Project JAEbird

[Pilgrim]

Well then, good for you! 

[drbassman]

I hope that will be me in 2 -3 years! 

[Pilgrim]

I suspect I'll be in my late 60's before retirement....depends on whether the university does any creative retirement options.  Some days I look forward to heading to work, some days I'd much rather not.

[nofi]

i retired when i was 57 after getting laid off. i just said screw it, i've had enough. our house and both cars are paid off.  unfortunately i have no building skills whatsoever to take up my time.

[dadagoboi]

unfortunately i have no building skills whatsoever to take up my time.

If you'd "retired" at 30 you would have developed some. .

[drbassman]

If you'd "retired" at 30 you would have developed some. .

There's always hope, even for late bloomers!   

[dadagoboi]

There's always hope, even for late bloomers!   

I agree! 

Been working on proportioning the body and pickguard and it's getting closer.
I took the paper p/g mock up which I had intentionally cut big, taped it to a cereal box and cut out a template.


Transferred that to a piece of 6mm hardboard, cut and smoothed it and attached to a piece of plywood backer board.  That black square is an  $0.88 self stick floor tile from Lowes.  It cuts really easily and is a moneysaver vs using plastic.  Got the idea from somebody at that other forum.

Here's the P/G and cavity cover prototypes (real ones will be 3 ply plastic) after cutting on the pin router.  I think I may be able to bevel the edges using the pin router.  Man, am I digging it!

Cavity cover in place.  For the belly cut I used a Japanese pull saw, chisel and drawknife for the rough out and a belt sander to finish it.  I've considered getting a small shaper for this operation but this was pretty quick and rewarding.  Again, hardwood may be a different story.

[jumbodbassman]

pickup placement??  anyone have exact spots?? 

Carlo I am thinking that moving the neck pickup a little closer 1/2- 1 inch may be the perfect spot.  can you tell me what it is in relation to the Bach as the lull in that spot on my th-1 is truely sweet to me.... 

Mark where is the spot of the lull you have?

[dadagoboi]

It's in the exact spot as on my BaCHs and Orville and Gibson NR according to the info I've seen, 10 11/16" from the 12th fret to the mounting screws .  But I'm always looking for more info and it can be easily relocated to wherever you want it.

I could 'swimming pool' the body route and send you the guard without the pup route in it and you can position it as you want then route the guard...the pup ring would cover up any mistakes with that.

[Highlander]

I'm a Philip K Dick aficionado...

I really don't like the idea of being "retired..."

[dadagoboi]

How about retarred?  That's how they pronounce it in the south, sort of rhymes with retard...which fits a lot of the time.

By the way, do you have any problems intonating your PC?  The reason I'm asking is that the bridges on the BaCH and Lull 'Birds seem to be larger than they need to be if the bridge posts were positioned correctly.

[Highlander]

Mine's in the "right" place, intonates perfectly - the layout and dimensions mirror the JAE design, but with a through neck - from what we worked out with advice from the chaps the neck mimics a D profile "P" in shape and thickness... the bridge and tail are Gibson parts, came already gold plated when I got her... I'll measure and confirm with you tomorrow... she's asleep in her case at the moment...

Anything else dimensionally needed, just holler...

(Not sure I like the idea of being retarred and feathered either... )

[dadagoboi]

Thanks! No need for the dimensions Kenny.  I was just wondering if there was a reason to make the bridge bigger in order to get it to intonate.  Obviously not.  I was looking at some 19mm (3/4) inch square tube yesterday that could easily be machined into an original Tbird spec bridge.  The gold plating on your parts fits exactly JAE's tastes.  They were probably all done at the same time.  There's a magnificent picture of an ExplorerBird in Bass Culture with all gold hardware and pup covers.

Being a designer of cheap but cleanly designed furniture it's a pet peeve of mine when people with a relatively unlimited budget and a blank piece of paper mangle a great looking design like the Thunderbird bridge/tailpiece combo.

[Highlander]

Just posted this on the TP thread - E and A are reversed it may be worth knowing... intonation has always been right and what you see above is the same as when I got her and now... - obviously had a slight alteration or two in other departments, mind you...

[dadagoboi]

They don't make 'em like they used to!  All you need and nothing more.  I'm using a similar trick with my modded bridge.  E saddle and carrier are flipped around.  A is OK.