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You know... For many years I've often thought about building an 8-string T-bird.
Either from Warmoth parts or by cobverting a real one using banjo tuners for the octave strings.
Glad to see that I'm not the only one thinking along those lines.
Either from Warmoth parts or by cobverting a real one using banjo tuners for the octave strings.
Glad to see that I'm not the only one thinking along those lines.
- Mar 13, 2008
- 18,899
- 142,256
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist Mike Lull T Bass pickups, The Bass Shop, Seattle WA.
More than one way to do that
Wow, what's the story behind that one? I've seen a 12-string Firebird before, but had no idea that Gibson ever made an 8-string T-bird. Awesome.
More than one way to do that
You have achieved the near impossible.
I
am
speechless.
Btw, the specs on the Thunderbird is:
Maple/bubinga neck with ebony FB
Mahogany body with raised center
GFS MM alnico pickups
Schaller bridge, Gotoh tuners
I've wired it passive for now, with a series/single/parallel switch for each pickup.
a family snapshot:
Maple/bubinga neck with ebony FB
Mahogany body with raised center
GFS MM alnico pickups
Schaller bridge, Gotoh tuners
I've wired it passive for now, with a series/single/parallel switch for each pickup.
a family snapshot:
- Mar 13, 2008
- 18,899
- 142,256
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist Mike Lull T Bass pickups, The Bass Shop, Seattle WA.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Beautiful instruments!
Clint, thanks for the gig shots, that is one fantastic bass, I mentioned what you'd done to Mike Lull the other day - Let's just say it made him smile!
Beautiful instruments!
Clint, thanks for the gig shots, that is one fantastic bass, I mentioned what you'd done to Mike Lull the other day - Let's just say it made him smile!
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,602
- 222,031
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
Those are some beautiful basses! I'd be crazy jealous if I didn't have any T-bird at all.
Question: I'm planning on upgrading the bridge on my Epi T-bird. Hipshot makes what is basically a direct replacement, so that's at the top of my list right now. Are there any other bridges worthy of consideration that are also direct replacements?
Hipshot:
I have the hipshot on a custom string-thru bird - works for me! I have a chrome HS bridge on another bass so swapped saddles and bought some silver bolts at a hardware store to keep the blk/silver look going.
Attachments
How do you like those pickups? I'm planning on using almost that same hardware setup on a future bass (Schaller tuners instead of Gotohs). I really don't like the look of Fender style pickups, so I was looking at MMs as an alternative. I'm interested in your impression.
I haven't really been able to get an impression yet... The bass needs quite a bit of setup work still, so I've just made sure everything works through a 5W tube amp
I'll test it through my Trace Elliot stack when it's done.
I have a feeling that this has been asked before, so I apologize in advanced, but is there anyway of getting the covers over the bridge and middle pickup like the 70's reissue T-birds. Would I have to have someone make it for me? Also, does anyone know what type of tuners are similar to the 70s reissue, are they basically just vintage Fender tuners? many thanks in advance.
birdman14 said:
Search Ebay for the bridge cover. There is a guy selling repros and they are quite nice. Perfect fit. He used to have the handrest but I believe he is out. Hopefully enough of us can inquire and he'll do another run. For tuners- Hipshot Ultralites work well on modern birds. I used a set on my Bluebird and they have been great so far. A bit tight on spacing, but they were drop ins. No drilling.
Alright, got my Thunderbird Pro IV. She's unboxed, plays great, love her very much. Tough thing for me is that some part of me needs to customize every bass I get. So, she's headed into the shop soon to get Straplocks, new strings, a full setup(I know what I like, just not how to get it lol), and after that, probably a new pickguard and truss rod cover. Problem is, the bass was already a fairly irresponsible indulgence purchase, so I may have a long few months before I call her done.
Guitar Center in Downtown Seattle has a very nice used Red Gibson "Twiggy" Thunderbird for sale.
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