Thunderbird Club

[MCF]

There were only 400 in this PB with a subtle hint of sparkle. Seller is in Thousand Oaks where George and I have had some work done. Nicely priced.

https://reverb.com/item/84297104-2012-gibson-non-reverse-thunderbird-4-string-bass-pelham-blue-coa-ohsc?utm_source=rev-ios-app&utm_medium=ios-share&utm_campaign=listing&utm_content=84297104

 

[ThaCoast]

Next weekend, i should have my Thunderbird bass pretty much ready for the final stages of finishing. I've got a good resized shape for it all around, & playing it as is right now, it's got the thunderbird sound, i only needed to not be so tired while playing it xD Looking forward to showcasing this once its done up. Really dig the TB+ modern pickups, something about them oozes what i've heard as a thunderbird forever, from the likes of Twiggy Ramirez in the early Marilyn Manson days, to Nikki Monninger of Silversun Pickups. Nikki Sixx might've been the first i saw with a thunderbird (Hamers, Spectors, & later when my Dad had the 1st runs of Gibson Blackbirds, what a cool bass).

After this ones done, & other projects of mine to get out xD I'll hop on a 60's/70's tribute Thunderbird. Thinking of sourcing a neck instead of building one, but if none suitable, i'll build from scratch. & body wise i'll go mahogany, might as well have a difference between both birds (black hardware/all maple vs chrome/nickel hardware & mahogany w/maple + rose neck).

 

[BuddhaFingas]

First neck assembly test, prior to one last disassembly, & final polish.

Only neck tasks left are to oil the board which will hopefully help with the sanding dust stuck in the pores beyond what comp air can remove, and to cut the nut, which I will probably do at final assembly so I can string it and check planned spacing over starter notches.

The nut fits so snugly, even without the rod cover being angled for retention, that I dont think it'll even need glue.

Res-O-Lites looking tasty and feeling like buttah.

This is Rev 1 of the rod cover; 3-ply and lasercut fold-foil vinyl. The laser gives the edges a prismatic effect.

Rev 2 is single-ply and blade-cut, which gives a cleaner look.

Made both, will try both. May also try gold with a black logo, for variety. Design is stored and the bevel template is already made, so anything the laser can cut, I can attempt pretty easy.

Got some tort stock left...

I had a genius/idiot* idea regarding fingerboard edge dressing; I clearcoated all the way to the playing surface on the Thumb (Top) side ofcthe neck, but scraped and sanded back to rosewood about half the board thickness on the Finger (down) side so I'll have oilled wood and a very slight roll where my fingers wrap around, but the top side can stay clean and be glossy.

*Jury still out. We'll see how I like it. Feels good at this point.

Body is still a long way from done. Trying to clean up some finish dips via drop fills and curing time is a real test of patience I don't have.


Hopefully done by Halloween.