I grabbed the bass, stripped of all hardware & electronics, & headed for the basement. My goal... sand my way through the stock finish, & just oil the wood. I grabbed the belt sander & some 60 grit, and tore through it like a madman. This was when I learned that Epiphone used thin plywood to create the raised section in the middle of the body. Instantly, my idea of an oiled wood finish was gone. Plan B? Take my 'bird to my friend's shop, where he does Cerakoting... but first, I decided to have some more "fun" with the sander (after switching to a lighter grit
). I rounded off the body edges and gave myself some forearm contouring, then headed for the spray booth. This was the result...
Initially, I was really bummed! When I saw how uneven the edge of the body was, compared to the pick guard, I thought I'd done a horrible job of sanding! As luck would have it... I was smart enough to have taken a "before" pic, which revealed that the bass was that way before I got all grindy with the power sander...
Compared to so many that posted before me... this is almost an embarrassment... but the job was done in less than 2 days, I've got less than 15 bux into it (and that includes having replaced the pots & wires), and I'm thrilled with the results! She ain't no beauty queen... she's a rock & roll machine!
). I rounded off the body edges and gave myself some forearm contouring, then headed for the spray booth. This was the result...Initially, I was really bummed! When I saw how uneven the edge of the body was, compared to the pick guard, I thought I'd done a horrible job of sanding! As luck would have it... I was smart enough to have taken a "before" pic, which revealed that the bass was that way before I got all grindy with the power sander...
Compared to so many that posted before me... this is almost an embarrassment... but the job was done in less than 2 days, I've got less than 15 bux into it (and that includes having replaced the pots & wires), and I'm thrilled with the results! She ain't no beauty queen... she's a rock & roll machine!
When I think of a "customized 'bird"... I think of beautiful figured tops, expensive professional refins, or total custom pieces that involve one's passion and many hours of hard work. I wasn't gonna post mine here, cuz it ain't really none o' those things. I traded my Goth for this Korean TB IV, cuz I needed the larger neck that this TB IV had. After spending some time with it... this guy just didn't seem to have "it". It was the same "vintage sunburst" that we're all familiar with. The neck was better... but not great. The pickups, didn't have the T-bird "snarl"... they sounded kinda thin & uninspiring, and there were always hum & static issues. The list goes on. One day, I just kinda snapped. I grabbed the bass, stripped of all hardware & electronics, & headed for the basement. My goal... sand my way through the stock finish, & just oil the wood. I grabbed the belt sander & some 60 grit, and tore through it like a madman. This was when I learned that Epiphone used thin plywood to create the raised section in the middle of the body. Instantly, my idea of an oiled wood finish was gone. Plan B? Take my 'bird to my friend's shop, where he does Cerakoting... but first, I decided to have some more "fun" with the sander (after switching to a lighter grit
View attachment 2804334 View attachment 2804335 View attachment 2804336
Initially, I was really bummed! When I saw how uneven the edge of the body was, compared to the pick guard, I thought I'd done a horrible job of sanding! As luck would have it... I was smart enough to have taken a "before" pic, which revealed that the bass was that way before I got all grindy with the power sander...
View attachment 2804352
Compared to so many that posted before me... this is almost an embarrassment... but the job was done in less than 2 days, I've got less than 15 bux into it (and that includes having replaced the pots & wires), and I'm thrilled with the results! She ain't no beauty queen... she's a rock & roll machine!
Love the color choice, she looks slick and those knobs are a great touch. How much better does the arm contour feel?
Thanks man! The color is called "Blue Titanium". When I was surfing through the available colors, something inside me just said, "THAT ONE", so I ran with it
Honestly... it didn't bother me all that much before the contouring, but I knew it would be more comfortable if I did. I was standing there with a naked 'bird and a belt sander... so... well... here we are!
I'm VERY glad that I did it. The Cerakote has a unique texture to it. Imagine thin, tightly stretched denim. That's kinda what it feels like. That feel, mixed with the contouring, makes for a very comfy bass, and happy forearm. I would do it again in a heartbeat (on another cheap bass or a kit bass)!
Hi ! is that a hipshot bridge on the Tbird Black matte? I'm looking to replace the one on my Epiphone pro for a hipshot kickass4 the difference is the 5 hole on the hipshot and the 4 hole on the Tbird Pro.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,591
- 221,975
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,591
- 221,975
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,591
- 221,975
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
- Mar 13, 2008
- 18,898
- 142,250
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist Mike Lull T Bass pickups, The Bass Shop, Seattle WA.
- Mar 13, 2008
- 18,898
- 142,250
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist Mike Lull T Bass pickups, The Bass Shop, Seattle WA.
One of Jeff Ament's Thunderbirds, by Mike Lull.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,591
- 221,975
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
Thanks! They are G&L MFD pu's, and it has the L-2000 9v preamp. Body is Koa with a Kubicki fretless neck/tuner/bridge. Currently strung BEAD.
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,591
- 221,975
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
Hi. Yes, the bridge is the typical matte black of Hipshot products. I am not sure if the Kickass is the same finish, but the pictures make it look like it.
The Bird on the right purchased from a fellow TB'er last year. Status carbon fiber Jazz neck and I had the carbon fiber pickguard left over from my 2001 Bird. I like the look much better than the tort that was on it when I received it.
