Explorerbird

godofthunder · March 26, 2008, 08:22:06 PM

Some of you guys might remember that RS Guitars was building A couple of Explorerbirds. Well I had sort of forgotten about them but I cruised by their site the other day and saw this

It should be here Mon. or Tue. Not much makes my jaw drop this did, I can't wait to play this beast!

ramone57 · March 26, 2008, 08:33:20 PM

looks very nice, congrats! I haven't been to the site yet, what are the pickups?

godofthunder · March 26, 2008, 08:35:15 PM

The pups are Lindy Fralin.

ramone57 · March 26, 2008, 08:43:25 PM

they should sound pretty good then, I would think. he rewound the pups in my ripper and they sound better to me.

TBird1958 · March 27, 2008, 12:06:24 AM

Whoa Scott! That's yours!!!??? Frickin' Awesome! LOVE the COLOR!! Please PM me about what that cost you...... WoW!

OldManC · March 27, 2008, 12:14:59 AM

Wow Scott, that rocks!

Chris P. · March 27, 2008, 01:29:16 AM

really cool! Exactly like the fiesta Entwistle one! Really great! Love it!!

drbassman · March 27, 2008, 04:22:36 AM

Unreal! I love it. Looking forward to playing it!

godofthunder · March 27, 2008, 05:14:25 AM

Thanks Guys I am really excited about this bass ! Back in '76 I bought a Ibanez Destroyer that was Explorer shaped, the only thing I could find in my price range that had that shape ! I still have that bass but don't use it much. The metal scene has kind of highjacked the Explorer shape so I have for the most part shyed away form the style. This bass I had to have, JE was such a huge influence on me and this bass just ozzes his vibe. Me with a orange bass ? I am surprised I like it so much, the color really looks sharp on this bass. Roy at RS Guitars is great to deal with and as you can see from the pictures their work is of the highest caliber. The advertised price was $1800, all I can say is I think I got a deal for a custom built bass. If any of you guys are considering a custom build I highly reccomend RS Guitars. Check out their roster of artists, pretty impressive. Roy is setting her up and shipping today, it's going to be a long weekend.

Barklessdog · March 27, 2008, 05:21:27 AM

Quote from: drbassman on March 27, 2008, 04:22:36 AM
Unreal! I love it. Looking forward to playing it!

You dog!

Great bass Scott

Love the Grabber Orange!

You know Scott a new Dodge Challenger would look righteous with that bass?

godofthunder · March 27, 2008, 05:28:40 AM

Dodge Challenger? I bet it would ! To bad I blow all my $ on gear, the only vehicle I can afford is my gear hauler !

Barklessdog · March 27, 2008, 05:49:49 AM

godofthunder · March 27, 2008, 06:13:39 AM

That is one sharp car ! I gotta do a promo shot with the car and the bass !You guys know I love my Gibsons but there is nothing like a custom build from a real luthier. For what I think is a bargiain you can get exactly what you want and you won't belive the difference in how a custom bass plays. Till now I have only had one other custom bass built and that is my Jim Lea bass built by John Diggens of Jaydee Guitars in Birmingham England. It was a revelation, like going from watching a '50s tube powered black and white TV then being put in front of a high def plasma screen.

uwe · March 27, 2008, 06:16:29 AM

I've always loved the Explorer shape. Pity is that Gibson never did anything worthy with it in the eighties - those mideighties Explorers sans any pickguard were a loveless affair. Even the Epi version looks better (here with TB Plus pups):

And though it's not fair to compare a regular line bass to a Custom Shop model:

I'll always identify Martin Turner with an Explorer bass (an early Hamer with original sixties TB pups and bridge, black with binding and a very tasteful headstock), which he played mostly in the latter half of the seventies. These days he generally plays TBirds again, but he does bring out the Explorer for special occasions such as this on stage reunion with old Ash buddy Ted Turner (no relation to Martin though in the seventies they did give up at one point denying that they were brothers - everybody just wanted them to be!). Hamer Explorer appears at around 0.57 and btw Brits can play lap steel guitar too!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=sSW845IzyXA

This RS Explorer looks good except maybe for the Badass bridge which try as I might will always look raw and prototypish to me. But I'm sure that the new owner who has a considerable if lamentable record with these "things" won't mind!

Uwe

godofthunder · March 27, 2008, 06:23:41 AM

Uwe I knew you would have something to say about the Badass ! I find it interesting that now Fender has jumped on the bad wagon with the new high mass vintage bridge ! Roy and I talked about the bridge at length, He had a lot of interest in the bass but the BA turned them off, I bought the bass as is I did not order it and I am fine with the BA. I really like the simplicity of the Badass, it is function over formbut I think it fits very well with the basses lines. Btw Uwe very nice Explorers !