Project JAEbird

[drbassman]

i think 495. is too cheap. your custom bass should cost at least as much as the fender standard at 549. my 2 cents.

all you potential buyers can now throw something at your screens.

I agree 100%!  You should charge more, at least for folks outside this wonderful forum!   

[dadagoboi]

i think 495. is too cheap. your custom bass should cost at least as much as the fender standard at 549. my 2 cents.

all you potential buyers can now throw something at your screens.

I agree 100%!  You should charge more, at least for folks outside this wonderful forum!   

Thanks for the compliments!  If I could buy basses like these for $495 I wouldn't be making them myself.  As demand increases the price will go up but at this point I'd rather build basses and a reputation than just wait for a sale at a higher price.

I'll always give special consideration to forum members.  I'm positive I wouldn't be building if not for the inspiration and encouragement of you guys!

[vates]

Medium scale STRATOBASTER http://bassoutpost.com/index.php?topic=4335.0

thnx!

[drbassman]

Thanks for the compliments!  If I could buy basses like these for $495 I wouldn't be making them myself.  As demand increases the price will go up but at this point I'd rather build basses and a reputation than just wait for a sale at a higher price.

I'll always give special consideration to forum members.  I'm positive I wouldn't be building if not for the inspiration and encouragement of you guys!

Sounds like a good strategy.  I might have to do the same when I launch my own effort.  It'll be interesting to see how it goes for you.

[godofthunder]

I must have a Fenderbird ! I just watched Curt Traynors Live The Who again.........................Pino step aside is all I gotta say. PM sent

[Denis]

I must have a Fenderbird ! I just watched Curt Traynors Live The Who again.........................Pino step aside is all I gotta say. PM sent

They really do kick ass! Maybe Curt ought to audition for The Who.

[Highlander]

Nope - Curt should stick with what he's doing - the real thing is just a pale imitation by comparison...

[jumbodbassman]

the Bird has landed.  Got home pretty late so pics and more details later once i get to crank it up....

Initial feelings
Nice light bass.  As all tbirds  - a neck diver but manageable.   IMHO this bass was made for finger playing,  at least were i wear it.  I tend to keep my basses high and this one forms a great forearm rest just  like JAE which will make you play near the neck....
Neck is a very nice fender copy. straightest neck i have ever owned other than my foderas/smiths.  I actually put a 1/4 turn relief in as it was too straight and action too low for me.  I am not a big fan of fret noise except when i want it and like to use my fingers/feel to get some dynamics and funky click. 1/4 turn  did the trick for me and action is still amazingly low.   
Finish - really great job Carlo. Black is not easy in any form.  This finish is not that of a 500 instrument....
neck finish-  flawless...

Bridge.  I actually have used this bridge on another bass and i thought it was a fluke.  Tallest saddle at  lowest setting is the d string.  Playing fenders my whole life it usually is the a string.  East fix with my file set.  Actually bridge radius may be more than the neck so i wound up filing A and D string a little bit.

After spending only 15 minutes fiddling with it the action and neck is in my top 10 ( maybe top 5)  basses and i have over 100 so that is pretty amazing to me after 1 hour. 
 
Tomorrow hopefully i will crank it up.  First feeling is i may have made a mistake using the barts. they appear very weak.  actually under 4 close to 3  output when both on (3.8 and 5.7 respectively neck, bridge) .  easy enough to replace if i decide so.   Maybe Carlo's guy will come thru on the 64 pups....

overall this is a very nice bass.   REALLY COMFORTABLE TO PLAY.  My first fender bird but I now understand what JAE was thinking.  Neck is so much better than my  76 and bachbird.  Long bass but manageable but clearly different from a fender....

Carlo you really should charge more except for LBO folk   First lets talk about a white one (with gold hardware if possible) before you raise your prices

Carlo things to consider  - option for cutout of lower horn.  i need to put whole hand around to front of neck to get past the 14 fret.  seems worst then the tbirds because the body is more like a fender in depth and bolt on.

Another thought   - IMHO a 32" neck might make the fenderbird a perfect instrument.  you could probably get 21 or 22 frets and still have the nut sit in about an inch closer.  90% of my basses are 34 (handfull are 35, 1 36") so i am not a medium scale guy but with this body style maybe the way to go....

obviouoly  these are my very first and late at night impressions/thoughts so take it easy on me boys...

Jim

[dadagoboi]

Thanks for the review, Jim!

It appears you are right, just from the components this is not a $500 bass...

I just got off the phone with Seymour Duncan about an hour ago and they will not sell me pups at OEM prices for a bass that retails for less than $800.  Minimum order 24 pups.

Because of that I'm introducing the JAEbird CUSTOM at $825.  It has a honduras mahogany body, The SD SS4 pups, period correct Gotoh CBS style tuners, a bone nut and Ken Smith Rockmasters or equivalent strings.  No upcharge for Ebony (black) finish.  For more info please check cataldobasses.com

The inhouse 'Standard' orders will come with the Duncans.  Future Standards will be equipped with Artec passive soapbars with aluminum covers and rings, visually they will appear the same.  The Standard price remains $495 delivered.  I'll be happy to install your pickups in a Standard.

Here's part of their OEM 'agreement'

Other Terms and Conditions
We strongly desire that Seymour Duncan and Basslines pickups be used on instruments with list prices equal to or greater than US$800. Antiquity and Duncan Performer pickups are not available through the OEM program. Currently, we are not accepting new customers for the Duncan Designed program. If you have a question about something that's not covered on this form, please don't hesitate to ask. The terms contained in this sheet are subject to change.


I apologize for this.  I had based my selling price on the assumption that I would be getting the Duncans at OEM prices.  An SS4 set retails for around $120 minimum with shipping, far too expensive for a $500 bass.

[godofthunder]

I must have a Fenderbird ! I just watched Curt Traynors Live The Who again.........................Pino step aside is all I gotta say. PM sent

I took the plunge ! Very excited I can't wait for my black and maple JAE!

[dadagoboi]

Thanks Scott,

Just got your deposit, it's already spent on a new drill press.  Machine gas is worse than bass gas.

Very much looking forward to the build.  I remember seeing one of your posts on TB a long time ago with a photo of all your Tbirds, capturing it and titling it "Many Birds".  Glad to add one more to the flock. 

[BigRedX]

Found this thread via TalkBass.

Firstly awesome work. These are the nicest looking T-Birds I've seen for a long time, and great to see all the work you put in to arrive at the current version.

So I have a question: I would really like to order one of these, but at the moment pretty much everything I do requires a 5-string bass. So what I would like to know is if you would be able to make a 5-string version? I realise that it's going involve sourcing a suitable neck and a new body routing template which of course will be reflected in the cost. Anyway if this is something you are interested in building, I am 100% interested in buying!

[dadagoboi]

Welcome to LBO, BigRedX, thanks for the compliments!  I've had enough interest in the last few days to seriously consider doing a fiver.  I've given another TBer a quote.  If you'd like to discuss further, email me at:
jaebird@cataldobasses.com

[Highlander]

(Bridge research beckons... )

[dadagoboi]

(Bridge research beckons... )

I was concerned about that but the bridge I'm modding is available as a Fiver.  Allparts makes a nice 3/2 headstock neck with rosewood board.  I have one around somewhere.