BillyBo, my "summer" project

drbassman · October 16, 2009, 05:44:01 AM

I've decided to do a BillyBo for myself. This is a basswood body, cut on a CNC machine by a friend in California. It's gonna have a Fender Mustang profile neck, TV Jones pups, maybe a mahogany or cherry top over cavities for a nice hollow tone, probably faux binding. I hope to get to it in the next month or so after I finish up the M-85 polishing.

Dave W · October 16, 2009, 08:41:39 AM

Chris will be so jealous.

Basshappi · October 16, 2009, 01:00:08 PM

Looking forward to the project Doc!

drbassman · October 16, 2009, 02:03:23 PM

Thanks guys, I'll ya posted!

Pilgrim · October 16, 2009, 06:21:54 PM

(preparing to re-enter the depths of envy here...)

godofthunder · October 17, 2009, 10:38:38 AM

Um whats a "Billy Bo"?

Highlander · October 17, 2009, 12:11:38 PM

Scott...!

Keepin' em peeled...

Dave W · October 17, 2009, 12:15:47 PM

From what I can tell, it was a special Gretsch called the Jupiter Thunderbird that they produced for Bo Diddley in the late 50s. He gave his to Billy Gibbons, one thing led to another and Gretsch issued a modified version of it as the Jupiter Thunderbird Billy Bo guitar, then a bass version. I think the bass is now discontinued. You can still buy the guitar version for 2.5K or so.

It's so ugly some people love it. Not I. YMMV.

EDIT: here you go. Beauty, eh?

Pilgrim · October 17, 2009, 02:06:02 PM

Billy played that bass at their gig in Denver this summer. They had a matching guitar IIRC. Very cool.

It's so "Jetsons" looking that I like it!

drbassman · October 18, 2009, 07:19:24 AM

I love the weird look of it. I just couldn't paying over $2000 for the Gretsch model. In fact, after this one, I'm gonna do one of these equally ugly basses...............

http://www.vintageguitars.org.uk/guildJetStarBass.php

Pilgrim · October 18, 2009, 09:08:47 AM

Nice.....and the pickup in that illustration would be a visual match for today's Darkstar.

Highlander · October 18, 2009, 10:25:37 AM

So ugly, only a mother could love it... (in the nicest possible sense...

)

IIRC, that is the type of bass the girl uses in Jack Black's "School Of Rock"? my daughter loves the film...

Dave W · October 18, 2009, 01:02:10 PM

Quote from: drbassman on October 18, 2009, 07:19:24 AM
I love the weird look of it. I just couldn't paying over $2000 for the Gretsch model. In fact, after this one, I'm gonna do one of these equally ugly basses...............

http://www.vintageguitars.org.uk/guildJetStarBass.php

Gumby!

drbassman · October 19, 2009, 05:18:53 AM

Quote from: Dave W on October 18, 2009, 01:02:10 PM
Gumby!

Yep, there's a Gumby off in the distant future!

Chris P. · October 19, 2009, 06:09:23 AM

Yep, jealous!