Thunderbird Club

[Engle]

Well, my build-a-lefty-bird project pretty much died today and in a most unexpected way.

Riddle me this; how in this day and age can a kit maker, even a "budget" offshore kit maker, produce and ship a "34-inch scale" bass neck
where the frets are short of proper position, and the error increases the further you get from the nut?

It's not just that the pattern was mispositioned: The proportions from fret to fret are off, so even if I could move the nut out, it'd never be in tune at more than 1 fret.

1st fret is 0.04" short.
12th fret is 0.10" short.
20th fret is 0.12+" short. Essentially an 8th of an inch off, short.

View attachment 7158931

These people have invented the 33.8" scale bass.



Since the bridge mount holes are not drilled, I suppose I could de-fret it , and make a playable 34" fretless if you just ignore any lines and dots... but now I'm seriously demotivated to invest time and energy in something that'll be essentially flawed forever.

There's a half-dozen other fairly major issues with this kit, but I thought I could work past them.

But this one... urk.

And returning it is not looking like any kind of savings once cost and effort are considered.

I am depressed.

I would actually be OK with the shorter scale length. As long as the frets are in correct proportion to each other, it's just a matter of getting the bridge mounted in the right location.
Assuming its not a 3 point? Place the bridge so that the G string saddle adjusted to its most forward position is at double the distance from the nut to the center of the 12th fret + 1mm or so.
What kit is it?

 

[happygilmour]

It might be helpful if you had some detail about the neck/ neck pocket type you were looking for.

I have an Epi Goth loaded body. 4 string. I’m open to anything that fits. Trying to avoid much modification to the neck pocket.

 

[dagrev]

Not that we've noticed.

Good. I'm sure you know to check drywall above doors/windows, corner bead and your tuckpointing outside and where brick meets the foundation. Some of that may not appear immediately so keep an eye on likely spots.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Well, my build-a-lefty-bird project pretty much died today and in a most unexpected way.

Riddle me this; how in this day and age can a kit maker, even a "budget" offshore kit maker, produce and ship a "34-inch scale" bass neck
where the frets are short of proper position, and the error increases the further you get from the nut?

It's not just that the pattern was mispositioned: The proportions from fret to fret are off, so even if I could move the nut out, it'd never be in tune at more than 1 fret.

1st fret is 0.04" short.
12th fret is 0.10" short.
20th fret is 0.12+" short. Essentially an 8th of an inch off, short.

View attachment 7158931

These people have invented the 33.8" scale bass.



Since the bridge mount holes are not drilled, I suppose I could de-fret it , and make a playable 34" fretless if you just ignore any lines and dots... but now I'm seriously demotivated to invest time and energy in something that'll be essentially flawed forever.

There's a half-dozen other fairly major issues with this kit, but I thought I could work past them.

But this one... urk.

And returning it is not looking like any kind of savings once cost and effort are considered.

I am depressed.

You hire the cheapest, most inexperienced labor you can find, provide almost no training, and don’t explain the precision, or at least its importance. They’re doing it by hand on ancient equipment with lots of slop in its workings.

 

[MCF]

I have an Epi Goth loaded body. 4 string. I’m open to anything that fits. Trying to avoid much modification to the neck pocket.

Epi bolt on necks seem to come up on the Bay frequently. I actually got one from a club member here about a year ago. It’s for a project I’m planning.

 

[MCF]

Good. I'm sure you know to check drywall above doors/windows, corner bead and your tuckpointing outside and where brick meets the foundation. Some of that may not appear immediately so keep an eye on likely spots.

I need you or Roger to come out here for an extended visit.

 

[Ringhammer]

He loves the tort guard, as much as I love Neil Young

@Engle made a nice B-W-B one for my 2013 EB 4 string. I have to assume he still has the template. However, I can’t say it’s the same for a 5 String. I think the pickups in my 4 string EB are the same as what’s in your 2015. If your 2015’s pickups are the same size / dimensions as your new 5 string EB’s pickups, then, maybe the pickguards on the 4 and 5 string EBs are the same.

 

[MCF]

3 for sale

So you and Jan had a talk? You sell three and you can get that vintage reverse? Sounds like a raw deal to me. But if you must, you must. Let me know which ones.

 

[MCF]

I bought a rechargeable duster (instead of buying more air cans. Seem to be very helpful given there note at the bottom.
View attachment 7158452


I haven't scanned the code for fear of what might show up.

That looks to be very handy.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

3 for sale

Where?

 

[MCF]

@Engle made a nice B-W-B one for my 2013 EB 4 string. I have to assume he still has the template. However, I can’t say it’s the same for a 5 String. I think the pickups in my 4 string EB are the same as what’s in your 2015. If your 2015’s pickups are the same size / dimensions as your new 5 string EB’s pickups, then, maybe the pickguards on the 4 and 5 string EBs are the same.

Yep. Irv will be receiving a tracing to make a black one. But funny thing is, he’ll also be getting a tracing to do a tort one for the restoration I’m planning for my Silvertone 1490. There are two others to be done as well for a couple of Epis. And a couple TR covers.

 

[Engle]

Saturday night in Ladner. Let’s do this!

 

[Stealth57]

So you and Jan had a talk? You sell three and you can get that vintage reverse? Sounds like a raw deal to me. But if you must, you must. Let me know which ones.

66 Kawai long scale, 68 National, 92 Peavey Foundation. Can’t get comfortable with short scale and the others don’t have the tone I’m looking for. All three together wouldn’t account for more than a down payment on a 64.

 

[Stealth57]

Where?

Come to NorCal again.

 

[BklynKen]

@Engle made a nice B-W-B one for my 2013 EB 4 string. I have to assume he still has the template. However, I can’t say it’s the same for a 5 String. I think the pickups in my 4 string EB are the same as what’s in your 2015. If your 2015’s pickups are the same size / dimensions as your new 5 string EB’s pickups, then, maybe the pickguards on the 4 and 5 string EBs are the same.

Irv totally knocked it out of the park on my RNR pickguard. And that was even without an actual physical pickguard to base it off of.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Come to NorCal again.

Some day!

 

[dagrev]

I need you or Roger to come out here for an extended visit.

If I come I'm playing your basses and amps.
After my fingers hurt too bad to play we can look into less serious matters!

 

[MCF]

Irv totally knocked it out of the park on my RNR pickguard. And that was even without an actual physical pickguard to base it off of.

He does amazing work.

 

[dagrev]

That looks to be very handy.

It is. I used it twice today. Once for a new guts for a toilet. Handy to thoroughly dry places where water might linger and avoid a rag.
Like this guy. I bought the second best in his testing. Around $50 and I had $15 gift card from donating blood, so it was even less expensive. May not last, but who knows.

 

[MCF]

If I come I'm playing your basses and amps.
After my fingers hurt too bad to play we can look into less serious matters!

You know you’re always welcome Donnie. Play away. You can stay on the mountain. SVT and Berg NV610.

I have a new EB fiver. And another surprise. I just PM’d the seller we have a deal for another bucket list Thunderbird. And no, it is not one of the vintage 60’s ones we’ve been discussing.