• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

T-Bird Shorty Help!

D

doctormoose87

Feb 12, 2011
80
0
Hereford UK
#1
Hi All

A Merry Boxing day to you all.

Gasing for another t bird. I had an epi one a year or so ago and I struggled to play it as I'm a shorty at 5'3" with smallish hands. Does anyone know if there are any brands which make a 3/4 size tbird or one with a jazz profile neck? I tried the search function but couldn't find much.
 
#2
Gibson produced a run of 400 pieces earlier this year, I had the use of one for about a month, the build quality was nice, satin finish ( not my fave thing, but nicely done) and a reasonable factory set up. Short scale and a very small headstock mean no balance issuses whatsoever, I found it to be pleasant to play, but not for me as a keeper - Interestingly for the reasons it may appeal to you, I'm tall and one thing I want in all my basses is too have feel as though they "fit" me. Nice as the little is I dwarfed it.

Here it is alongside one of my standard Gibson '76s.

donnervogel005.jpg
 
#3
It might be a little more expensive but maybe look at making a Fenderbird. You could have the T-Bird body with a Fender Jazz neck. It's not as expensive if you buy a Epi Tibird and take a Jazz neck off a Squire. Anyway good luck and happy boxing day.
 
#6
Do your research thoroughly before you start on a Fenderbird short scale project. Even if you find a Fenderesque short scale neck (Squier/SX has a few) you will likely need to reshape the joint to fit.

Then you will need to move the bridge forward to get the correct scale length (30" or so), which would mean your pickups are in different relative positions, affecting the tone (in theory a brighter tone).

Swapping to a shorter neck does not a short scale make.
 
#8
A Fenderbird- however you slice it, (Epi/Fender or Warmoth) - isn't going to be any "shorter" than a regular Epi Thunderbird. The nut might be thinner if you use a Jazz neck - but then you might just as well get a Gibson. A true Gibson Thundebrird actually weighs less than the EPi and has a much thinner nut with a sleek feel. And by the time you add up the parts costs of an Epi/Fender bird or a Warmoth bird - you'd probably be looking at just shy of what the Gibson Shortscale bird runs. There have been a few of those pop up on Evil Bay - I'd keep an eye out there.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back