The Last Bass Outpost

The Custom Shop Flying V bass that we discussed over at the Gibson corner got me thinking.
How would I do it, if I would build one?

I don't do carbon copies. So I wanted to think of some hybrid.
Let's make a Flying V mixed with a Thunderbird.

So I came up with this idea:



Short scale (30")
Neck through. Nine ply neck
Korina / Limba wings
Sixties Repro Thunderbird humbuckers (EY)

I posted it on Facebook. Asked Jay or Nay.
And one guy commented: "if you make it a long scale, I'd like to order one".

Making it long scale (34") turns out to be a bit of a challenge.
The bridge can't move much further to the back of the body. The bass would be 130cm long and neck dive would be quite certain. Even with Hipshot Ultralite tuners.
John Gallagher singer/bass player of Raven chimed in. He showed me pics of his bass. That one has a body with the V much shallower, allowing the bridge to sit further back.




I'm not really convinced by the looks of that body. But it did put me on a new track:



I'd make that extra part of the body black to match with the ebony faceplate of the headstock.
It sort of echoes the brass tailpiece of the 50s flying V guitar.
And I'd make that part of the body about 4 mm lower, so the original outline of the body is still most eye-catching.


The guy who commented has now asked me to build it for him.
Let's go!

Never the most healthy of the rockers.
But still a shock to hear he’s gone

RIP Pete Way


https://www.metaltalk.net/pete-way-ufo-waysted-and-fastway-founding-member-has-died.php

Well this is different!

Bill Withers has passed away.
Not Covid 19 related from what I understand.

What a great musician he was!
When he got fed up with the music bizz, he just quit.
Now you have to very cool to make such a decision.

Rest in Peace Bill Withers

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-52155227

Keith Olsen, producer of many great albums has died.

https://ultimateclassicrock.com/keith-olsen-dead/

I have just finished the build process of a new bass. I call it the Brooks Grabbird.
This bass combines the 1964 Gibson Thunderbird II with the 1973 Gibson Grabber. A nine ply neck through construction just like the Thunderbird. But with maple strips veneer in between the mahogany, instead of walnut. The nickel covered humbucker resembles the pickup of the sixties Thunderbird. But the sliding mechanism in the raised middle section refers to the Grabber of course. The shape of the headstock echoes the Grabber headstock, but the ebony veneer on top is a nod to the Thunderbird headstock.
The shorter headstock and the Ultra-lite tuners make sure the Grabbird doesn't suffer any neckdive!

I haven't found the time to do a proper photo shoot, but here's a couple that I shot from the hip without lighting.












Sliding the pickup in the neck position brings out the low frequencies a bit more. And gives the sound an open character.
Sliding the pickup in the bridge position gives the sound a more agressive edge.

I'll make a video when I can find the time. Hopefully this weekend.

I am working on the second edition of The Gibson Bass Book.
And I’d like to take the opportunity to correct some mishaps from the first edition.

Chris P Dekker has been proof reading for me. And some questions came up:

- How wide is the Nut of the SG-Z? The book mentions that it is wide, but not how wide exactly.

- When did Gibson stop offering the SG reissue in Worn Faded finish? Maybe when JC took over from Henry J?

- When did they stop offering the Thunderbird in white finish?

- What exactly are the controls on the 2018 RD Artist bass?



I hope maybe one of our fellow Outposters can shed some light?

Sir Rod appears to be among you too

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-7678617/Rod-Stewarts-secret-hit-track-Veteran-rocker-finally-lets-world-legendary-model-railwa.html?ito=facebook_share_article-top&fbclid=IwAR3O9sXOKeuV4l4lHDOKt-hvtmdFPIIswpCuREk2vW71QlHc_SvNsGc0O8Q