The Last Bass Outpost

Group...

Wondering if anyone has a Fender bass VI with the pickup mounting rings?
Looking for overall dimensions of the rings. (H x W x L) ...and Material thickness if possible.
...OR, if you happen to know somewhere online where I can find them.

Are the white pickup covers standard Strat pickup covers?


It's a stamped part but was considering having a set machined...

Thanks for any assistance!
Curt

Alright…
So I am finally going to cave and get this once dead project going again.
…Wouldn’t mind some input from the fellow TBird obsessed.

I have a 2003 Gibson Thunderbird bass with a broken headstock.
The plan is to have it replaced with a larger vintage style headstock to support original style chrome tuners.
…Also going to add;
•   A two piece bridge
•   Chrome pickups & Pickup Rings
•   Reposition the input jack from the side to the front of the body

1st Question:
Are the locations of the pickup cavities different on a 1964 TBird compared to the modern TBirds?
…If so, where are they in respect to the 12th fret?

2nd Question:
Two piece bridge location… where are they in reference to the 12th fret?

3rd Question:
Plug the three current bridge holes “OR” remove a portion of the raised body center and add a new center laminate?
I recall seeing a thread somewhere where this was done…
...the center portion was taken down up to where the seam would be hidden under the bridge pickup chrome ring. I recall that it looked good.

Any input would be appreciated…
THANKS!
Curt

Group...

Is there any difference between a 1965 "bar bridge - first version" EB String Mute & a 1968 "two-point Tune-O-Matic bridge" EB String Mute?

...Need a string mute for my 1965 EB-3 and there is one available from a 1968 EB-0.

Thanks!
Curt

The only visible difference I noticed was that the part that keeps the slide lever in place is plastic on the 1968 version.

I saw this at www.flyguitars.com
"EB string mute Introduced in 1960 (see the Gibson Gazette July/August 1960 and 1962 mute patent) and fitted to Kalamazoo-built basses until 1971. This mute was widely used on practically all Gibson EB3s, and very many EB0, EB2, Epiphone Newport, Epiphone Rivoli and Les Paul basses. The principle was very simple: by pulling the lever away from the bridge, it's raised part pushes a piece of felt up, under the strings, dampening vibrations. Listen to these soundclips of a muted and unmuted Gibson EB3."

Hello Group...

I finally got around to making a CAD model from the photo copy of the Epiphone Elitist Thunderbird pickguard that "UWE" sent me several years ago.
THANKS AGAIN "UWE"!

I see that the Epiphone Elitist Thunderbird pickguards are single ply all white, but what material thickness is it?

Also, if I decided to go with a more retro look what ply and material is used on the vintage 60's model Thunderbirds?

Thanks again for your input... I'll post pictures when I'm finished.

Hello Group...

Looking for an EB-0 Control Cavity Cover (smaller one)... like this;

Hello Group…
Looking for some input…

I just got a 1965 EB-0 bass that was poorly converted to an EB-3;
…adding the bridge pickup and volume control without the Chock & Varitone switch.

The plan is to resurrect & refinish it…

Pros:
No Neck Break!
Nice straight neck with low action
Frets still have a lot of life
All original parts

Cons:
Bridge pickup was installed in the wrong position (too close to the bridge)
Plastic casing for the bridge pickup is cracked, needs replaced.
Relocated strap button to the top horn (leaving hole and slight depression in wood)
Finish is heavily worn, to the point beyond a worn look giving it “character”.
…and a few extra holes here and there that were “filled in” with glue.

I want to do the following:

•   Properly fill in the current EB-0 control hole locations.
•   Reroute the control cavity to support; 2 Volume, 2 Tone, a Varitone switch and an input jack.
             …I already have an early 60’s control cavity cover I can use.
•   Fill in and reroute the bridge pickup location to the correct location.
•   Stain and refinish the body, neck and headstock.

Does anyone know the Gibson cherry stain color they used?
…also, what clear coat finish did they use back then? …was it urethane?

I don’t intend on staining or applying the clear coat myself… I’ll pay someone to do it right.
I did however use Acetone to strip the finish down to the bare wood… looks good.
I didn’t want to go nuts with sandpaper as I’ve seen refinished jobs like this lose their edges and look too rounded.

Does anyone know where I can locate a routing template for the bridge pickup and control cavity?
…also need a bridge pickup plastic casing.

Thanks!!!

Group...

This is the 1962 EB-3 bass that was resurrected by the guys at "The Lutherie Shop" in Des Moines, IA 50311
www.thelutherieshop.com

They did an incredible job... could not be happier with the repair job!

http://www.youtube.com/v/OFKjB6M_I4Y