My BaCH Thunderbird

[TBird1958]

This took awhile to finish up, esp. compared to Joe's fine work but here's my BaCHbird as a little photo essay. It actually was a fairly simple project, I'm pretty happy with the results.

Of course the traditional "owners" shot


Some of the parts, new knobs and a Lull pickup in a '76 Bird case.


Here's the pickup and a wood block that I shaped to fit the cavity.


And after the pickup was installed and tested.


And some closer shots after all the parts were put back on it, the pickguard is pearliod and was cut by Paul Chandler, Mike Lull did the cutout for the pickup.


The truss rod cover is a stainless steel one I picked up on ebay, interestingly they sell for less than a plastic Gibson one....I also airbrushed the headstock with black lacquer.


And the finished bass, yes that's my bathroom    It's Winter here and the basses don't go outside for any reason so this had to do!

It goes to it's first show on the 23rd along with the Greco Thunderbird II

[OldManC]

Great job, Fraulein! I love that these basses are being used as originally intended (a platform for each owner to complete as his personal version of the venerable NR Thunderbird). I need to get busy on mine (once I figure out if I can get one or two more with the new batch coming up)!

[exiledarchangel]

Nice work! I love bass shots in the bathroom!

[Basvarken]

Sweet! Especially the pearloid pick guard.

[Highlander]

Very nice... 

Is it worth sending your scratchplate to Scott for a bit of "crafting" (his hot T'bird stamp), or is that gilding the lily...?

[gweimer]

Sweet! Especially the pearloid pick guard.

Exactamundo!

[PhilT]

Nice!

[OldManC]

Very nice... 

Is it worth sending your scratchplate to Scott for a bit of "crafting" (his hot T'bird stamp), or is that gilding the lily...?

I thought the same thing, Ken. Gilded or not, I'd do it myself. I'm just uh, particular that way.










I was going to say anal but I didn't want to start that ball rolling again!

[gearHed289]

Nice! But I would go with the black chrome cap knobs. 

[godofthunder]

Looks beautiful ! How does it sound

[TBird1958]

Thanks guys!

It is my intention to send the PG off to Scott in a couple weeks - it obviously needs a "stamp" to be truly complete 
I wish I had a '60s Bird to compare it to tonally as the Lull pup is built exactly the same as a vintage Gibson one..........To me it's growly warm with pretty even response low to high ( definately more *balls* than the Artec) and I've been playing it a lot of late to get used to it and set up a "model" on my Line 6 pedal tweaked just right. Like everyone else I marvel at the quality of this bass for it's modest cost, BaCH really did a nice job  and I'm excited about the new ones coming and esp the Fenderbird

[Denis]

That looks great! Is the wire long enough to switch the aft knob with the input jack or did you have to lengthen it?

[TBird1958]

That looks great! Is the wire long enough to switch the aft knob with the input jack or did you have to lengthen it?

Denis I did have to rewire it, but really it was quite easy - solder, flux and a good iron plus those mad model railroader skills of mine 

[Denis]

Sooooo, what's your favorite railroad? I've always been fond of Great Northern myself.

[Nocturnal]

It turned out great Mark! I really need to do something to mine.