The Last Bass Outpost
Gear Discussion Forums => Gibson Basses => Topic started by: OldManC on January 14, 2010, 04:20:44 PM
-
Scott's probable new purchase got us talking and I remembered a photo I had from a guy who replaced the bridge on his 70's bird for a 60's unit. He went so far as to lay in a veneer from the bridge pickup back (to cover the three point holes). What's even more impressive is that it was a natural bird he did it to:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v47/gcarlston/Thunderbirds/76w60sparts-1.jpg)
So that got me thinking. If you planed 1/8" off the whole center section and put a 1/8" veneer on it you could not only slap a two piece bridge on it but do this as well:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v47/gcarlston/Thunderbirds/76ThunderbirdII.jpg)
Neither one of the two 70s birds I have left is totally original. Both were refinished and one has a Badass. I think I may be yanking off that Badass for a new project!
-
The '78 I had was the cleanest 'Bird I'd ever seen. I was afraid to take it out of the case! I got a tip from Harleyyy on the old 'Pit that there was a '98 T bird for $999 BIN. As soon as I saw it I bought it. I couldn't believe a music store (that I bought it from) would not know it was a 70's instrument.
(http://i45.tinypic.com/xe2710.jpg)
-
Nice '78 :o George I like the way you think ;)
-
What about the extra potmeter hole?
-
That's why I love my Greco!
George that pic you posted of yours awhile back with Scott's bridge on it was quite inspirational, I'm planning on having this refinned and set up just that way. Single pickup Birds........... ;D
(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd306/veronicasteed/MrGreco001.jpg)
-
What about the extra potmeter hole?
I thought about that after posting (and fixing the pic to only show two pots). Since the bass I'd use is a solid color I could try and fill and patch the hole, but I guess I could also overlay a veneer on the bottom wing instead. I'll have to ask the wood experts here and see what they think. I'm pretty sure a fill and patch over the rear pickup would show eventually, but I don't know about a smaller patch.
-
That's why I love my Greco!
Since I got my V4B the Greco is my favorite sounding bass. It just sounds so good through that amp and 8X10s... I want to refinish mine as well and make the two point permanent. I was going to go white but if I mod my white bird I may want to choose another color for this one. Choices, choices... :mrgreen:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v47/gcarlston/Thunderbirds/64pelhamblueThunderbirdIIbodyII.jpg) (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v47/gcarlston/Thunderbirds/64IIinbluebody-1.gif)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v47/gcarlston/Thunderbirds/CardinalRedThunderbirdII02.jpg) (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v47/gcarlston/Thunderbirds/86thunderbirdIIblack.jpg) (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v47/gcarlston/Thunderbirds/TB_II_ember.jpg)
-
The wine red one bottom right is making me weak!
-
Scott's probable new purchase got us talking and I remembered a photo I had from a guy who replaced the bridge on his 70's bird for a 60's unit. He went so far as to lay in a veneer from the bridge pickup back (to cover the three point holes). What's even more impressive is that it was a natural bird he did it to:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v47/gcarlston/Thunderbirds/76w60sparts-1.jpg)
So that got me thinking. If you planed 1/8" off the whole center section and put a 1/8" veneer on it you could not only slap a two piece bridge on it but do this as well:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v47/gcarlston/Thunderbirds/76ThunderbirdII.jpg)
Neither one of the two 70s birds I have left is totally original. Both were refinished and one has a Badass. I think I may be yanking off that Badass for a new project!
I would not mill off the 1/8" center section, once you remove it, it is gone. I would fill the cavity and veneer over that.
-
That's kinda what I'm doing, so gotta second Mark on that...
-
You guys would know better than me so if I do this I'll follow your lead. Thanks!
-
I don't think that you would need to take off an 1/8 - I would think that 1/16 might do it - maybe less. The difficulty would be milling around the fingerboard. Regardless, you would need to mill off enough to remove the radius on the on the edges on the center section so that you could get a good glue joint on your veneer. Once you glue up was done you then reform the radius on the center section.
-
AND it picks up cassettes and cleans the carpet too!!! ;) :mrgreen: ;)
-
(http://i655.photobucket.com/albums/uu280/kjrstewart/Peter%20Cook%20Custom/neckinset.jpg)
Inset of a pic of mine, far from finished - the edge really depends on how you fin, what laminate you use, and what timber is beneath... this is going to have an amber and cherry burst, but the edge of the centre section will stand out like a line (deliberately so) to enhance the fact that the body is "just so..."
-
George, don't you dare refinish that "blue" one. It's gorgeous as it is!
-
I hear you Ray. That one stays as is. :)
-
Is the blue one an original finish bass? If so, you got a real rare one there. Love those 60's custom color 'Birds! Pleeeeeze post more pix of it! I have been trying to prompt the guys that know Brian Fischer (who owns over two hundred (!!!!!) 60's Firebirds and Thunderbirds) on the Les Paul Forum to be able to catalog these totally cool and rare guitars and basses. More photos!!! Can't get enough of 60's custom color 'Birds!!! Post 'em!!!
-
My bad... I thought Ray was referring to my blue Bach NR. The custom colored birds I posted above are just pics I've found over the years. Trying to figure out what color I'd refinish my '76 in if I do this.
-
All of them...?
-
No, if I did this I'd only do it to one of them. I only have two '70's birds left so I wouldn't want to mess with both of them. One of them already has had mods, so it wouldn't be so horrible to give it a few more. I have a few opinions on vintage gear. If you own it you're certainly free to do with it what you want, but my preference with things that have made it this far is to let them be. I guess I could also keep an eye out for a good deal on a newer bird or a broken one...
I remember when having a stock bass or guitar was thought of as boring and limited (brass nuts, mondo bridges, pickups of the week, Khaler, Floyd Rose, custom paint jobs and carving, etc... The fact that any vintage piece made it this far unmolested makes me want to celebrate it rather than get the saw out. Thing is, back then they weren't 'vintage' guitars (or basses), they were just guitars... As for new stuff (or stuff that was modded when newish), I have no problem with that as well, especially for those who actually use their gear for a practical purpose.
-
Same mentality with my seventies 'bird... I "messed-with-her-head" for a while, now she's getting the full "facial-treatment"... gotta respect age...
-
Scott's probable new purchase got us talking and I remembered a photo I had from a guy who replaced the bridge on his 70's bird for a 60's unit. He went so far as to lay in a veneer from the bridge pickup back (to cover the three point holes). What's even more impressive is that it was a natural bird he did it to:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v47/gcarlston/Thunderbirds/76w60sparts-1.jpg)
So that got me thinking. If you planed 1/8" off the whole center section and put a 1/8" veneer on it you could not only slap a two piece bridge on it but do this as well:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v47/gcarlston/Thunderbirds/76ThunderbirdII.jpg)
Neither one of the two 70s birds I have left is totally original. Both were refinished and one has a Badass. I think I may be yanking off that Badass for a new project!
A serious issue to be sure but I couldn't help but think of these picks as a before and after shot of the tapes pile cleanup ;D
-
Yeah, work's a little sloppy but those tapes were bugging me!
-
The joy of Photoshop... ;)
-
The joy of Photoshop... ;)
Hehehe ;D Why clean when you can just photoshop it out you reckon Ken?
-
On the nail, Sport... then again, George has some young-uns to help with the sorting... or do I mean "unsorting"...
Photoshop - a blessing in disguise... ;)