Once you go black... - My Epi Tbird!

[exiledarchangel]

At last I manage to update my epi tbird, thanx to a pair of TB+ I recently bought from Mark! I also changed all the electrics and make a V/V/3way wiring!
Ofcourse all is BLACK (or should I say modulator-approved). Here are some pics, my photo skills are the worst of all of you, but you can get an idea.


Complete shot, admire my colourful couch...


Controls shot, now if I could get a black jack to complete the darkness...


Have I told you about my special pickguard? 


3-point of view, blurrier than mud...

[uwe]

Are you pleased how the TB Plusses sound in their new cavernous home? I always find it amazing how much the Epis benefit from Gibson pups.

[Denis]

I love it! The pg is sweet too. Where'd you get it? Did you have to route the cavities or did those pups pretty much drop in? I was thinking about doing that to mine.

[TBird1958]

It looks great! Neat PG. Is it wired V/T/3way? I'm interested to hear your thoughts on being able to separately operate the pups.   

[Nocturnal]

Looks great! I'm in the middle of doing the same thing to my Epi GothBird project bass. I'd really like to hear what you think of the V/V/3 way setup before I go that route.

[stiles72]

Looks good!  My Blackbird was modded with a threeway selector and tone controls, and I usually run both pups together, but with the neck tone rolled all the way down.

[Highlander]

Very "Greek Tragedy", in a very cool way... 

[exiledarchangel]

Thanx guys (and gal)! The difference in tone is simply AMAZING! This bass was a sleeper for years, but behold, the sleeper has awaken! TB+ gave my bass PUNCH instead of middy blurrness and PRESENCE instead of just loudness. I am REALLY impressed.

Now for the wiring: it is V/V/3-way, no need for a tone control (after all, tone is at the fingertips......). I find that configuration really useful to me, I can solo whenever pup I want, but usually I play with both pups full on!

I used 2 CTS 500k pots and good quality 3way and jack. Also I shielded the control cavity with sticky copper-foil (this thing is EVIL I tell ya, I cut my fingertips, be careful when using it! ).

I did the "star grounding" thing, as I do in all the electrics I rewire. Now the bass is dead silent. Before that, epi bridge pup was buzzing a little.

I had to route the cavities a bit, TB+ are kinda wider (3-4mm I think) than Epi pups. I haven't got a router, so I route it by hand. I can tell you, I use ALOT of elbow grease for this!

But also I have 2 things to correct: first of all, for some STUPID reason I make that "modern" style wiring that when you roll off the volume one of the pups you roll off and the other etc etc. Damn, I must change that ASAP. Its not a big deal thru.

Also I dont like spring loaded pups, it is final. I must get some foam behind the pups, and maybe some longer screws.

You know, maybe I will post some soundclips for you, if you all are naughty enough!  



p.s. the wooden pickguard is something my wife painted some time ago, I hadnt post that, guess it was my dirty little secret. It's from a Luis Royo painting.

[chromium]

Nice work, and its looking good!  Bet it sounds fantastic with the TB+s (I love 'em in my Bach), but after spending a little time with Nokturnal's goth I have to say I do like the blurry, aggressive Epi pickups in their own way.  Now you need a second one for that sound  

You can't lose with those Epibirds.  Great basses.

Controls shot, now if I could get a black jack to complete the darkness...

Most of the all-black ones I've seen (Neutrik and Cliff) are threaded fairly shallow - intended more for PC board and panel mounting.  I did remember seeing a jack at Banzai that might work if its not too deep for the control cavity.  Unfortunately, they don't give any measurements:

  http://www.banzaimusic.com/Partsland-jack-BLK-181.html

You could probably inquire with them about the length.  They've been good to deal with IME.


EDIT: ...and here's another option from Guitar Parts Resource:

   http://www.guitarpartsresource.com/electrical_jacksmono.htm

[exiledarchangel]

Yup, I know that sometimes I will miss that overloaded sound epi pups deliver, but I may use those epi pups on another bass, maybe with an onboard artec preamp I got for cheap, to give them some life. Ofcourse there will be an passive/active switch for pure blurryness fun!

That jack looks promising, I bought all of my stuff for effects building from Banzai, guess I'm too happy to think clearly now! I'll ask them, they are very helpful indeed!

[uwe]

Two comments re that lurid pg girl  :

1. Since when may St. Sebastian be depicted as a curvacious woman?!

2. And if he is, why isn't he/she holding a banana?

[exiledarchangel]

That's the mystery of life I guess.