The Last Bass Outpost
Gear Discussion Forums => Gibson Basses => Topic started by: TBird1958 on August 04, 2008, 12:38:51 AM
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Well, here's my take on a Fenderbird, its a stock very metallic red Epi Thunderbird that I bought just for the body, everything else from it ended up not being used. The neck is an Eden lefty J, has some nice big chromey tuners and (god help me) a string tree! I made the truss rod cover using my Greco as a pattern, it was painted to match the body color. The pickups are Seymor Duncan Single coils potted into some new chromey covers. The Epi bridge and the post inserts were removed as they don't allow the bridge to sit low enogh on the posts due to their rims at the top. The bridge is an Allparts courtesy of Gary (gweimer) Yeah that's where yours went! and the inserts are Gibsons. Its wired VVTT with a 3 position microswitch.
I modified the neck heel and attached it to the body along with all the other parts, I needed help in actually setting it up and the wiring. Happily Mike Lull did this for me. It plays great and I love how it sounds, its a bit tighter than a Gibson but still kinda clanky... ;D
Here it is at a show we played this weekend, came along as my second. I played the Purple one - it's still WAY better!
(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd306/veronicasteed/fenderbird2.jpg)
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Wow! The CAR with the black block neck is a very pretty combination!
Personally I would have used a normal neck, but it's good we all have differnet tasts.
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The chrome & CAR is a great combo. Made for each other I'm sure.
Nice bass!
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waaaaaaaay cool.
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That turned out very nice!
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Yep, it's a winner, very stunning. I like it!
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It needs a new pick guard like the rest of the flock has
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Beautiful. I like the reverse headstock.
But I'd skip the trussrod cover...
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"But I'd skip the trussrod cover..."
But Rob, it needed a TRC to cover up its shaven bald orifice! Besides its shaped like a Gibson one and I really wanted my heretical Gibsonist nature to show. ;)
It will get a new pickguard too.
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Where did thepickups come from? Also, any difficulty with the neck pocket? I've been toying with this idea myself - I have a rosewood w/pearl blocks SX Jazz neck held for the project...
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Nice!!
Color is great and I like the revers headstock, not sure about the TRC but guess I could get used to it.
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A mirror guard could be cool.
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The TRC is a bit weird (while reversing it too seemed a logic step the outcome looks "wrong" to me, maybe you should just go with a reg Gibson "bell" TRC as the non-rev mid-nineties Epi TBirds did), otherwise it is great. Great match for your "lipstick color" collection.
So what is the Epi body wood? Maho, alder or basswood?
Uwe
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it needed a TRC to cover up its shaven bald orifice!
in that case, just put a ....plug in ;D
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The pickups are Seymour Duncan 51' P bass replacements SCPB3 model, they're potted into the chrome covers from Ebay. I chose to modify the Eden neck to fit the Epi's pocket, seemed the easier way to go about it. It was mostly shaving a bit of angle to it, to make the neck lay flat in the pocket and be more like a real 'Bird. I don't have alot of sophisticated tools.....didn't need anything more than a dremel and a large mill file, lots of test fitting until it mounted straight and flat.
The upside down TRC and the lefty neck really are a nod to me, its well known that I play both sides of the fence, the bass is supposed to be a little "queer'....Like me :gay:
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you mean:
a little "queen'....Like me :gay:
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You guys say the nicest things........... ;D
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Mark, I hope it works out well for you, but I have to tell you, after reading about bad experiences with Eden bodies and necks over at the TDPRI, I'd never buy one.
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I guess that's the nice thing about it is that it could be replaced if it need to be......It was definately done on a budget. ;)
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Great job Mark!! It looks fantastic!
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Mark,
Coolness!
I like the concept ( and statement ) of the reverse truss rod cover ( but maybe you could do it in CHROME!! ;D )
Uwe, "lipstick color"?!? everyone knows those colors are the accents in Marks raven tresses, I believe a shade of red is his usual ( if anything about Mark is usual ) color.
:-*
S.
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Thats one sharp look'n bass Mark !
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Ok, with that explanation and alternative life style agenda, I'm now all for that upside down TRC too.
Quite queerly, a brilliant and oreficial idea.
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Ok, with that explanation and alternative life style agenda, I'm now all for that upside down TRC too.
I dunno - personally, I would have foregone the TRC and just glued some rug around the opening.
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"I dunno - personally, I would have foregone the TRC and just glued some rug around the opening."
I really prefer shaved you know......... :gay: But then covered up, I am a little modest. Wait....are we talking about a truss rod cover or? ;)
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Wait....are we talking about a truss rod cover or? ;)
Truss?
Rod?
Cover?
Yeah, that's it...
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Hey Mark! That looks great - we'll have to get together and compare Fbirds soon, I think mine will be ready near the end of the month.
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Yeah Dave!
I'm thinkin' yours should be along anytime now, Roger mentioned it to me when I picked mine up :thumbsup: