The Last Bass Outpost

Gear Discussion Forums => Bill's Shop: Projects, Mods & Repairs => Topic started by: Bionic-Joe on March 15, 2010, 08:02:51 PM

Title: 12 string Thunderbird Bass
Post by: Bionic-Joe on March 15, 2010, 08:02:51 PM

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=2320670&id=1600040739

Title: Re: 12 string Thunderbird Bass
Post by: Barklessdog on March 16, 2010, 04:06:24 AM

Content not found.

Title: Re: 12 string Thunderbird Bass
Post by: Bionic-Joe on March 16, 2010, 08:15:43 PM

How about now??

Title: Re: 12 string Thunderbird Bass
Post by: OldManC on March 16, 2010, 08:42:47 PM

That did it. Lookin' good!

Title: Re: 12 string Thunderbird Bass
Post by: Basshappi on March 17, 2010, 09:49:59 AM

Very cool, I love 12ers!

Title: Re: 12 string Thunderbird Bass
Post by: Bionic-Joe on March 17, 2010, 10:26:44 AM

Thanks. I'm thinking Sparkle Blue!!!!

Title: Re: 12 string Thunderbird Bass
Post by: Highlander on March 17, 2010, 12:33:41 PM

(http://www.scubafashion.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/-1422704408240860.jpg)

 ;D

Title: Re: 12 string Thunderbird Bass
Post by: saltymonkey on March 17, 2010, 01:12:47 PM

Wow! Beautiful. I've owned a few 12ers over the years. Haven't really wanted another until now.

Title: Re: 12 string Thunderbird Bass
Post by: Basshappi on March 17, 2010, 09:43:55 PM

I missed out on buying a Waterstone when he was still offering them lefty :( USA Hamers and custom builds are pretty much out of my pricerange so I guess I'll have to build my own.

Man, the projects just keep stacking up! :D

Title: Re: 12 string Thunderbird Bass
Post by: Pekka on June 17, 2010, 09:51:15 AM

So, it's a Hamer neck and Thunderbird wings? From a Chaparral bass? I had the same done 'cause I hated the bodystyle and it being a CH-12 I wasn't destroying any expensive USA Hamer. My friend bult me a B12S style body and after some pickup experiments it now looks like this:
(http://img686.imageshack.us/img686/7797/hw005.th.jpg) (http://img686.imageshack.us/i/hw005.jpg/)

The neck was sawed off and glued to the new body. The original was some very light and soft wood, the new is alder and it resonates much better. Dives like hell but I'm somehow used to it with these kind of instruments. Might explain why Hamer offers this bodystyle only in short and mediumscale versions...

I'm planning to do a similar thing with the Hagström lurking behind, maybe a Swede styled body. It has a bolt-on neck so the whole project would be much easier.

Title: Re: 12 string Thunderbird Bass
Post by: Bionic-Joe on June 19, 2010, 11:11:24 AM

I used a USA Hamer Chaparral  12ver and a USA Hamer FB-IV 4 string bass plus some 1960's thunderbird pickups. I was the second owner of the Tom Petersson Candy Red FB-VIII 8 string bass with 3 pickups, 3 jacks but shortly after my son was born, I needed money so i sold it to Jon Maye in NY. he's a good friend of mine. and still owns it. I will post pics of the Inverness Thunderbird 12ver soon. You did a nice job with yours as well!!

Title: Re: 12 string Thunderbird Bass
Post by: TBird1958 on June 19, 2010, 11:19:18 AM

 As always, looking great Joe!




Sure like that Blue devil to the right too   ;)

Title: Re: 12 string Thunderbird Bass
Post by: Bionic-Joe on June 19, 2010, 01:46:19 PM

AH...the Pelham Blue '65 II ....that's going to the grave with me. But this one absolutely KILLS!!!!!!!!

Title: Re: 12 string Thunderbird Bass
Post by: godofthunder on June 19, 2010, 02:04:48 PM

Beautiful ! Sigh.................... I need to get to work on my 8 string NR.

Title: Re: 12 string Thunderbird Bass
Post by: Bionic-Joe on June 19, 2010, 09:07:36 PM

YES!!!! Just remember...The Great Dealz neck has to be sunk lower into the body so that the fingerboard with the correct pitch is just above the body. Otherwise, the string will be up high. Great for a fingerstyle player. It won't be high off the board just off the body. those necks are SUPER straight!!!