The Last Bass Outpost
Gear Discussion Forums => Bill's Shop: Projects, Mods & Repairs => Topic started by: n!k on April 06, 2009, 03:31:22 PM
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Here's the page I'll make to document it as it goes along. Because it is often true that nothing truly belongs to a man until he has f***ed with it, my beloved bird is going to have some modifications to make it a better instrument for me and my playing. Some of the upgrades are hardly necessary, but what the heck. I'll have plenty of pictures when its out of the shop. It is, as we speak, undergoing the blade and has to sit for a few weeks so the nitro can dry.
Here's the list of everything going to be done over the next couple weeks, and I'll check 'em off with pictures as I go! Yes, as uninteresting as it is I don't have anyone else to share my enthusiasm with so you guys will have to humor me. :bored:
Major Mods:
- The "Butcherbird" Cutaway - Saw it on this very forum and it was a revelation. It will greatly improve access to those upper frets. Whats cool is that the shop is a certified Gibson repair facility and can create this cutaway and still keep the sunburst finish "like it was custom made from Gibson." They're going to fit the pickguard to the new shape.
- Warwick Bridge (black) - Always loved this bridge when it came to neck through basses. It sits within the body to really get down to that low-neck angle thats often on neck through instruments. And stylistically, I think its a very modern take on the original 60's two-piece Thunderbird bridge. My setup on the T-bird right now is fine but adjusting intonation is a bear, and I've had my bridge fall onto the floor during a string change sending all my saddles a'flying! What a pain.
Minor Mods:
- done Gotoh Res-O-Lite Tuners (black) - Gotoh's tuner to compete with Hipshot. A classy heart-shaped tuning key and the same weight savings - a set of 4 is the same as 3 of the stock Grover tuners. Here's a picture (http://home.comcast.net/~n.leners/tuners.jpg)
- done Switchcraft Jack (black) - Replaced the stock jack with a Switchcraft jack. Mouser sells them (Mouser# 502-151) and even in black if you talk to a sales rep. This actually did seem to clear up the tone in a very modest way, but maybe that's just me.
- done Warwick Security Strap-Locks (black) - Picked some up. These look and function almost the same as the Schallers, but I wanted the black to match. The snap to unlock it seems kind of ginger, but I don't think it'll be problematic.
- RS Guitarworks Super Pots - In my quest to leave no Thunderstone unturned, I'm going to replace the Pots too. One of my Gibson volume pot shafts is already a little wobbly after a year, so a big feature of the RS designed CTS pots were brass shafts. They advertise having "very smooth" volume transition, but we'll see. I'm going to use the wiring diagram for a '76 T-bird that uses 2 500k volume pots along with a 250k tone pot (I'm not sure if this is actually different from the modern Tbird wiring, anyone know?).
- Vintage Sprague .047 Cap - Using the '76 schematic, it called for a .047 capacitor. I got one on eBay cheap that tested very strong when I got it. The t-bird control cavity has all the room in the world for an old oil/paper cap, so what the hey. Anyone know what the original brand and voltage was on your stock '76 cap? The Spragues are 400w.
- New Nut - Suggestions needed - I was leaning to a Tusq nut based on how well I've seen them work on Fender basses, but does anyone have experience with a nut material other than that?
- Indicator Knob Washers - All guitars should have these!
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Wow, that is extensive! Keep us posted and add some pics when you can.
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I replaced my original nut with a graphite nut on my blacked out Bird. The original had the E string slot cut way too deep so I needed to replace it. Since I was blacking out everything else (well, almost everything) I decided to go with the graphite nut. I had them on other basses and never had a problem with them.
Sounds like a Hell of a project you have going on there. Looking forward to the pic's.
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Yep, nice project! Interesting!!
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All lies till you post us pictures!
;)
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Major Mods:
* The "Butcherbird" Cutaway - Saw it on this very forum and it was a revelation. My work here is done ! ;D All bow to the power of the saw. (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v102/godofthunder59/2480334560083345702mBKBIW_ph.jpg)
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Uwe will hate this! Great;)
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You mean, Uwe will pretend to hate it.
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You think Uwe's now in his Volvo station on his way to a luthier with a trunk full of Thunderbirds, to get the Butcherbird cut our?
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Uwe will, more than likely, be on his way to the Hague as we type...
"I vill schtop zis butchery vonce and for all..."
... Claiming that the "Dasson Modification" is a "Luthier Crime" and demanding "Clown-Burst" and "Tequila" refins be banished for all eternity...
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And him being a succesful lawyers makes chance too:(
Well, I know people in the Hague. Maybe I can stop him.
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Uwe will, more than likely, be on his way to the Hague as we type...
"I vill schtop zis butchery vonce and for all..."
... Claiming that the "Dasson Modification" is a "Luthier Crime" and demanding "Clown-Burst" and "Tequila" refins be banished for all eternity...
Give Uwe a chance, he had a moment of sanity with his Texas Bullet Bass!
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:popcorn:
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Uwe loves this stuff, he just likes to get a rise out of people.
God love him for it, Dave is the vinegar & Uwe is the oil. One can't exist without the other or the universe would be thrown into chaos.
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Who is the salt John? 8)
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I always thought I was the Ranch. Or maybe Blue Cheese.
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Balsamic... with a touch of virgin olive... ;)
Brett... pass over the popcorn, salty I hope...
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Sorry Ken, Buttered. Will that do?
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Who is the salt John? 8)
Without a doubt Rob- he gives his opinion flat out, which I respect him for, he's just being honest. The Bulb thing still burns from the salt!
Ouch!
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Any news on the mods?
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Did I hear my name mentioned? :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: I don't have issues with any of those mods, that TB will be something special! Not modding my TBs just means that I have enough other basses (Gibson and other) with good upper fretboard access so I'll gladly leave the TBirds with their structural impairment. And I've never found the three-point hard to adjust, probably comes from all the practice I have with my various Gibsons.
Uwe
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Maybe your handle should be "Lord Of The Three Point"
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Done!
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... I guess I could provide the fuel for the fire... ;D
Buttered 'll do Bret, I can always add some salt of my own... ;)
... and Barkless (John?)... If Uwe changed his handle all sanity would leave this place... ;D ;D ;D
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What sanity? ;)
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"You can't fool me, there ain't no sanity clause." -- Chico Marx
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If the majority rule... who looks mad in the madhouse...?
... and remember, "No one here gets out alive..." ;)
err... bassists, and others... we appeared to have wandered from the path... shall we return to the T'bird...?
Good Grief... I just did something "normal", even "rational"... "We're doomed, we're all doomed..." :o :o :o
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Still in the shop, but supposedly they're going to have me go check out the progress soon. I've been busy lately so it's been only the sugarplums of dreams for now.
My setup on the T-bird when I sent it in was damn near flawless aside from a rattly G-string saddle. I just think the Warwick design is a dream to maintain. Stylstically, I was really interested in what a "modernized" bird would look like. I wanted to keep it similar to previous T-bird elements (like the '76 wiring, the 60's two-piece bridge, the 90's black hardware, and 00's lightweight tuners) and be a little unique. I've a got a few ideas for the new pickguard, i'll keep you posted!
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Finally! Some updates! Here are some in-progress shots. I went down to feel the new cutaway myself and it's awesome. Just needs to get the routes rounded out, smoothed up, and painted.
(http://home.comcast.net/~n.leners/tbird_1.jpg)
(http://home.comcast.net/~n.leners/tbird_2.jpg)
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Looking good !
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thats sweet.i like the look of that bridge on there too.
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That looks really good. I guess I know what to do with my LP bridge. My Blackbird project has a new bridge in mind! I don't bother with much past the 12th fret so I don't need to worry about the cutaway. :mrgreen:
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Thats looking pretty cool!!
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That Warwick bridge looks like it was born to be there, great.
I won't comment on the cutaway :-X, but I know it makes sense.
Uwe
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hi, guys, hope this is not a hijack!
other than esthetics, what do you think is the main diff. in sound/tension etc. if any, between the trad. t-bird bridge arrangement and a hardtail/bolt-on type?
trying to decide for my f-bird...my IV is the only one i have EVER played :o
thanks!
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I think the hard tail is a bit easier to adjust, but I have like 7 Gibsons with the 3 pointer and I;e learned to manage them just fine. I like the looks of a 3 pointer better.
The best bridge of all, IMHO, is the Warwick one used in this project.
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The Warwick bridge looks nice too!
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Catch-up is a bugger... ;D
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It is! ;D
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Nice job the bridge looks great.
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... and N!k... some nice work... 8)
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If you can believe it, I STILL don't have this back. It's almost been a year. Just a couple weeks ago I visited it in the shop and I couldn't have been more impressed though. Apparently Gibson doesn't give out it's sunburst paint formula to just anyone (not even their authorized repair centers!), and every mix they make is different from the others, so they had to sit down and mix it from scratch. I can't wait for it to be done and for you guys to see it. It's breathtaking. Looks like it rolled off the factory floor with a Warwick Bridge and the extended cutaway! Shouldn't be too long now... I'm dying after a year without my 'Bird!
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I know the feeling, N!k... I'm stalled due to adverse weather conditions... (feeble excuse ;D)
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DONE!
(http://home.comcast.net/~n.leners/tbird_3.jpg)
Sunset on a Sunburst
(http://home.comcast.net/~n.leners/tbird_4.jpg)
With Flash to see the 3-point post holes. Without flash these are actually pretty tough to see, even close.
(http://home.comcast.net/~n.leners/tbird_5.jpg)
Excellent work on the finish matching.
It took forever but all credit to Brown's Guitar Factory on doing it RIGHT, which is always worth the time. I'll upload a guts shot next.
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(http://home.comcast.net/~n.leners/tbird_6.jpg)
The Ecstasy of... Copper? These are the new pots (RS Guitarworks), NOS Sprague cap, and Switchcraft Jack.
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He sure does nice work but what a wait.
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It turned out great! I love that bridge too.
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It looks great! But I agree with Dave, that's a long wait.
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That looks great ! And now you can get to those high notes ! ;D
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That looks great ! And now you can get to those high notes ! ;D
I played a show last night and could finally play a passage in one of our songs up there with complete ease. Thanks for the inspiration, GoT.
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I have said it a hundred times......................we should be running Gibson's bass dept.
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V nice... 8)
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Now you're making me want a bigger cutaway....
Very nice!
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Now you're making me want a bigger cutaway....
Very nice!
My work here is done. ;D
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I can't claim anything here as mine came that way, but I'm happy to stand by my "brothers..." ;D
(Hmm... can Peter Cook be considered our "spiritual" grandpa, considering mine goes back to the early 70's...? - Scott def' gets the resurrection credit as his mod well predates my arrival... ;))
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(http://home.comcast.net/~n.leners/tbird_7.jpg)
One more from the side.
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She's a winner!
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Dark-n-moodie... 8)
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You cannot go wrong with black hardware.
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Let me fix that Uwe:
You cannot go with black hardware.
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You cannot go wrong with black hardware.
I agree. Especially in this instance, when the black areas of the sunburst are much blacker than other modern Thunderbirds I have seen.
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You cannot go wrong with black hardware.
:vader: :vader: :vader: :vader: :vader:
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You cannot go wrong with black hardware.
Typical german propaganda.
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You cannot go wrong with black underwear.
I thought this was more in the spirit...