The Last Bass Outpost

Gear Discussion Forums => Bill's Shop: Projects, Mods & Repairs => Topic started by: drbassman on June 03, 2008, 09:33:56 AM

Title: 2003 TB carcass now has pups!
Post by: drbassman on June 03, 2008, 09:33:56 AM
I finally, after 7 months, I got my Overdriven covers back from SD with the guts installed.  Whew, I thought they has lost them.  This bass is all ready to go, just waiting for the hardware installation. 

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y16/drbassman/2003%20TB%20Project/100_1492.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y16/drbassman/2003%20TB%20Project/6ba5_12.jpg)
Title: Re: 2003 TB carcass now has pups!
Post by: exiledarchangel on June 03, 2008, 10:38:43 AM
We want clips! We want clips!! We want clips!!!  ;D
Title: Re: 2003 TB carcass now has pups!
Post by: drbassman on June 03, 2008, 02:22:09 PM
We want clips! We want clips!! We want clips!!!  ;D

OK, OK.........I've got to learn how to do that sometime!   :P
Title: Re: 2003 TB carcass now has pups!
Post by: godofthunder on June 03, 2008, 03:49:37 PM
 Thats gunna be killer ! Glad your got your pups back !
Title: Re: 2003 TB carcass now has pups!
Post by: drbassman on June 03, 2008, 07:46:35 PM
Thats gunna be killer ! Glad your got your pups back !

Me too!  I got a free SCPB pup too because of the delay.
Title: Re: 2003 TB carcass now has pups!
Post by: drbassman on September 25, 2008, 04:23:50 PM
Finally got around to hooking up those custom SDs and they sound great.  Since this was a carcass, I took some liberties:

1.  Wired like a LP bass with 3-way switch
2.  2 vol controls, no stinking tone controls
3.  Hipshot bridge!!!!  Yikes, never thought I'd do this, but it is one cool bridge.  I love the fully adjustable string saddles, lateral and height.  Much like a Schaller roller bridge.  Very light since it's made out of aluminum, aircraft grade.  It's funky looking but it is a nice piece of very functional hardware.  I just got tired of all of the 3-pointers I have already!

You can really dial in some nice low action with this bridge.  I also have genuine Gibson pick guard and truss rod covers to go on next.  Gotta fix some wiring issues, one pup isn't working, as usual I misplaced a wire or two!  I am so NOT an electronics guy!

Pardon the crappy lighting but the sun went down before I could get some decent shots!

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y16/drbassman/2003%20TB%20Project/100_1919.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y16/drbassman/2003%20TB%20Project/100_1924.jpg)
Title: Re: 2003 TB carcass now has pups!
Post by: Pilgrim on September 25, 2008, 04:33:22 PM
You do beautiful work, and you sure move fast!!

I've had the Reranch stuff for my Hi-Flyer for two weeks already, but I won't get a chance to touch it until at least the weekend of October 11th...... :P
Title: Re: 2003 TB carcass now has pups!
Post by: drbassman on September 25, 2008, 04:37:43 PM
This was an easy one really, just putting parts on it really.  I also forgot to mention that I used Hipshot Ultralight tuners and they are really nice too.  Only they are pretty wide heads, so you have to put a very slight angle on them as you install so they don't bang together when actually tuning.  It's a little tight but they are first class tuners and seem to weigh nothing.  I'm thinking about putting a pair on my Black TB too.
Title: Re: 2003 TB carcass now has pups!
Post by: shadowcastaz on September 25, 2008, 05:06:14 PM
Nice job Doc. I wondered what happened to that body/neck. i too have a Hipshot super . Id love your opinion on it. What was the  SD pup you had put in and how much were they?
Title: Re: 2003 TB carcass now has pups!
Post by: drbassman on September 25, 2008, 05:20:45 PM
Hey Shadow, I'm very impressed thus far with the bridge.  As I said, the variable adjustments really are nicer than a 3 pointer.  I've always liked individual saddle adjustment with a roller lateral too.  It sounds fine to me, good ringing sustain and first class construction.  Intonation was a breeze.  In fact, it was almost right on as it came from the factory.

The SDs are the Overdriven  60s covers with custom wound SD 60's spec pups.  Seymour actually has a hand in many of these.  The covers are somewhere around $160 and the internal are now up to $180 or more, so I've heard.  But they are kick ass pups for sure!  The one in my 60 NR restoration (same specs as these) is a monster with clean clear bottom end to die for.
Title: Re: 2003 TB carcass now has pups!
Post by: Dave W on September 25, 2008, 07:55:33 PM
Looks great overall. Gotta say though, the look of that bridge really does take some getting used to.
Title: Re: 2003 TB carcass now has pups!
Post by: shadowcastaz on September 25, 2008, 08:40:29 PM
Im got some covers, now for the  recipient..........
Title: Re: 2003 TB carcass now has pups!
Post by: drbassman on September 26, 2008, 04:49:55 AM
Looks great overall. Gotta say though, the look of that bridge really does take some getting used to.

Yeah, it's a bit bigger than I thought it would be.  I think they could have made it slimmer, more elegant, but it sure has all of the adjustments you'll ever need.  After staring at the 6 or 7  3-pointers I have on other basses for so many years, it is weird looking, but no weirder looking than a Badass IMO.  On this bass I've tried to go for function as well as style, hence the dropping of the useless tone control and addition of the 3-way.
Title: Re: 2003 TB carcass now has pups!
Post by: drbassman on September 26, 2008, 04:51:00 AM
Im got some covers, now for the  recipient..........

For the Hipshot bridge?
Title: Re: 2003 TB carcass now has pups!
Post by: Nocturnal on September 26, 2008, 05:54:46 AM
I'm planning on getting one of these bridges later on for my StealthBird. It doesn't seem to stand out as much on the black basses.

I'll bet this bass sounds killer Doc!
Title: Re: 2003 TB carcass now has pups!
Post by: shadowcastaz on September 26, 2008, 06:44:54 AM
Nope , pup covers. :mrgreen:cover would be cool though!
Title: Re: 2003 TB carcass now has pups!
Post by: drbassman on September 26, 2008, 06:50:33 AM
I'm planning on getting one of these bridges later on for my StealthBird. It doesn't seem to stand out as much on the black basses.

I'll bet this bass sounds killer Doc!

Yeah, I'll bet the black isn't as obvious.  The bass would sound better if I could get the iwring right the first time!  I always screw it up somehow.  I think the neck pup isn't hooked up properly to the jack.  typical!
Title: Re: 2003 TB carcass now has pups!
Post by: godofthunder on September 26, 2008, 07:24:08 AM
 Looking good Bill !
Title: Re: 2003 TB carcass now has pups!
Post by: drbassman on September 26, 2008, 08:55:28 AM
Nope , pup covers. :mrgreen:cover would be cool though!

I  see!
Title: Re: 2003 TB carcass now has pups!
Post by: drbassman on September 26, 2008, 08:56:27 AM
Looking good Bill !

thanks Scott. I gonna try to finish it tonight.
Title: Re: 2003 TB carcass now has pups!
Post by: drbassman on September 29, 2008, 02:15:49 PM
All finished except for the rear control cover, gotta make one sometime.  It sounds fantastic.  I really can't quite tell, but it seems a little deeper in tone than my white TB with the plastic pup covers.  That one is pretty growly and full of mid-ranges.  This one growls but has a nice bottom end.  Both have TI jazz rounds on them.

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y16/drbassman/2003%20TB%20Project/100_1934.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y16/drbassman/2003%20TB%20Project/100_1936.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y16/drbassman/2003%20TB%20Project/100_1937.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y16/drbassman/2003%20TB%20Project/100_1938.jpg)
Title: Re: 2003 TB carcass now has pups!
Post by: gearHed289 on September 30, 2008, 11:39:11 AM
Nice. I kinda like the Hipshot bridge. I have those same Ultralite tuners on my Fenderbird.
Title: Re: 2003 TB carcass now has pups!
Post by: drbassman on September 30, 2008, 12:39:12 PM
Nice. I kinda like the Hipshot bridge. I have those same Ultralite tuners on my Fenderbird.

Yeah, the bridge is growing on me.  Much better than a Badass or similar bridge where you have to drill extra holes in the body.  I easily could have made more room for the tuners just by enlarging the existing tuner holes by a mm or 2, but I didn't feel like messing with it.  I just wanted to finish it and play it out!
Title: Re: 2003 TB carcass now has pups!
Post by: Barklessdog on October 01, 2008, 04:49:26 AM
Nice job once again, I have the ultra lights on my Blueshawk.
Title: Re: 2003 TB carcass now has pups!
Post by: drbassman on October 01, 2008, 09:25:26 AM
Thanks.  Those ultra lites are nice!
Title: Re: 2003 TB carcass now has pups!
Post by: shadowcastaz on October 02, 2008, 05:30:03 AM
pretty,very pretty. I like the no tone control . my mom always told me to keep my hands where they belong.
Title: Re: 2003 TB carcass now has pups!
Post by: drbassman on October 02, 2008, 05:36:31 AM
Your Mom is a wise woman!  It's funny, but it's really kinda neat to be able to flip between the 3 combinations on a TB.  Very different from contemporary TB configurations.  And I'm not kidding when I say I NEVER use the tone controls on my basses.  I do everything through my amp's EQ.  I never found a tone control that was worth using.
Title: Re: 2003 TB carcass now has pups!
Post by: Dave W on October 02, 2008, 08:25:51 AM
All you need is an on-off switch and an Opti-Grab.  ;)
Title: Re: 2003 TB carcass now has pups!
Post by: drbassman on October 02, 2008, 12:46:18 PM
All you need is an on-off switch and an Opti-Grab.  ;)

You are so right Dave!  I actually never touch the Vols either, just the 3-way.  Also, I always thought the Optigrab was for hooking the guitar cable through!