The Last Bass Outpost

Gear Discussion Forums => Bill's Shop: Projects, Mods & Repairs => Topic started by: Basvarken on December 21, 2018, 10:58:38 AM

Title: Brooks TeleBird
Post by: Basvarken on December 21, 2018, 10:58:38 AM
My next build is going to be a bit different from the rest. No mahogany, no set neck.
But still a hybrid of sorts.

Here's a couple of ideas:


Single coil in the classic sweet spot
(http://www.enkoo.nl/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/telebird-dec-2018_orig.jpg)

Without pickguard
(http://www.enkoo.nl/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/telebird-dec-2018-no-pg_orig.jpg)


Single coil a little bit further towards the bridge
(http://www.enkoo.nl/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/telebird-dec-2018v2_orig.jpg)

And without pickguard
(http://www.enkoo.nl/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/telebird-dec-2018v2no-pg_orig.jpg)
Title: Re: Brooks TeleBird
Post by: Stjofön Big on December 21, 2018, 11:44:22 AM
Oh, my! Are you trying to set a new standard for beauty beyond beauty, Rob? Really nice!
Title: Re: Brooks TeleBird
Post by: Basvarken on December 21, 2018, 11:51:45 AM
Which one would be your favourite Staffan?
Title: Re: Brooks TeleBird
Post by: Chris P. on December 21, 2018, 11:55:06 AM
I very like the idea, but in this design the body looks a bit gedrongen and less sierlijk than a real Tbird.
Title: Re: Brooks TeleBird
Post by: Basvarken on December 21, 2018, 12:15:50 PM
I see what you mean Chris  ;)
I used the shape of a Fenderbird for the sketches. It has a slightly enlarged upper horn.

I do agree that a Thunderbird body shape looks more elegant.

(http://www.enkoo.nl/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/telebird-dec-2018-improved-body-no-pg_orig.jpg)
Title: Re: Brooks TeleBird
Post by: Pilgrim on December 21, 2018, 12:54:12 PM
I like the pickup more toward the bridge, and I wonder how the bass would look with a V-shaped PG with the point just short of the bridge.
Title: Re: Brooks TeleBird
Post by: Basvarken on December 21, 2018, 01:32:37 PM
Like this?

(http://www.enkoo.nl/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/telebird-dec-2018-improved-body-tb-pg_orig.jpg)
Title: Re: Brooks TeleBird
Post by: Pilgrim on December 21, 2018, 02:14:53 PM
More like a flying V with the pickup in the gap.  Maybe not a good idea, but different!
Title: Re: Brooks TeleBird
Post by: Dave W on December 21, 2018, 08:34:54 PM
Second pic gets my vote. No pickguard, pickup closer to neck.
Title: Re: Brooks TeleBird
Post by: Stjofön Big on December 22, 2018, 01:54:19 AM
Second from the top is the one for me. Pup closer to the neck is the way I want it.
Title: Re: Brooks TeleBird
Post by: BTL on December 22, 2018, 09:13:29 AM
I see what you mean Chris  ;)
I used the shape of a Fenderbird for the sketches. It has a slightly enlarged upper horn.

I do agree that a Thunderbird body shape looks more elegant.

(http://www.enkoo.nl/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/telebird-dec-2018-improved-body-no-pg_orig.jpg)

This version gets my vote.
Title: Re: Brooks TeleBird
Post by: clankenstein on December 22, 2018, 02:09:20 PM
Possibly a stupid idea but what about both pickup positions? You could maybe get some RWRP humbucking action.
Title: Re: Brooks TeleBird
Post by: amptech on December 23, 2018, 01:20:17 AM
This version gets my vote.
Mine too🤘
Title: Re: Brooks TeleBird
Post by: Basvarken on April 05, 2019, 01:50:53 PM
The Brooks Telebird is ready!

- Two piece Swamp Ash body
- Allparts Maple 51 P neck. Bolt on
- Vintage blonde finish
- Jess Loureiro 51 P split coil pickup
- 34" scale
- Tusq nut
- Wide travel Thunderbird bridge plus tailstop. Nickel
- Matte black single ply pickguard
- Gotoh GB528 lightweight tuners. Nickel
- Allparts push/pull Volume pot
- CTS Tone pot
- Silver reflector cap knobs
- Telecaster jack cup. Nickel
- GHS Brite Flats 49-108

(http://www.enkoo.nl/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-telebird-full-1500_orig.jpg)
(http://www.enkoo.nl/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-telebird-body-angle-1500_orig.jpg)
(http://www.enkoo.nl/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-telebird-back-1500_orig.jpg)
(http://www.enkoo.nl/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-telebird-bridge-1500_orig.jpg)
(http://www.enkoo.nl/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-telebird-body-1500_orig.jpg)
(http://www.enkoo.nl/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-telebird-body-back-angle-1500_orig.jpg)
(http://www.enkoo.nl/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-telebird-headstock-back-1500_orig.jpg)



Title: Re: Brooks TeleBird
Post by: Dave W on April 05, 2019, 02:21:51 PM
I've changed my vote, it looks fine with the pickguard.  :toast:
Title: Re: Brooks TeleBird
Post by: BTL on April 05, 2019, 07:18:39 PM
That's gorgeous!
Title: Re: Brooks TeleBird
Post by: amptech on April 06, 2019, 01:39:35 AM
Wow, you pulled it off! Not a big fenderbird fan, but this one is great. You have good taste, sir!
Title: Re: Brooks TeleBird
Post by: gearHed289 on April 08, 2019, 07:00:25 AM
Looks like it was meant to be!
Title: Re: Brooks TeleBird
Post by: wellREDman on April 11, 2019, 12:35:21 AM
Lovely
Title: Re: Brooks TeleBird
Post by: Basvarken on April 12, 2019, 11:06:43 AM
Thank you guys!  :toast:
Title: Re: Brooks TeleBird
Post by: Chris P. on April 14, 2019, 09:52:57 AM
I really love it Rob! Gorgeous! The first bass in ages of which I thought: What would it cost? Really cool. Better than I expected and my expectations are high with you!

And the Velp-decal is great! :mrgreen:

This not to you but in general - and I understand you need lightweight tuners with a Bird-shape, so this is more towards Ps and MMs:
One thing I dislike with a lot of modern basses are the small tuner backs. I like the big Fender plates which touch eachother at the edges.
Title: Re: Brooks TeleBird
Post by: Basvarken on April 14, 2019, 11:04:56 AM
Thank you Chris.

This not to you but in general - and I understand you need lightweight tuners with a Bird-shape, so this is more towards Ps and MMs:
One thing I dislike with a lot of modern basses are the small tuner backs. I like the big Fender plates which touch eachother at the edges.

Yeah that is what I dislike about the Hipshot ultralite tuners.

I have even thought about using the Gotoh GB-640 tuners:

(https://www.thomann.de/pics/bdb/268117/11965567_800.jpg)


But I decided against it, because I didn't want to add the extra weight that the larger base plate of the GB-640 brings.
The GB-528 is a good compromise I think.


Title: Re: Brooks TeleBird
Post by: Chris P. on April 14, 2019, 12:08:42 PM
I like the bass and tuners which look wrong from the plater's side won't turn me off on any bass, haha, so also not on this one. And like I said I understand the choice.

It was more a general complaint towards Fender Mexico or Sterling by Music Man.
Title: Re: Brooks TeleBird
Post by: Basvarken on April 15, 2019, 01:13:41 PM
Just found out it's bass of the week at No Treble.  :o

https://www.notreble.com/gear/bass-of-the-week/
Title: Re: Brooks TeleBird
Post by: doombass on April 15, 2019, 01:41:05 PM
Congratulations Rob! That was very well deserved.  :toast:
Title: Re: Brooks TeleBird
Post by: slinkp on April 15, 2019, 01:58:36 PM
Hey it looks like one of your older basses was up there too!
https://www.notreble.com/buzz/2017/09/18/bass-of-the-week-brooks-eb-rbl/
Title: Re: Brooks TeleBird
Post by: Dave W on April 15, 2019, 08:18:51 PM
Good for you, Rob! I hope this brings you more custom business.
Title: Re: Brooks TeleBird
Post by: Stjofön Big on April 16, 2019, 01:20:13 AM
Very well deserved mention! I love them both!
Title: Re: Brooks TeleBird
Post by: Chris P. on April 16, 2019, 07:06:10 AM
And Rob is Bass Of The Week again!

https://www.notreble.com/buzz/2019/04/15/bass-of-the-week-brooks-telebird/
Title: Re: Brooks TeleBird
Post by: Basvarken on April 17, 2019, 07:14:06 AM
This is a quick video that I made to show you how the Brooks Telebird sounds. The bass is plugged into my MarkBass SA 450 with Eden D210XLT cabs. Mic is a DAP PL01. Via my Minidisc recorder into my iMac. Video recorded with Photobooth.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-Wofzdqknc
Title: Re: Brooks TeleBird
Post by: Pilgrim on April 17, 2019, 07:20:58 AM
I like that!  Nice balance between bright and deep.  Sounds very good.
Title: Re: Brooks TeleBird
Post by: Alanko on April 18, 2019, 02:41:25 PM
This is a very cool bass. It sounds the business too.

The only thing I would change would be the pickguard. I would stick a 5-screw, un-beveled singly ply white pickguard on there. Like an old 'Whiteguard' Telecaster.

(https://images.reverb.com/image/upload/s--yQxkeYDn--/a_exif,c_limit,e_unsharp_mask:80,f_auto,fl_progressive,g_south,h_620,q_90,w_620/v1475686424/xuyuqalmimudl8aq7vi8.jpg)

This is a killer look on a Tele.
Title: Re: Brooks TeleBird
Post by: Basvarken on April 19, 2019, 12:36:22 AM
That looks beautiful.
But I opted for this starting point:
(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/51/50/9d/51509d8322c96e3430d3516535641c11.jpg)
Title: Re: Brooks TeleBird
Post by: wellREDman on April 20, 2019, 02:56:33 PM
I think I'd have gone with a Tele control plate too
Title: Re: Brooks TeleBird
Post by: Basvarken on April 20, 2019, 11:27:04 PM
I think there wouldn't have been enough Thunderbird left, if I'd done that.
Title: Re: Brooks TeleBird
Post by: Dave W on April 21, 2019, 08:38:51 PM
I think there wouldn't have been enough Thunderbird left, if I'd done that.

I agree.
Title: Re: Brooks TeleBird
Post by: Chris P. on April 22, 2019, 03:06:42 AM
I agree too. I think it's pickguard or control plate and not both on this body.