Blasphemous Thunderbird Carnage

[OldManC]

Scott's probable new purchase got us talking and I remembered a photo I had from a guy who replaced the bridge on his 70's bird for a 60's unit. He went so far as to lay in a veneer from the bridge pickup back (to cover the three point holes). What's even more impressive is that it was a natural bird he did it to:



So that got me thinking. If you planed 1/8" off the whole center section and put a 1/8" veneer on it you could not only slap a two piece bridge on it but do this as well:



Neither one of the two 70s birds I have left is totally original. Both were refinished and one has a Badass. I think I may be yanking off that Badass for a new project!

 

[Hornisse]

The '78 I had was the cleanest 'Bird I'd ever seen.  I was afraid to take it out of the case!  I got a tip from Harleyyy on the old 'Pit that there was a '98 T bird for $999 BIN.  As soon as I saw it I bought it.  I couldn't believe a music store (that I bought it from) would not know it was a 70's instrument. 

[godofthunder]

Nice '78  George I like the way you think

[Basvarken]

What about the extra potmeter hole?

[TBird1958]

That's why I love my Greco!

George that pic you posted of yours awhile back with Scott's bridge on it was quite inspirational, I'm planning on having this refinned and set up just that way. Single pickup Birds...........

 

[OldManC]

What about the extra potmeter hole?

I thought about that after posting (and fixing the pic to only show two pots). Since the bass I'd use is a solid color I could try and fill and patch the hole, but I guess I could also overlay a veneer on the bottom wing instead. I'll have to ask the wood experts here and see what they think. I'm pretty sure a fill and patch over the rear pickup would show eventually, but I don't know about a smaller patch.

[OldManC]

That's why I love my Greco!

Since I got my V4B the Greco is my favorite sounding bass. It just sounds so good through that amp and 8X10s... I want to refinish mine as well and make the two point permanent. I was going to go white but if I mod my white bird I may want to choose another color for this one. Choices, choices... 



   

[TBird1958]

The wine red one bottom right is making me weak!

[godofthunder]

Scott's probable new purchase got us talking and I remembered a photo I had from a guy who replaced the bridge on his 70's bird for a 60's unit. He went so far as to lay in a veneer from the bridge pickup back (to cover the three point holes). What's even more impressive is that it was a natural bird he did it to:



So that got me thinking. If you planed 1/8" off the whole center section and put a 1/8" veneer on it you could not only slap a two piece bridge on it but do this as well:



Neither one of the two 70s birds I have left is totally original. Both were refinished and one has a Badass. I think I may be yanking off that Badass for a new project!

 

I would not mill off the 1/8" center section, once you remove it, it is gone. I would fill the cavity and  veneer over that.

[Highlander]

That's kinda what I'm doing, so gotta second Mark on that...

[OldManC]

You guys would know better than me so if I do this I'll follow your lead. Thanks!

[Lightyear]

I don't think that you would need to take off an 1/8 - I would think that 1/16 might do it - maybe less.  The difficulty would be milling around the fingerboard.  Regardless, you would need to mill off enough to remove the radius on the on the edges on the center section so that you could get a good glue joint on your veneer.  Once you glue up was done you then reform the radius on the center section.

[sniper]

AND it picks up cassettes and cleans the carpet too!!! 

[Highlander]

Inset of a pic of mine, far from finished - the edge really depends on how you fin, what laminate you use, and what timber is beneath... this is going to have an amber and cherry burst, but the edge of the centre section will stand out like a line (deliberately so) to enhance the fact that the body is "just so..."

[rockinrayduke]

George, don't you dare refinish that "blue" one. It's gorgeous as it is!