finally got around to getting the bachbird TH-1 gig ready. My company, GE, has shut down photobucket for me so i will have to post some pictures from my home but here are some details..
New chinese TRC. Gold Gibson - somewhat larger than the Bach version so none of the screws lines up but looks pretty good. Any ideas how to get the Bach name removed from the headstock besides the paint or electrical tape..
Nice new set of Labella Hard Rock RW. 45-105 . neck needed significant tightening to handle the strings as the bach strings are really thin chinese stuff... originall tried to put a different set on (the brand with the 4 color ends GHS? but the e string had steps that where giving the nut pulling issues) I have loved Labella deep talking strings since 83 when i stopped using rotos except for my rics but have never tried the Hard Rocking. Got them from Imperialguitars when i ordered some flats just because they have a tbird on the cover and there were on sale.. I like them alot. first real test is tonight at a studio with one of my groups thru an SVT. this group plays the heaviest stuff I do ( Zepp, Cactus, humble Pie, Hendrix) and tunes down to Eb so the 105 works well....
Lull Pickup -
Replaced the pickup and new CTS 500K pots and good quality wire. As i was taking out the old stuff the ground wire came sliding right out without any resistance so I am sure it was not ever connected. Bass used to buzz slightly but i asumed it was just the bach pups in combination with my florescent lights in my workshop.. I didn't want to pull out the "gromets" from the body and ruin the finish so i decided to drill a new channel to the stop piece more like a fender bridge. Rather uneventfull - thank god....
Next was the pickup - slightly longer and wider than the bach pup. The body route was big enough but much deeperthan needed. Used some hard rubber (about 5/8) in the body and then fender softer rubber on the back of the pickup to give it flexibility for now. I will have to fill in the rout some like mark's basses had done to give it some more teeth for the screws and maybe height if needed.... The pickguard is where the different sizes show up. so i attacked with the dremel. It turns out the original guard was never fitted correctly as it was slightly twisted and the little tails by the neck stood up a little on the e string side. That got addressed of course after i had resized it so a little space resulted. i happened to order the ring with the pickup in anticipation of adding a bridge pup so i installed as an easy fix for now till i get around to getting a new PG from Scott. I know it is incorrect but it looks really good with the ring. the chrome just jumps out.
Then i plugged it in to my little old univox amp in my workshop. NOW THIS IS WHAT I WAS WAITING TO HEAR. The bass just opened up and sang to me.... I can't say whether it was the pickup more than the pots (as some have said it made a huge difference ) but the combination with some real strings was amazing. I highly recommend......
