The Last Bass Outpost
Gear Discussion Forums => Gibson Basses => Topic started by: godofthunder on February 07, 2015, 02:40:39 PM
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I am in the process of producing a very accurate Non-reverse reproduction, all mahogany construction, set neck the works. Watch this space for updates. ;)
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:popcorn:
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I'm in. Thunderbuckers?
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Scott, I wish you the best with this project. You'll do it right.
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Finally! It has always bugged me that BaCH ignored some of the specs I gave them.
Hell, even Gibson managed to screw it up!
Now is the chance to do it right. Got for it Scott!
There are several pickup builders that make the Thunderbird humbuckers. Jason Lollar makes them too. But there is also a guy in Germany called David Barfuss. He makes a reproduction of these pickups too. https://www.facebook.com/david.barfuss.12
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Good luck, Scott!
This begs the question, "how accurate to the originals were the 30 BaCH Series IIs?" Mine seem pretty darn close to my original one.
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There is always room for improvement in the smaller details Denis.
The headstock should have had a lightly slanted edge. The control cavity on the BaCH shouldn't have been triangular. The pickguard of the BacH was just plain wrong. The tailpiece shouldn't have been straight forward rectangular, but rounded off. The knobs shouldn't have been in equal distance to another. The machine heads should have had the accurate shape baseplate (such as the Gotoh resolites). And BaCH forgot the bellycut on the back. ;)
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Bring it on, Scott. ;D
I know you'll do a great job!
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Bro....You have to make at least one that is all Korina, with an amber Nitro clear coat, parchment guard!!!!!!! I always dreamed of making one myself.....
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The Bach series II were very close, certainly better than Gibsons attempt. I love my Series II and two series III , once tricked out they give my real ones a run for the money but they are not 100% accurate. Things like the veneer over the top and back of the body, poly finish, pickguard, changing body shapes and thickness etc. are just some of the things not right. I plan on using Thunderbucker pickups as long as Steve is still winding them. I was going to cheap out and do bolt on but I think a set neck is a must. I have no intention of fixing the quirks associated (like neck dive) with NRs. I will build to sell at first then after I am satisfied with the process I'll build to order. I am using on of the suppliers the big guys use so it will be consistent CNC quality and I have (Bill found him) a local guy who shoots lacquer and does great work lined up for finishing.
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I was going to cheap out and do bolt on but I think a set neck is a must.
Absolutely. A bolt on for a NR Tbird doesn't make sense to me.
I have no intention of fixing the quirks associated (like neck dive) with NRs.
Gotoh Resolites will fix that for ya.
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Scott, you're the right man to do this. I wish you much success in a most worthy endeavor!
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I can feel the temptation already.
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Scott, you're the right man to do this. I wish you much success in a most worthy endeavor!
Yep, couldn't say it better!
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Show em how it's done!
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Nostalgic obsessions ... :popcorn:
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IMO.....Gibson should contract out ALL of its "reissues" to smaller builders who guarantee to spec it out EXACTLY like the originals, rather than consistently do bogus reissues.
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I'm curious and encouraging!
Just think: In 30 years someone will do a reissue of the Firebird X.
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Today's mistakes are tomorrow's glories.
I venture the heretic thought that it won't sound much different to what Gibson released a while back and that it still will not be a vintage TBird, but - in a tender, empathetic voice - if it makes you guys feel so much better ...
Thankfully, the bolt-on idea has been scrapped, that would have been adding insult to injury.
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I'm curious and encouraging!
Just think: In 30 years someone will do a reissue of the Firebird X.
There will likely still be N.O.S. at Gibson ;D
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The most recent NR Thunderbird is not a reissue in the same way the current Thunderbird is not a reissue, or have I over simplified things?
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Simplified but true. But there are some folks who would like to see a vintage spec Thunderbird. I'll buy one of Scott's birds if I can afford it.
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I'm quietly hoping for a Reverse metamorph ....... ;)
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Simplified but true. But there are some folks who would like to see a vintage spec Thunderbird. I'll buy one of Scott's birds if I can afford it.
So if it's true, then why are people griping about Gibson's failed reissue when it wasn't a reissue in the proper sense of the word and was never intended to be, nay neither billed as such? Don't like it, do something about it. Someone's doing something about it. Case closed? The whining about it is getting pretty old. There are plenty real Gibson problems to complain about without inventing spurious new ones because one's esoteric tastes weren't catered for to one's liking.
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I think I got pretty close with this. 2+2 headstock on it but could have used a 4 in line angled stock with TR adjustment at the nut. The bridge adjusts in 3 dimensions, retains the flavor of the original tuneamatic and intonates properly. Tailpiece is a compromise to keep the price under $1700. ThunderBucker is Gibson 66 spec Body is real Honduras mahogany. GOT P/G of course.
(http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae241/cata1d0/0050/P1050283_zpsfaaec5bd.jpg) (http://s976.photobucket.com/user/cata1d0/media/0050/P1050283_zpsfaaec5bd.jpg.html)
(http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae241/cata1d0/0050/P1050291_zpsf70422f9.jpg) (http://s976.photobucket.com/user/cata1d0/media/0050/P1050291_zpsf70422f9.jpg.html)
No one's beating down my door to build another one similar to it but any requests will be passed on to Scott. Looking forward to it!
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There is a limited market for this bass, it may very well be saturated already. I am entering these waters because of my passion for the bass.................I hope to break even. My creative process is a bit like Hammy the squirrel in the Movie Over the Hedge, I am distracted by everything. I think it was Jeffery Hoyt who said to me we know you will do it right, that almost immediately got me to focus on a accurate 60's spec bass. Cataldo does a beautiful bolt on (I LOVE mine) and a set neck as well, Mike Lull has entered NR waters. I'd like to serve a market I helped create ( I should have kept my mouth shut about NRs ;) ) Dasson Bass has a nice ring to it. The first ones I am going to do are NR IIs because that's what I like. After that who knows?
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Some more on Carlos offerings. My siggy NR has a six bolt neck joint, while playing it on stage I don't really notice a difference in feel from my real 60's Tbirds. As for sound with the Thunderbucker hot '66 it really sounds the part! My Catado is certainly a bass I can get what I need from stage or studio. Be My Misery. My last session with JS one take. They mixed to much clean signal in but I think the Cataldo kicks ass! http://www.reverbnation.com/johnnysmokerocks/song/22010311-be-my-misery
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Some more on Carlos offerings. My siggy NR has a six bolt neck joint, while playing it on stage I don't really notice a difference in feel from my real 60's Tbirds. As for sound with the Thunderbucker hot '66 it really sounds the part! My Catado is certainly a bass I can get what I need from stage or studio. Be My Misery. My last session with JS one take. They mixed to much clean signal in but I think the Cataldo kicks ass! http://www.reverbnation.com/johnnysmokerocks/song/22010311-be-my-misery
Thanks for the compliments, Scott. Have to confess I had no knowledge of NRs until I joined LBO. Your enthusiasm was a major inspiration. I know you'll do it right. That track rocks!
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So if it's true, then why are people griping about Gibson's failed reissue when it wasn't a reissue in the proper sense of the word and was never intended to be, nay neither billed as such? Don't like it, do something about it. Someone's doing something about it. Case closed? The whining about it is getting pretty old. There are plenty real Gibson problems to complain about without inventing spurious new ones because one's esoteric tastes weren't catered for to one's liking.
Gibson didn't claim the recent NR was a faithful reissue, but was originally supposed to be. The whole thing started with Scott and Doc talking to the Gibson rep for House of Guitars in Rochester. IIRC he provided Gibson with all the necessary information to do it right, but they wouldn't do it. So I understand the frustration.
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Hammy...?
Dasson Bass... not a Steve Bass...? ;)
Scott... no Red Bull for you...! (until needed to combat the De-Basser-Turbo)
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Gibson didn't claim the recent NR was a faithful reissue, but was originally supposed to be. The whole thing started with Scott and Doc talking to the Gibson rep for House of Guitars in Rochester. IIRC he provided Gibson with all the necessary information to do it right, but they wouldn't do it. So I understand the frustration.
Did Gibson agree to do it "right" and then renege?
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Agree and renege are a little strong. The House of Guitars wanted to do a limited run. At first Gibson was on board then Gibson sort of took the ball and ran with it and produced what was released in 2013. Hey it's their ball I suppose. :rolleyes:
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I'm in. Thunderbuckers?
X2!
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Currently on the NYC CL...
http://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/msg/4892785118.html
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Seen this . It's on ebay as well. I can do a better build for less.
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Seen this . It's on ebay as well. I can do a better build for less.
I'm sure you can. But I'd guess he probably built his for a lot less too and he's just trying to turn a big profit.
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You can buy a real one for that. :rolleyes:
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This was a one off build and I'm certain that he posted lots of info on it in progress either here or at the old Pit.
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I agree. A real one can be had for that kind of money, and, if you can find one, a Greco T-bird would be very similar to that bass, for about a quarter of the price.
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In for a penny in for a pound capitol is all lined up and popping for the CNC fees today.
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Agree and renege are a little strong. The House of Guitars wanted to do a limited run. At first Gibson was on board then Gibson sort of took the ball and ran with it and produced what was released in 2013. Hey it's their ball I suppose. :rolleyes:
Yeah, we gave it the old "college try." We met with the Gibson rep, at the time. Told her everything we'd like to see, she took pics as I recall, even discussed fine points like the bridge, etc. Like Scott said they went their own way and didn't do a HOG reissue. Too bad, it could have been really cool. Kinda ripped off a great idea and executed it poorly IMHO.
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y16/drbassman/Misc%20Stuff/100_2970.jpg) (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/drbassman/media/Misc%20Stuff/100_2970.jpg.html)
As for whining, what the hell do we have a forum for if not to whine and kick Gibson around ad nauseum? Geez, what a buzz kill! Seriously, if we didn't love Gibsons so much, we wouldn't give a flying F what they made or how sloppily they made it. That's the curse and the burden we bear. Could be worse I suppose.
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I will be providing pictures, specs and data over the next few days. I may be calling on you guys for some finer points. They seem to think they can get everything they need from that but I'm skeptical. If I have to I'll ship them a NR. Anyone got a carcase they want to sell?
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Yeah, we gave it the old "college try." We met with the Gibson rep, at the time. Told her everything we'd like to see, she took pics as I recall, even discussed fine points like the bridge, etc. Like Scott said they went their own way and didn't do a HOG reissue. Too bad, it could have been really cool. Kinda ripped off a great idea and executed it poorly IMHO.
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y16/drbassman/Misc%20Stuff/100_2970.jpg) (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/drbassman/media/Misc%20Stuff/100_2970.jpg.html)
As for whining, what the hell do we have a forum for if not to whine and kick Gibson around ad nauseum? Geez, what a buzz kill! Seriously, if we didn't love Gibsons so much, we wouldn't give a flying F what they made or how sloppily they made it. That's the curse and the burden we bear. Could be worse I suppose.
Bill, is that the "Cataldo prototype" that you are holding in the picture? :mrgreen:
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Bill, is that the "Cataldo prototype" that you are holding in the picture? :mrgreen:
No. That's my original 60's NR that I rehabed. It's a real NR but the head was broken off when I bought the carcass off eBay. My avatar is a pic of the abused body before I stripped it. It's a great bass.
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Currently on the NYC CL...
http://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/msg/4892785118.html
Whoa I could walk there from here! Hmmmm. I do not have $4k lying around though ;p
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I will be providing pictures, specs and data over the next few days. I may be calling on you guys for some finer points. They seem to think they can get everything they need from that but I'm skeptical. If I have to I'll ship them a NR. Anyone got a carcase they want to sell?
Just curious, do you have the specs on the neck tenon and mortise? Seems like that would be on slightly intangible bit you would need.
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I have a good picture of the neck joint it's pretty simple bit of work really.
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:popcorn: I'm anxious to see how this works out for you. I've long admired Carlo's "retirement" business model, and success,and I'm sure you'll do great with this venture as well.