The Last Bass Outpost
Gear Discussion Forums => Other Bass Brands => Topic started by: FrankieTbird on February 16, 2018, 09:44:31 AM
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Haven't heard much on the Bachbirds lately, is everyone still in love with them?
Which series run seems to be the most desired at this point?
I had a cherry series 3 IV, then I got a white series 2 II, so I sold the cherry one cuz I'm not much of a fan of dual pickups. They were both fine instruments though. I also prefer the series 2 because of the way the pickguard is positioned on the body. What I think I'd really love would be a thick body with the arm & belly cuts, coupled with the thin neck. I don't believe that beast was ever built by Bach though, correct?
(https://s10.postimg.org/r4cejjtw9/pic_1346.jpg)
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Looking back at my pictures, it appears the neck on the series 2 is set about 1 fret further in to the body than the series 3, which is why the pickguard sits lower on the body. Is that correct?
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The two last series had the arm cut and belly cut.
I think that arm cut did not look good on the NR Tbird. But that's my opinion.
The second series is probably the most popular.
They are rare.
The third series had the largest production numbers.
BaCH kept changing little things with each series. I have not kept track of all the minor changes.
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Absolutely love my BachBird!
Plays so effortlessly and sounds fantastic, growls like a beast. Though to be honest it's been modified heavily...
(https://scontent.fewr1-4.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/25659713_10212283400294807_2041767444951440221_n.jpg?oh=cf196532fe3d3bcb0f01c8164ef186ce&oe=5B030844)
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The two last series had the arm cut and belly cut.
I think that arm cut did not look good on the NR Tbird. But that's my opinion.
The second series is probably the most popular.
They are rare.
The third series had the largest production numbers.
BaCH kept changing little things with each series. I have not kept track of all the minor changes.
There were what, 20 in the first series, 30 in the second. Any idea how many were in the third? I couldn't imagine it was more than 50 or so.
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It's hard to say, because BaCH never put serial numbers on their instruments.
They only work in small batches. But they never told what their maximum capacity is.
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Absolutely love my BachBird!
Plays so effortlessly and sounds fantastic, growls like a beast. Though to be honest it's been modified heavily...
(https://scontent.fewr1-4.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/25659713_10212283400294807_2041767444951440221_n.jpg?oh=cf196532fe3d3bcb0f01c8164ef186ce&oe=5B030844)
That bowler hat looks awfully familiar... Welcome aboard!
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Absolutely love my BachBird!
Plays so effortlessly and sounds fantastic, growls like a beast. Though to be honest it's been modified heavily...
(https://scontent.fewr1-4.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/25659713_10212283400294807_2041767444951440221_n.jpg?oh=cf196532fe3d3bcb0f01c8164ef186ce&oe=5B030844)
Nice! Looks like it's seen some good use!
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I still have my Series I. It has'nt been in rotation for a long while though. It's waitnig on me to swap the the stock pickup for a Greco TB-pickup I've aquired.
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There were what, 20 in the first series, 30 in the second. Any idea how many were in the third? I couldn't imagine it was more than 50 or so.
Went back to the original BaCH thread to find this, that I posted in 2011.
The first 20 BaCH NRs were all white (but I can't remember if they had belly cuts). I believe they were thick bodied.
The second set of 30 were all thin bodied with a belly cut. There were 10 white, 10 black and 10 Sonic Blue in that series. These had nice, thin necks.
The third series (up to current) were all thick bodied with no belly cut and were available in single and dual pups. The Honeybursts were all single pup but the Trans Cherry were available in both single and dual pups. A little later dual pup Honeybursts were available. These had slightly thicker necks.
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Went back to the original BaCH thread to find this, that I posted in 2011.
The first 20 BaCH NRs were all white (but I can't remember if they had belly cuts). I believe they were thick bodied.
The first series has a belly cut. And the body is the thickest of all BaCHbirds: 43mm. It has a veneer on both sides. The veneer on the top side covers up potentiometer holes that weren't drilled in the right position.
The second set of 30 were all thin bodied with a belly cut. There were 10 white, 10 black and 10 Sonic Blue in that series. These had nice, thin necks.
Correct
The third series (up to current) were all thick bodied with no belly cut and were available in single and dual pups.
The body of the series III isn't really that thick.
Here's a series III BTH-1
(http://www.numberoneguitars.com/shop/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/t/h/th-1_trr_body500.jpg)
The Honeybursts were all single pup but the Trans Cherry were available in both single and dual pups. A little later dual pup Honeybursts were available. These had slightly thicker necks.
Here's an early Honeyburst BTH-1
(http://www.numberoneguitars.com/shop/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/t/h/th-1_dhb_back500.jpg)
(http://www.numberoneguitars.com/shop/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/t/h/th-1_dhb_bodyclose_500.jpg)
The later Honeybursts have a volute at the back of the headstock.
(http://www.numberoneguitars.com/shop/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/t/h/th-2_dhb_head_back_500.jpg)
(http://www.numberoneguitars.com/shop/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/t/h/th-2_dhb_body_500.jpg)
In the series V there were also Black ones and Sonic blue and Transparent Cherry (or Burgundy) with armcut.
Here's a series V BTH-2 with armcut and belly cut
(http://www.numberoneguitars.com/shop/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/b/t/bth-2_trd_nw_tabletop500.jpg)
And a series V BTH-1 with armcut and belly cut
(http://www.numberoneguitars.com/shop/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/t/h/thb-1_bk_side_500.jpg)
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Wow, Rob, I didn't know about the volutes or that some of the later series were black!!!
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I still have three and am still quite enamoured with them. I have a black series 2 and two series 3 a cherry and a sunburst.
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I also have a black series 2, and had a blue one that Denis now owns.
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The one I sold a few months back. Skinny bodied version. Great bass!!
(https://i.imgur.com/pLKgpyq.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/gyvg7Dv.jpg)
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I am completely satisfied with the Artec pickup on my Bach T-bird. That is, concerning the sound. I'm not all that glad about the looks of it. Would rather have a cover on it, just like the Gibson original.
So here's my question: Is it possible to remove the Artec cover and change it to a Gibson cover? How is it done?
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I rounded off the corners with a coarse file. And just slid a chrome casing over the Artec.
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Thank you, Rob! I'll go for that one!
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I rounded off the corners with a coarse file. And just slid a chrome casing over the Artec.
Was it a "press fit", Rob or did you have to use adhesive?
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Press fit.
I tried to get the Artec out of that chrome casing a while ago, but it wouldn't budge.
In the meanwhile my BaCHbird has two EYparts humbuckers installed.
The Artec (with chrome bicentennial casing) and the original bicentennial humbucker are in a drawer waiting for some future project.
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That's a plus! More is coming back to me now. Then there's the corresponding modification to the PG to take the new pickup cover.
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my series 3? with a lull pup. next to 2 of Carlo's early babies. i also have his first 5 string NR. I have a thunderbucker S ready to go into the bach one of these days. not a great belly cut but really thin neck. sounds great through my tube amps.
been a long time for me. hope you are all doing well.
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Rob, did you get the empty Tbird pickup housings and rings from eBay years ago? I don't think they're Bicentennial. The ones I scored have two screw holes in the side of the pickup - which is sixties - while the '76 ones have three holes. Two corners and in the middle at the edge.
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Both. First I scored a Bicentennial casing (with three hole pattern). I think I got it from Greatdealz.
Later I found the shallower casings with just the two holes. They can still be found on Ebay.
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Cool, Rob! I didn't know that! And the size is different too, you say?
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Yes. The sixties repro casings are not quite as tall as the bicentennial casings.
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I've got a couple of those 76 covers. A TB+ with the black plastic peeled off fits literally perfectly inside FYI.