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46

Bill's Shop: Projects, Mods & Repairs / NEVERTILT 3 point upgrade

« on: June 08, 2012, 08:57:20 AM »

Here's the 3 point on my '77 TBird, adjusted to the maximum. Action is still too high and the E string silk/ endwind extends over the saddle, which I don't like. Filing the saddles would lower the action but it would also reduce string break angle.

I use this bridge a lot, fairly easy to adjust as opposed to the 3 point.

First I did a mockup using an obsolete JAEbird tailpiece. The spacing on the stud collars is a very tight fit on the bdidge

Here's the mockup and the marked new bridge

I roughed out the holes for the studs with hacksaw notches and then finished off with a file

Installed, very solid. But what do I know, I actually think the original EB-1 bridge was a good start.

Full intonation and height adjustment with no modification to the bass. E string wrap clears the saddle. The bass plays better and sounds better to me...I'm sure it has more sustain and highs and lows and mids while being perfectly flat. Did I miss anything?

47

Gibson Basses / REPRO THUNDERBIRD COVERS

« on: June 06, 2012, 03:39:05 PM »

Just got the first prototype of the pickup cover from Steve. The plan is to do both covers, based on the 60s parts but with the bridge cover tall enough so it will fit a three point without spacers. The bridge cover pictured is the $20 repro currently on the market.

We'll go ahead if there's enough interest. We intend is to initially make them in nickel silver but if there's enough interest chrome is a possibility. Price to be determined but I'm thinking around $100 for the pair with screws, delivered USA for LBOers.

48

The Outpost Cafe / Got Rain?

« on: May 27, 2012, 11:08:08 AM »

We're currently in a serious multi year drought, this might help. I'm battening down the hatches.

49

Gibson Basses / The Reverse Thunderbird case you need?

« on: May 17, 2012, 08:00:44 AM »

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230792456978&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1123

Fits every one I own, provides protection just about equal to current Gibson USA case. There are a few of these on Ebay right now. This is NOT the same case as the brass hardware equipped Epi. Better construction, padding, hardware and tolex.

50

Gibson Basses / My New '77 Thunderbird

« on: April 26, 2012, 05:25:08 PM »

Thanks to a huge effort from Dave and a heckuva packing job (seriously) today UPS delivered the '77 TBird discussed here last month. Only 138 were made in 77-78, I had one of the '77s and now I own another, almost exactly like mine down to the black pickguard. One owner, Mark Mueller of The Daily Planet. Unbroken and well cared for, original paint with a few touch ups. I'm currently cleaning and setting it up.

51

Gibson Basses / 1964 Gibson Thunderbird Bass Vintage II IV cheap?

« on: April 06, 2012, 04:56:45 AM »

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110856037933&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1123

Lotsa pix and words.

52

Gibson Basses / 1960 EBO

« on: March 24, 2012, 09:09:39 AM »

Seeing the refinned Ebay EBO got me to finally do a refurb on mine that I remuddled in '74. It's the second bass I ever bought (first one with 'my' money) and it will be the last one to go. I spent a few hours yesterday making a pick guard, replacing the '65 Schallers with Hipshot Clovers, headstock retouch and general cleaning.

More pix and what I did here:

http://bassoutpost.com/index.php?topic=6741.0

53

Bill's Shop: Projects, Mods & Repairs / 1960 EBO Refurb

« on: March 24, 2012, 09:07:45 AM »

I stripped to natural, refinned and installed the 1968 Tele bass pickup in 1974 or so. Decided to revisit that after seeing a white EBO on Ebay.

Here's what it looked like most recently. Pickguard made from thin plastic and a pair of scissors a while back, years of rusty hardware.

When I had refinned it I carefully removed the layer of toned lacquer and reshot with acrylic water white lacquer...at least I never found a chrome pickup cover! Did a fairly good job on resizing the holes for the Schallers I had installed at age 20.

'67 EB2 for comparison

Had to resize the holes again for the Hipshot Ultralites. I used some Mohawk rattlecan toner to amber up the inlays. In retrospect I would have gone with a lighter toner but it definitely pops. The great thing about 35 year old lacquer is you wipe it with some naptha to remove any grease or polish and reshoot it immediately with no further prep, the toner and clear melt right in. When it dries you still have the original checking in the finish.

I'd been trying to figure out how to make a pick guard that had the holes in exactly the same place as the original which of course had been tossed long ago with the banjos.

Holes marked on clear plastic

Then I taped the plastic to the old 'pick guard' and drilled tru both to make an accurate template for the new guard.

The old hardware buffed and tone pros studs installed. Tele pup freshened up. Those are the original knobs.

Hipshots use the same screw holes as the Schallers and cover up the original banjo holes. When I did the original refin I left a small rectangle of cherry fin over the stamped serial number. It's faded to match the natural mahogany. Would have been nice to have shorter shafts on the Hipshots for this small headstock, usually they're not long enough.

Control cavity with Gibson 3 way switch, huge orange drop Sprague and the original cherry finish. I'm sure Steve helped me figure out the wiring but I can tell it's my crappy soldering. I have improved in that area over the years.

I'm glad I finally got this done!

54

Other Bass Brands / RD Clone Delgada bass from First Act

« on: January 16, 2012, 05:43:07 AM »

Kent Armstrong pickups, Hipshot bridge and tuners. 34" scale bolt on neck. Info anyone? Can't find any pricing.

From the site:
http://www.firstact.com/Products/LimitedEditionGuitars/Delgada_bass.aspx

55

Gibson Basses / SWEET '64 Embassy on Ebay

« on: January 13, 2012, 08:01:46 AM »

Yowza!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220931671558&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1123

56

The Bass Zone / 19 year old with a '67 EBO

« on: January 08, 2012, 12:36:02 PM »

A friend of mine produced and played all the instruments on this song, including the bass I got for him a few years ago. The artist writes all her material.

I think it shows pretty well what's possible with a single VINTAGE mudbucker as far as getting an acceptable commercial tone with very little processing. Excuse the multiple images, I'm a little slow with the Youtube.

57

The Bass Zone / String Tension

« on: December 05, 2011, 12:07:05 PM »

The only thing I can find is this chart and it's for double bass. Any info on long scale bass guitar string sets would be appreciated. Thanks!

http://jordankirkness.tripod.com/dbstringtension.html

58

Other Bass Brands / 1984 Ibanez Destroyer X NBD

« on: October 25, 2011, 05:12:20 PM »

Instead of restoring the one I have I just bought another off ebay that hasn't been messed with. Hardly played, zero fret wear, arrow straight neck, 32" scale. Really well made bass. The neck pocket is cut with a 3 degree angle instead of using a shim. 7 1/2" radius on the fretboard and the metal piece that fits into the neck adjustment slot is a nice touch. Those are not DiMarzios but they sound really good.

59

Bill's Shop: Projects, Mods & Repairs / 2012 Non Reverse Cataldo Basses

« on: October 23, 2011, 04:18:50 PM »

I've had a few requests for NRs and 5 strings so I've done these prototype/mockups.

If at first you don't succeed...get somebody else to do the work. CNC that is. 4 and 5 string, glued in or bolt on necks, new bridge/tailpiece. 1 1/4" African mahogany bodies standard, genuine mahogany optional.