Fenderbird by BaCH

[Basvarken]

Most of you guys here know about the BaCHbird project that I started three years ago. The Czech company BaCH proved to be able to build a very special bass for a very good price.
The project didn't always go smoothly and my patience was tested more than once.
But in the end all participants were able to buy their Non Reverse Thunderbird. And the reactions have all been very enthousiastic so far.
I didn't make a single penny. That was my intention from the start. I wanted a NR Tbird and together with an initial 19 enthousiasts I was able to fulfill that wish. In the end there were over 50 participants! And that has been very satisfactory for me.

Now BaCH has contacted me for another project:
A Fenderbird. After the example of the legendary John Entwistle bass.



(This pic is not mine. I found it on the Internet. Just to show you which model we're talking about in case you're not yet familiar with the Fenderbird)


It is going to be a bass with a slab Thunderbird body (without the raised centerpiece)
With a bolt on Precision type neck
With two Artec humbuckers (with chromed plastic casing)
Volume Volume, Tone
BaCHBird bridge and tailpiece
Color will most likely be the orange-red color like JAE's bass
Black pickguard


This time however I want to do it differently.
Coordinating the BaCHbird project cost me a disproportionate amount of time.
I want to buy the basses myself this time. And sell them with a little profit to anybody who's interested in buying them.
This way I hope to compensate the time I need to spend on this project.

BaCH has not mentioned definite cost for me. So I can't name an exact resell price yet.But I expect it the stay under 300 euro.
We'll talk about that when I have more detailed info in price, shipping, etc.

Those of you who are interested in a BaCH Fenderbird can send me a PM or email.

[Chris P.]

Natuurlijk! Ehm, of course!!

[Dave W]

I think you have the right idea, doing it this way.

[gweimer]

I was one of those who thought you should have gotten something on the BaCHBird project.  You certainly earned it.

[jmcgliss]

Glad to see this and your approach makes good sense.  PM to follow.

[godofthunder]

Interesting, pm sent

[Highlander]

Look... Peter Cook made the originals, so I HAVE to be interested... pm'd

[OldManC]

I'm interested. I also like the idea that we could possibly get them shipped to the U.S. in two pieces to reduce shipping costs.

One quibble about the one above (which was built by a Dudepit member whose name escapes me). One pickup ring for the bridge pickup, but none for the one under the pickguard.

Only other request is a B neck (or A). Hey, a guy can dream, can't he? 

[Aussie Mark]

I'm interested. I also like the idea that we could possibly get them shipped to the U.S. in two pieces to reduce shipping costs.

+1

[Aussie Mark]

So I can't name an exact resell price yet.But I expect it the stay under 300 euro.

300?  Are you kidding - how can it be so cheap?

How much did the NR birds sell for?  I missed all that, but that price is crazy low if they "look" like a Fenderbird and play and sound reasonably well.  Does anyone play their NR bird live - is there a "review" anywhere that I can read?

[OldManC]

Mark, I got two NR BaCH birds for around 500 Euro including 158 Euro for shipping to the U.S. I don't know how they can price their basses so well but, based on the two I got I wouldn't hesitate to buy from them again.

[Aussie Mark]

Thanks George. 300 Euros puts them into the department store cheapshit bass & amp package price range - I would normally find it hard to believe an instrument would even be playable at that price.  I've searched and found the 88 page thread (but only got 30 or so pages into in) and it would appear from the comments of a few guys here that they are decent basses, with some gig photos to prove it, albeit quite heavy (11lbs?).   

A few months down the track, how do the Bachs hold up - any issues with the electronics or build quality?

[OldManC]

Mark, I'm right there with you on being surprised at the price to quality ratio on these. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it myself. Scott (Godofthunder) has given these his seal of approval and he's played NR Birds for 30 years. These are hands down the best $300 basses I've ever played. I'd say more but I don't want them raising the price if they do another run!

The thread linked below has lots of live shots. These birds have been really popular and gotten some great reviews among most of those here who bought them with the pickup being praised even by some who originally planned on replacing it but thought better of it once they heard it in action.

http://bassoutpost.com/index.php?topic=2509.0

I know there are some recordings and live reviews but I can't remember where they're posted. Here's a thread that documents one being refinished. They actually added maple over the (some kind of) mahogany body, which we were thinking they did rather than having to fill the grain.

http://bassoutpost.com/index.php?topic=2773.0

Also, the earlier run were a bit heavier but mine weigh in at 9 and 9.2 pounds.

[godofthunder]

Mark for the $ you can not beat them most of us have modded ours to some degree but they are just fine out of the box. I still have the original Artec pickup in mine Sounds just fine, good output, nice mid and treble response (just like a Tbird) they are cleaner  not as blurry as a 60's Tbird pup. I have one and would like another ! Bach really nailed it in the feel department I can go on more about them later if you like.

[Highlander]

I eventually got through the whole thread, Mark... just felt compelled too... sorta a right of passage...