The Last Bass Outpost
Gear Discussion Forums => Other Bass Brands => Topic started by: TBird1958 on January 27, 2012, 05:06:04 PM
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Not my pics.......Someone posted these on TB just thought I's share.
I don't know anything about the quality or construction so I'll limit my comments to the color.
I like it!
(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd306/veronicasteed/waterstone1.jpg)
(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd306/veronicasteed/waterstone2.jpg)
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You beat me to it! These were posted on the Waterstone facebook page. I don't really like the colors (there's one in "violet burst" too) but the basses look interesting. Not sure about the banjo tuners for the octave strings though.
(http://img830.imageshack.us/img830/1751/voltaireheadstock.jpg)
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I'm a big fan of Purple, Harry! ;)
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Those look pretty cool! I'd like boring white please.
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Ok....... And a single Lull pup in the sweet spot, please!
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Mark I just noticed the neck pup position :P me no like. Still if the price was right I'd buy one
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I'm a big fan of Purple, Harry! ;)
I love purple, but the purpleburst is a little too much for me, in the pictures at least...
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They are going for $789.00
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They are going for 798.00
Wow! Hmmmmmm........BassNW is a dealer, I may have to go visit my Thunderbird brother Evan Sheely next Friday!
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Neat!
Some of these might look slick in place of the banjo tuners:
(http://www.stewmac.com/product_images/1lg/5460/Steinberger_Gearless_Tuners_sm.jpg)
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tuners/Guitar,_solid_peghead_tuners/Steinberger_Gearless_Tuners.html?tab=Pictures#details
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Please tell me they didn't use the 4 -saddle bridge, the same that is one those new Hagström HB-8 basses.
Reminds me of a John Birch T-bird. This is a medium scale?
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Apparently my conversations about banjo tuners for the octaves have been well recieved....although I suggested Steinbergers and have a few sets stashed for a custom order of a different brand I'd been working on.
I'm afraid of Waterstones after I bought a MOT 12ver and sent it back after ONE day because I hated it....felt cheap/Asian (yes, there IS some good Asian-made stuff.) The hardware, especially, was lacking but overall it felt closer to a Galveston than a Hamer USA. The one I bought came from a name player and his bass tech had gone over it and set it up/tweaked it, so I would assume it was supposed to even be one of the better ones....still hated it. The only thing I liked was the MOT finish. After playing the thing and considering Petersson had been endorsing them for a few years, all I could think was "WTF?!?!" The ones he plays HAVE to be completely different, custom or totally modded/reworked.
If someone tries out one of these new TBirds that are half the price of the 12vers, I'd love to hear a review.
That green one looks to have a FOUR-saddle bridge, so it is impossible to intonate correctly...and the three pot knobs are crooked to the body bevel by a hair, so look wrong. I also don't think mounting all 8-tuners on one side is such a good idea...gonna need a really long G octave string too. Guess they must make those in some special hut in China :)
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They look very cool!
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Ryan from Waterstone tells me they have four of these two in each color, when these are gone they are ordering more I asked for a white one lets see what he says :)
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Bridge pickup looks too narrow...
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Pups are too narrow for string coverage IMO. Banjos are fine for git strings, I like the look of them. The Steinbergers are basically hi tech banjos. You COULD intonate that bridge with judicious filing. Knob placement weird. Giant screws on the pick guard are a little crude. But all in all, not bad if quality is good.
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I like the look of it overall, but I have no experience with the brand. I've read good reviews of their semi-hollow p-bass types tho so they must do something right.
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In general Waterstone's build quality is pretty good though like any company they have put out some dogs. Tom's 12vers are gone over from top to bottom by his guys I don't know who does the work but they remove the bridge pup and get custom finishes. I like the Thunderbird 8string, I really like the banjo tuners. I think the color choices are a bit garish but if push comes to shove I'd buy the purple. In some ways it looks like they didn't quite think it through...................the pickups not being wide enough and the goofy out of line controls. I am presuming these are first run from NAMM, if they make more maybe some of these issues will be addressed ?
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WOW...My idea has been stolen!!!!!!!! Oh well....
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WOW...My idea has been stolen!!!!!!!! Oh well....
I have a standing order for an 8er Reverse with ThunderBucker EX8 pups and an 8 saddle bridge/tailpiece. When I get the 5ers sorted out they're next.
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hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
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Welll...I guess I'm finished...I can't compete with Mass produced basses.....I'm out...no one wants to spend money on a Handmade set neck Thunderbird 8 string bass...Guess I'll go back to...????? Good Luck.....It was fun....
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Baz buddy you are not competing with Waterstone, get hold of yourself man. Keep doing what your doing :thumbsup:
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OK...I will not QUIT!!!!!!!!!! Thanks!!!
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Baz if I could afford one of your basses I would order one right now. It's not just cost, It's a matter of priorities also. if I am going to spend big bucks I am more likely to buy another 60's NR that I'll play all the time. The big reason I don't have a 8 string or a 12ver is I can't justify the cost vs the use. What makes the Waterstone attractive even in garish colors at well under a grand it is relatively cheap. Even at it's price point I most likely won't buy one. Baz your not aimed at bottom feeders like me, keep aiming High!
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OK...I will not QUIT!!!!!!!!!! Thanks!!!
There's no comparison Baz, I have proof of quality - One of your loving creations.
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As for stealing ideas I like to think of it more as all of us who build or make parts are inspired by our love of Thunderbirds. In 2008 I was going to start building Fenderbirds full time but I didn't have the capitol to make it work. Carlo came in and filled the void, am I pissed ? Naw I was so impressed with his work I bought one of his basses. I hope to buy another in the near future. Right now things are tight my wife still works at KODAK and they just filled chapter 11. She does have her yoga studio and I have my restoration biz that is really starting to take off but we are looking at losing a serious chunk of income and health benefits. Tony Carl who also makes a Thunderbird bridge was kind enough to call me and ask if it was ok, I greatly appreciated that. His design provide extra travel in both direction where mine only provides extra travel in one direction. I plan on building again soon, I have my DBA, tax # etc. now and am spending more and more time in the shop. I hope to have Dasson Bass up and running this year offering the new Badbird with studs and tail piece, after market Thunderbird pgs and my own version of a NR Fenderbird. Hell Peter Cook beat us all to it and he gives us his blessing. I think there is plenty of room for everyone.
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Oh absolutey...and what a cool variety of basses we all make...Thanks for the compliments guys....Who knows, Scott....maybe we can work something out with me finishing your 8 string and something else in trade for a for you know what....wink wink..... ;)
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I would love to get one of Carlo's Bodies with a Vintage neck and vintage 60's Bridge...or maybe a Mike Lull...so many possibilities...hey Carlo...how about making EMBASSY Bodies as well??????? 4...5...8 string is something I always wanted o do...My Machinist has been making Gibson Thunderbird style 8 string bridges and tailpieces...he is just so swamped...he hasn't been able to to anything lately....some brass...and some made from STEEL!!!!
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I think there's room for everyone as long as you make a good product at a price that reflects good value. I don't think I'll be building as many basses as I did last year, I'm getting the urge to travel for one thing. Embassies don't really interest me, more likely I'll do an ExplorerBird.
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I think there's room for everyone as long as you make a good product at a price that reflects good value. ...
Right. A good idea doesn't need protection. You don't even have to build a better mousetrap, just the right mousetrap at a fair price.
There isn't a product out there that someone, somewhere can't make for less. You can't possibly compete with that making a low production item with a good bit of handwork required. You just do the best you can in your price range and hopefully enough people will find you to make it worthwhile.
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Herer's the purple one. Think I'll wait for white, only Mark could pull this off. (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v102/godofthunder59/photo1.jpg)
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I'm fessin' up.........I do like that! Plus I already have 3 green Thunderbirds ;)
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Maybe I'll get you to make a body or tracing for me...and make an Embassy 8 string!!!! And...everyone is right.....the hardest part for me...is finding a competent RELIABLE machinist to make the bridges and other parts I need...everything else...is doable.....
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I think there's room for everyone as long as you make a good product at a price that reflects good value. I don't think I'll be building as many basses as I did last year, I'm getting the urge to travel for one thing. Embassies don't really interest me, more likely I'll do an ExplorerBird.
Blasphemer....
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Baz... perhaps you, Carlo, Bill and Scott should team up and take over Gibson...!
No QC issues then... ;)
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YES!!!!!! WE SHOULD!!!!!!!!!!
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The knobs on the purple one don't look crooked like on the green one.
I guess they could only find Firebird PUPs in China and not TBird PUPs? Crazy.
That 4-saddle bridge is a deal breaker.
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Sorry for 'hijacking' this thread but ...
Thumbs up for Baz's custom creations :mrgreen:
(http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i55/1shark/FBVIIIBaz.jpg)
(http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i55/1shark/FBXIIBaz.jpg)
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Hardly counts as a "hijack" for us" ;D pretty much right on topic. It's not officially hijacked till we are discussing WWII aircraft, tanks, lubricants etc.
Sorry for 'hijacking' this thread but ...
Thumbs up for Baz's custom creations :mrgreen:
(http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i55/1shark/FBVIIIBaz.jpg)
(http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i55/1shark/FBXIIBaz.jpg)
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Nice basses!!!!!! Glad you guys love 'em!!! Too bad that Tom Petersson guy didn't appreciate the Futura....someone at Bass Northwest or that Bill Nash Guy told him my Futura 8 string bass Headstock looked like a Dean....I guess he wasn't aware that the Futura Guitar....which was the prototype made by GIBSON had the same headstock......Guess too many years of partying on the road can dull the mind.......
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I love my Waterstone TP12, which used to be his too, which is also the same green color as that 8-bird, but that bass has too many issues: the headstock is hideous; the pickups are too small and the whole thing looks like one of the cheap 60's Japanese things with 'just a little off' placements of knobs and a cheap pickguard. Baz ain't got NUTHIN to worry about.
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Thanks guys...But...what is really messing me up...is my machinist is not coming through..he like 12-14 8 string bridge and tailpieces 1/2 done...and I have NO idea when they will be....so...He's useless and unreliable.......unless I have those in my hands...my custom bass building days are done...I cannot find a competant machinist anywhere in Chicago......I'm unemployed and have absolutely NO money to continue on....will be unloading some started pieces on Ebay in a day.
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Thanks guys...But...what is really messing me up...is my machinist is not coming through..he like 12-14 8 string bridge and tailpieces 1/2 done...and I have NO idea when they will be....so...He's useless and unreliable.......unless I have those in my hands...my custom bass building days are done...I cannot find a competant machinist anywhere in Chicago......I'm unemployed and have absolutely NO money to continue on....will be unloading some started pieces on Ebay in a day.
I'm going to shoot some inquiries out to the few people I still know back home.
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Thanks Gary. Let me know-
jswoquinn@sbcglobal.net
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Thanks guys...But...what is really messing me up...is my machinist is not coming through..he like 12-14 8 string bridge and tailpieces 1/2 done...and I have NO idea when they will be....so...He's useless and unreliable.......unless I have those in my hands...my custom bass building days are done...I cannot find a competant machinist anywhere in Chicago......I'm unemployed and have absolutely NO money to continue on....will be unloading some started pieces on Ebay in a day.
Joe, are you familiar with eMachineShop (http://www.emachineshop.com/)? I don't know how competitive they would be for what you want, but it can't hurt to get a quote. Obviously you would need to order enough to bring the cost down and that might not be possible until you're employed again. Still, might be worth keeping in mind.
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I'll look into it. Right now..I'm dealing with some Major financial issues...Very bad...... Hopefully I can get through it without having to sell my basses....I can deal with losing a Hiwatt or 2... Paypal/Ebay IRS crap. After this month...No more Paypal...no More Ebay.......
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Baz... perhaps you, Carlo, Bill and Scott should team up and take over Gibson...!
No QC issues then... ;)
What a great idea! At least we'd produce something more marketable than most of their current stock! Maybe we can swoop in after the Federalies shut them down.... :vader:
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That emachineshop looks pretty interesting, If I am at my wits end I may looking to using them for my bridges.
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Well...I got a line on a new machinist from Gary....sounds promising. My old boss "Frenchie" as we called him behind his back (He's from France) had started 12-15 8 string bass bridges with 60's T bird style 8 string tailpieces...he totally blew me off...I Just started doing some freelance model making so as soon as I get a chance...I need to try this new guy out!