Thunderbird Club

[theFixer]

***FSO ALERT***FSO ALERT***FSO ALERT***

This is my "donor" Strat (hadda grab the knobs off it for my 'bird).

(See... top hats look great on errrrrrvrythang)

 

[theFixer]

Or maybe he's like every other male out there that unconsciously and habitually filters all incoming information and only actually retains that which he deems important to him at that particular point in time. Ask me what my wife told me to do 15 minutes ago and I'll draw a blank, but ask me to play a bassline that I haven't heard in 15 years and I'll have it in minutes. Obviously I felt one item was more important than the other in spite of the fact that it probably isn't. How I'm still married after 33 years completely baffles me, wifeypoo must be a saint.

Safe to assume she doesn't monitor TB

 

[GBassNorth]

So... as most of you probly know... I got my sunburst 2008 Korean Epi TB IV, based solely on the neck profile (and the fact it was a T-bird of course). There was no "'bird call". No magic. Well... one day I decided, "Screw it! It's a two hunnerd dollar bolt-on!", and out came the belt sander. My plan? Take 'er down to raw wood, and play it. Maybe oil it... maybe not. This was when I found out about the plywood used to create the appearance of a "center block". Plan "A" was out the window. Plan "B"... take it down to my buddy's shop & have it Cerakoted! I also took the opportunity to barbarically grind down the body edges (which the pick guard accentuates nicely)... (yes... that's sarcasm) & give myself a little forearm contouring.

View attachment 2783425

View attachment 2783426

View attachment 2783427
(truss rod cover isn't screwed down)

The Cerakote is quite interesting. It feels quite a bit like denim stretched very tightly over the wood. I did the back of the neck as well. I like this feel a lot better than the gloss that was on it. The color is called "Blue Titanium". Grabbed the knobs off my Strat. Total investment... 10bux (new pots). I haven't had the opportunity to rail on it yet, but early indications are I wasn't even swingin' fer perfection. I woulda been satisfied if I achieved "Hey! Look at this cool bass I found in my Uncle's garage" status. I think it mighta even come out a little better'nat!

I Love it!
Very original treatment without losing the TBird roots. The forearm cut is a nice touch too. What is the story behind the "657" Number on the lower wing?
Keep your eye on my black dye fretboard post, a darker FB would look really cool with your blue titanium body.

Edit: just noticed that 657 is your club number! Cool idea.

 

[theFixer]

I Love it!
Very original treatment without losing the TBird roots. The forearm cut is a nice touch too. What is the story behind the "657" Number on the lower wing?
Keep your eye on my black dye fretboard post, a darker FB would look really cool with your blue titanium body.

Thanks man!

OOOooo... Yeah!!! An "ebonized" fretboard would look killer

To answer your question... check my sig

 

[GBassNorth]

Thanks man!

OOOooo... Yeah!!! An "ebonized" fretboard would look killer

To answer your question... check my sig

Funny thing is, I've had a couple of my side arms and long guns cerakoted but it never even dawned on me to do that to a bass. Neat idea.

 

[theFixer]

Funny thing is, I've had a couple of my side arms and long guns cerakoted but it never even dawned on me to do that to a bass. Neat idea.

Ya know... it occurs to me... I know this guy who's experimenting on a FrankenBird presently...

 

[GBassNorth]

Ya know... it occurs to me... I know this guy who's experimenting on a FrankenBird presently...

That's always a possibility, but one of the reasons I bought the Goth was because I wanted the satin black finish. The idea was that it will be used as an on stage backup for my Gold anniversary TBird so I didn't want anything sitting on stage that would draw any attention to itself, just blend in to the background when not in use. Satin black with an ebony board and no fret markers is ideal for that. I'm still debating on what to do with the pickguard. Do I go subtle, in which case the cerakote might be a neat option for that; or do I go for a more bold statement like leather with skulls and roses. The functional outcome of the electronics work will help drive the decision.
I really really like your club number Tribute, you may have started a trend there!

 

[kat888]

..

Ummmm......ok sure. I gotta plead ignorance on my behalf though, I dont even pay enough attention to the guitars my guitarists past and present have used, I see the shape and the color and that is about it. Is that weird?.

Yeahbutnobutyeahbutnobutyeahhhhhh.

Just cuz I don't play guitar (anymore) doesn't mean I'm not obsessed with them, how they sound and making teeny tiny little valve amps cry cry their hearts out.

 

[theFixer]

That's always a possibility, but one of the reasons I bought the Goth was because I wanted the satin black finish. The idea was that it will be used as an on stage backup for my Gold anniversary TBird so I didn't want anything sitting on stage that would draw any attention to itself, just blend in to the background when not in use. Satin black with an ebony board and no fret markers is ideal for that. I'm still debating on what to do with the pickguard. Do I go subtle, in which case the cerakote might be a neat option for that; or do I go for a more bold statement like leather with skulls and roses. The functional outcome of the electronics work will help drive the decision.
I really really like your club number Tribute, you may have started a trend there!

Yer right. The satiny feel of the Goth is awesome. That's the wrong bass for that experiment

I think wearin' our club numbers would be a great "trend"! When I was given my number, I swore to "wear it with pride"

 

[theFixer]

..


Yeahbutnobutyeahbutnobutyeahhhhhh.

Just cuz I don't play guitar (anymore) doesn't mean I'm not obsessed with them, how they sound and making teeny tiny little valve amps cry cry their hearts out.

+1

(you sher do tawk purdy)

 

[GBassNorth]

..


Yeahbutnobutyeahbutnobutyeahhhhhh.

Just cuz I don't play guitar (anymore) doesn't mean I'm not obsessed with them, how they sound and making teeny tiny little valve amps cry cry their hearts out.

I've tried to play guitar and I have a number of the beasts but I just can't get beyond the novice stage with them (fat fingers and clumsy left hand, not a great combo for a guitarist) but I absolutely love the sound in a real players hand. To the point that I build small boutique parlor size guitar combo amps as a hobby. I haven't tried my hand at mini valve amps yet but it's on the horizon. To my ears, nothing sounds better than a clean signal A/E guitar through a SS amp with a hint of reverb or an Electric guitar overdriven through a small valve amp.

 

[theFixer]

I've tried to play guitar and I have a number of the beasts but I just can't get beyond the novice stage with them (fat fingers and clumsy left hand, not a great combo for a guitarist) but I absolutely love the sound in a real players hand. To the point that I build small boutique parlor size guitar combo amps as a hobby. I haven't tried my hand at mini valve amps yet but it's on the horizon. To my ears, nothing sounds better than a clean signal A/E guitar through a SS amp with a hint of reverb or an Electric guitar overdriven through a small valve amp.

Just how small are we talkin' 'bout here?

 

[ProgressiveDoom]

That's nuts! I would

Now you've gone and done it! Another car analogy.
Somewhere in San Francisco there's a guy looking for an ice pick to use as a weapon.
Good news is there's plenty of hiding places in your neck of Siberia. Stay safe friend.

, ya know how natural my analogy was?. I just realized what I did there and didnt even recognize it as it was sub conscientiously happening . What can I say?, theres oil running through my veins.

 

[theFixer]

, ya know how natural my analogy was?. I just realized what I did there and didnt even recognize it as it was sub conscientiously happening . What can I say?, theres oil running through my veins.

I've opted out of 3 car analogy opportunities in the past hour alone! I'll never make it man

 

[GBassNorth]

Just how small are we talkin' 'bout here?

On the small end I've made very basic Altoids box size amps that fit in your shirt pocket and can be used with headphones or plugged into any size guitar cab. On the other end of the scale I've built 20 watt 1x10 combos that look perfectly at home in your living room. And many in between sizes that fit on a book shelf or an end table or a dresser.

The idea came from frustration I had when learning to play the guitar and having to go off to a bedroom or den or studio to noodle around or practice where all my guitars and cables and amps and cabs were. I'm a creature of convenience, and if it's out of sight it's out of mind for me. So I decided to design some "home friendly" guitar amps that could be used anywhere in the house. No tolex, no rat fur, no led lights or knobs or 30' instrument cables or visible speakers with metal grills or grill cloth - in short, it had to look like it belonged in the family room so it could stay there and be ready to use anytime I wanted to noodle around or practice.

I've built a number of them for some very good players as a hobby. All are completely custom and tailored to the individual and the environment they will be in. If you can walk into a room as a guest and spot the amp then I've failed. To be clear, these are not gigging amps (although you could mic them) they would look as out of place on a stage as a stage amp would look in your living room.

I'd like to expand into bass combos as well but to be quite honest, it's a whole different ball game cabinet wise. Dimensions and materials and joinery are huge issues in bass cabs, Much more so than in guitar cabs. For that I would really need to team up with a good small cabinet maker which I suspect would have a significant impact on the finished product cost probably pricing it out of the market. But if it's a hobby, who needs to make a profit, right?

 

[theFixer]

On the small end I've made very basic Altoids box size amps that fit in your shirt pocket and can be used with headphones or plugged into any size guitar cab. On the other end of the scale I've built 20 watt 1x10 combos that look perfectly at home in your living room. And many in between sizes that fit on a book shelf or an end table or a dresser.

The idea came from frustration I had when learning to play the guitar and having to go off to a bedroom or den or studio to noodle around or practice where all my guitars and cables and amps and cabs were. I'm a creature of convenience, and if it's out of sight it's out of mind for me. So I decided to design some "home friendly" guitar amps that could be used anywhere in the house. No tolex, no rat fur, no led lights or knobs or 30' instrument cables or visible speakers with metal grills or grill cloth - in short, it had to look like it belonged in the family room so it could stay there and be ready to use anytime I wanted to noodle around or practice.

I've built a number of them for some very good players as a hobby. All are completely custom and tailored to the individual and the environment they will be in. If you can walk into a room as a guest and spot the amp then I've failed. To be clear, these are not gigging amps (although you could mic them) they would look as out of place on a stage as a stage amp would look in your living room.

I'd like to expand into bass combos as well but to be quite honest, it's a whole different ball game cabinet wise. Dimensions and materials and joinery are huge issues in bass cabs, Much more so than in guitar cabs. For that I would really need to team up with a good small cabinet maker which I suspect would have a significant impact on the finished product cost probably pricing it out of the market. But if it's a hobby, who needs to make a profit, right?

That's incredible man! Got any pics?

Is the mini tube amp thing a pipe dream, or is that something yer actually gonna do?

 

[theFixer]

Dimensions and materials and joinery are huge issues in bass cabs

Don't know if you've already considered it or not... but never underestimate the power of a dado & wood glue

 

[GBassNorth]

That's incredible man! Got any pics?

Is the mini tube amp thing a pipe dream, or is that something yer actually gonna do?

I have a larger one in progress I could post a pic on tomorrow. Its about 75% complete but will give you a good idea of what I'm doing.

The tube thing isn't a pipe dream but there's no real timing on it either. If I had a customer demanding it I'd have a higher priority. So for now I'd guess it's still a future endeavor but not too distant.

 

[RedVee]

So... as most of you probly know... I got my sunburst 2008 Korean Epi TB IV, based solely on the neck profile (and the fact it was a T-bird of course). There was no "'bird call". No magic. Well... one day I decided, "Screw it! It's a two hunnerd dollar bolt-on!", and out came the belt sander. My plan? Take 'er down to raw wood, and play it. Maybe oil it... maybe not. This was when I found out about the plywood used to create the appearance of a "center block". Plan "A" was out the window. Plan "B"... take it down to my buddy's shop & have it Cerakoted! I also took the opportunity to barbarically grind down the body edges (which the pick guard accentuates nicely)... (yes... that's sarcasm) & give myself a little forearm contouring.

View attachment 2783425

View attachment 2783426

View attachment 2783427
(truss rod cover isn't screwed down)

The Cerakote is quite interesting. It feels quite a bit like denim stretched very tightly over the wood. I did the back of the neck as well. I like this feel a lot better than the gloss that was on it. The color is called "Blue Titanium". Grabbed the knobs off my Strat. Total investment... 10bux (new pots). I haven't had the opportunity to rail on it yet, but early indications are I wasn't even swingin' fer perfection. I woulda been satisfied if I achieved "Hey! Look at this cool bass I found in my Uncle's garage" status. I think it mighta even come out a little better'nat!

Wow! that’s great mate.

I’ll be interested in what you think of it when you have a play, as against the Goth.

And... what is Cerakote?

 

[GBassNorth]

Don't know if you've already considered it or not... but never underestimate the power of a dado & wood glue

Yeah, the joining is one challenge but the biggest obstacle with bass cabs is getting the right volume in the right physical size with the right porting and sound board and making it all look like it belongs in a living room. You're talking something that will need to be fully enclosed and about the size of an end table or small coffee table or TV stand or large ottoman but will need to be near a wall outlet (which rules out the ottoman). Compare that to a non sealed open back guitar cab like a typical Fender superreverb, where the size and shape is really just a function of housing the electronics and speakers with very little requirement for acoustic cabinet design.