The Last Bass Outpost

Gear Discussion Forums => Bill's Shop: Projects, Mods & Repairs => Topic started by: Alanko on May 05, 2023, 10:39:03 AM

Title: Precision Thunderbird assembly
Post by: Alanko on May 05, 2023, 10:39:03 AM
I've had this project bass hidden away for a while.


(https://i.imgur.com/IwEoKiB.jpg)

It's an aftermarket P Bass body I routed for a MM style pickup. It sounded ok, but too bright and scooped. I also didn't like the neck.

(https://i.imgur.com/rYFrOfn.jpg)

I've stripped the pickup and pickguard off the body and replaced the neck. This is a Fender Jazz Bass neck that I added a '66 style decal to:

(https://i.imgur.com/XZhmARg.jpg)


I also bought a Gibson Thunderbird pickup from EBay, and cut a new pickguard from ivory pearloid material. This brings me to here:

(https://i.imgur.com/qrDJGra.jpg)

I need to wire it all up and probably do a lot of additional setup and tweaking, but so far things look ok.



Title: Re: Precision Thunderbird assembly
Post by: Dave W on May 05, 2023, 09:28:10 PM
Looks good. Probably won't sound much like a TBird, but should be interesting.
Title: Re: Precision Thunderbird assembly
Post by: Alanko on May 06, 2023, 03:22:15 PM
Yup it doesn't sound like a T-bird! It has sort of chocolaty tone with attenuated highs and very smooth, compressed mids. It sounds pretty nice.

(https://i.imgur.com/ODlHrnZ.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/J5wAne2.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/KuzNxlR.jpg)

Title: Re: Precision Thunderbird assembly
Post by: OldManC on May 06, 2023, 03:36:35 PM
Nice looking P. I like how it turned out!
Title: Re: Precision Thunderbird assembly
Post by: morrow on May 06, 2023, 04:17:19 PM
That should sound great. Always appreciated two knob simplicity.
Title: Re: Precision Thunderbird assembly
Post by: Alanko on May 08, 2023, 01:27:29 AM
Like my last experiment with a Gibson T-bird pickup, this one is also microphonic and susceptible to interference. The two things an epoxy-sealed humbucker should not be!

The neck-side coil appears to be the microphonic one. I had the pickup screaming on me with the bass through mild distortion.
Title: Re: Precision Thunderbird assembly
Post by: Rob on May 08, 2023, 07:13:18 AM
Quote from: OldManC on May 06, 2023, 03:36:35 PM
Nice looking P. I like how it turned out!

Same here!
Title: Re: Precision Thunderbird assembly
Post by: Pilgrim on May 08, 2023, 08:26:09 AM
That's a very nice looking instrument!

Funny, with the dark pickup cover and the lighting, I had to look three times before spotting where the pickup was located.
Title: Re: Precision Thunderbird assembly
Post by: godofthunder on May 11, 2023, 03:13:50 AM
  That looks great! I've been thinking about putting a Epiphone 760 Probucker in a P build for a while now.
Title: Re: Precision Thunderbird assembly
Post by: Alanko on May 11, 2023, 02:15:18 PM
Quote from: godofthunder on May 11, 2023, 03:13:50 AM
  That looks great! I've been thinking about putting a Epiphone 760 Probucker in a P build for a while now.

That pickup would essentially float or be minimally recessed I imagine?
Title: Re: Precision Thunderbird assembly
Post by: BTL on May 11, 2023, 06:25:18 PM
That looks great, congrats!