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TBC club
- Thread starter jonathan_matos5
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I always thought the preamp was the weak link, but I stuck an old set of Carvin pickups in the 4 string Im fixing to sell, and it sounds killer!
The black 4 string I just picked up a pair of SD SMB-4A's for it, and thinking an Aguilar preamp. Fun project. The 5'er is a beast.
Can anybody tell me what the truss rod adjustment nut is like? I have a neck that's missing it.
Can anybody tell me what the truss rod adjustment nut is like? I have a neck that's missing it.
The nut is a standard bullet nut from what I can tell..it might be a slimmer barrel but I doubt it
Pair those with a Nordstrand pre, coil split switch for the bridge pickup, you will have a real beast!!!! Vol "pull passive" blend, bass, mid "push pull 400 800", treble. Mini toggle north south parallel.
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Vintage Bass: USA TBC Stingray Knock-Off
I am going to pick this up Tuesday. I have always liked these American Stingray style TBC’s. These are like old Peaveys when it comes to inexpensive quality used American basses.
I am going to pick this up Tuesday. I have always liked these American Stingray style TBC’s. These are like old Peaveys when it comes to inexpensive quality used American basses.
This should be it.
If you need a replacement, just send me a PM and I'll stick one in an envelope with a postage stamp. No probbo.
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@hbarcat I'm glad you bumped up this thread...I have 3 TBC's I am about to list for sale this weekend. One of them is the 5 string MM/J in pic above that I put the Barts in
And....I never did post them for sale...
Its REALLY hard to make myself get rid of them cause they are the 3 best TBC's Ive owned, and Ive owned a bunch!
A couple of months ago I installed an Audere preamp with Seymour Duncan's "alnico" pickups. I also wired in individual coil select switches for each pickup. North, South, and Parallel. Volume, Balance, Treb/Bass stacked, Mid. Sounds amazing with infinite tone shaping. The neck plays incredible as well.
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TBC JJ with no serial number or country of origin?
hi… I have the opportunity to buy a JJ4 (or maybe it’s a JT4?) for $400. I don’t know the difference between the two models, but this is the model with 2 J pick ups, active controls, and the wooden pick guard, like I’ve seen in photos I found online and here.
The back of the head stock is completely blank. No serial number, no country of origin, nothing scraped off or anything… It looks like neither was ever put onto the back of the head stock. Front of the head stock has the same logo that I have found on other images for this bass.
Anyone have any idea if this is a USA made or imported instrument? Anything else I might be able to know or divine from a model with a nothing on the back of the head stock? TIA!
hi… I have the opportunity to buy a JJ4 (or maybe it’s a JT4?) for $400. I don’t know the difference between the two models, but this is the model with 2 J pick ups, active controls, and the wooden pick guard, like I’ve seen in photos I found online and here.
The back of the head stock is completely blank. No serial number, no country of origin, nothing scraped off or anything… It looks like neither was ever put onto the back of the head stock. Front of the head stock has the same logo that I have found on other images for this bass.
Anyone have any idea if this is a USA made or imported instrument? Anything else I might be able to know or divine from a model with a nothing on the back of the head stock? TIA!
I will tell ya, after having owned 8 TBC's, that I really don't believe any of the JJ, MJ, HH models that were available for the last 5-6 years of Jack's production were truly "MADE" in USA. I do believe those early TBC's that were not jazz shaped but looked more like a Music Man with the single pickup, and several of his early designs were actually made in Bolivar Missouri.
But, the ones youre speaking of either said "Handcrafted in the USA" or "Designed & Built in Bollivar MO, USA" or whatever on the back of the headstock...and IMO that was all just creative bullcrappery. I think those bodies and neck were pretty much always "created" overseas and shipped here for him to "assemble" in his shop. I have 3 TBCs left...all the others I have sold...some said "Handcrafted in USA" or whatever and some said "Designed and Built"... Of the 3 I have left, 2 of them have nothing on the back of the headstock, and one has "designed and built..." and those 3 are the best of all of them that I have owned, which is why I kept them. There was nothing wrong with the others by any means, but these 3 were my favorites. But the one thing all 3 do have in common is they all have the longer, more pointed headstock...as opposed to the shorter, snubbed headstock that he used for the last 3-4 years of their production. I sold 3 of the "Crafted in USA" ones with the shorter/snubbed headstock here on TB, and they were excellent basses ....just as the 3 I have left are excellent, and 2 of those have nothing on them. So, all that to say, unless you just have a hard-on for "Made In USA" (which I don't believe they were), then I wouldn't worry about it.... Here are the 3 I have left and they are outstanding basses, regardless of where they were "crafted" or "built"
But, the ones youre speaking of either said "Handcrafted in the USA" or "Designed & Built in Bollivar MO, USA" or whatever on the back of the headstock...and IMO that was all just creative bullcrappery. I think those bodies and neck were pretty much always "created" overseas and shipped here for him to "assemble" in his shop. I have 3 TBCs left...all the others I have sold...some said "Handcrafted in USA" or whatever and some said "Designed and Built"... Of the 3 I have left, 2 of them have nothing on the back of the headstock, and one has "designed and built..." and those 3 are the best of all of them that I have owned, which is why I kept them. There was nothing wrong with the others by any means, but these 3 were my favorites. But the one thing all 3 do have in common is they all have the longer, more pointed headstock...as opposed to the shorter, snubbed headstock that he used for the last 3-4 years of their production. I sold 3 of the "Crafted in USA" ones with the shorter/snubbed headstock here on TB, and they were excellent basses ....just as the 3 I have left are excellent, and 2 of those have nothing on them. So, all that to say, unless you just have a hard-on for "Made In USA" (which I don't believe they were), then I wouldn't worry about it.... Here are the 3 I have left and they are outstanding basses, regardless of where they were "crafted" or "built"
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BTW....$400-$500 is a great price, and that is around what I sold mine for. But these basses are a steal at $500...the lightweight ash bodies, and pau ferro fretboards are awesome! The stock pickups are nothing to write home about, but I have found that preamp sounds really good after all...so I have only changed out the pickups in mine.
He was always pretty open about the fact that the parts were built overseas, but assembled and finished in the USA, arguing that it was the best way to keep costs down and quality up, and as most of us in this thread can attest he succeeded well on that point.
I have a 5 string MM, and recently picked up a JJ off ebay, and they're just some of the best feeling basses I've ever played. It's subjective of course, but I love 'em. I really want to catch a red-pickguard JJ (4 or 5 string) one of these days, I REALLY wish I'd bought one back when they were readily available.
I have a 5 string MM, and recently picked up a JJ off ebay, and they're just some of the best feeling basses I've ever played. It's subjective of course, but I love 'em. I really want to catch a red-pickguard JJ (4 or 5 string) one of these days, I REALLY wish I'd bought one back when they were readily available.
