discussion about potential LBO limited edition Fenderbird

Aussie Mark · May 30, 2010, 10:45:53 PM

Guys,

There's an Australian custom bass builder (http://www.maillouxbasses.com) who has been making some beautiful basses, and Phil happens to be the admin for ozbassforum.com , the only dedicated bass forum for Australians.

I saw one of Phil's custom jazz basses recently, and the first thing I thought of was how nice a Fenderbird would look if Phil was interested in making one. Then the thought of a forum limited edition hand made Fenderbird got into my head, especially since the proposed Gibson Custom Show non-reverse might be too expensive for many people.

Phil estimates he could build a limited run of non-reverse bodied Fenderbirds for around US$2000 plus shipping (US$150). I suggested I'd start a thread here, and if there is interest, Phil will join the forum and participate in the discussion to flesh out details like colours, pickups (eg. Darkstar, anyone?), bridge etc. This could be an opportunity for a top quality bass to fill the void between the quality of the Bach basses and the proposed Gibson limited run.

Here's one of Phil's Jazz basses. The body and neck is made from scratch, not a parts bass .....

Do you guys think that a forum-only Fenderbird limited edition around this pricepoint has potential?

Basvarken · May 31, 2010, 12:43:16 AM

Fenderbirds are cool.
But there is no such thing as a gap between the Fenderbird that BaCH has in the works and a Gibson. Because Gibson never made any.
The Fenderbird by BaCH that I am working on is going to be a whole lot cheaper than the 2000 dollar you mention. It'll cost around 294 euro (362 USD)...

I don't think DarkStars have anything to do with a Fenderbird. IMHO it would at least have to be humbuckers instead of single coils.

Aussie Mark · May 31, 2010, 01:06:50 AM

Rob, I only mentioned the Gibson non reverse limited run because in the other thread that's looking like $3600 or something like that. I know the Bach basses are very inexpensive, and from what I've read here they seem great value for the price. The potential limited run Fenderbirds I'm proposing here would be hand made, with the bodies and necks built totally from raw timber by a luthier. I only threw in the Darkstar idea as a conversation starter. Phil makes his own humbuckers, so that's certainly not a problem at all.

If $2000 for a "custom made" Fenderbird hand made by a luthier is considered too expensive, then the idea of a limited run for forum members can be easily canned. Let's wait and see what some other member think.

gearHed289 · May 31, 2010, 10:27:15 AM

Quote from: Aussie Mark on May 30, 2010, 10:45:53 PMPhil estimates he could build a limited run of non-reverse bodied Fenderbirds for around US$2000 plus shipping (US$150). I suggested I'd start a thread here, and if there is interest, Phil will join the forum and participate in the discussion to flesh out details like colours, pickups (eg. Darkstar, anyone?), bridge etc. This could be an opportunity for a top quality bass to fill the void between the quality of the Bach basses and the proposed Gibson limited run.

Not sure why you'd want to make it a non-rev? Entwistle's were all variations on a reverse body with a non-rev type pickguard. Not sure what a Darkstar sounds like, but knowing they're intended as a Guild replacement, I don't think they'd be right. Some kind of growly humbucker would be in order. I'd be fine with Gibson TB+. Separate bridge and tailpiece for sure. Warwick/Schaller? Just my 2 cents. I'm pretty certain I'd have no interest in buying one in that price range. If anything, I'd go for a Bach, and modify as needed like I did with my TH-1.

exiledarchangel · May 31, 2010, 01:26:38 PM

2000$ aren't much for a custom build bass, I've seen people charging more for "handmade" fender copies.

On the other hand Bachbirds are the so cool and so cheap you can't resist 'em!

Aussie Mark · May 31, 2010, 04:58:12 PM

Quote from: gearHed289 on May 31, 2010, 10:27:15 AM
Not sure why you'd want to make it a non-rev?

My bad, I meant reverse. Bottom line, Phil can make something to whatever specs you guys decide, if there is interest in a forum limited run. If there's no interest, no biggie. Just thought I'd throw it out there, since the Gibson custom run looks like being very expensive.

chromium · May 31, 2010, 05:48:32 PM

I love the color on that jazz!

Unfortunately, I'm not in the market for this (or the Gibby). If anything, I should be selling a few basses.

dadagoboi · June 01, 2010, 04:50:37 AM

Quote from: Basvarken on May 31, 2010, 12:43:16 AM
Fenderbirds are cool.
But there is no such thing as a gap between the Fenderbird that BaCH has in the works and a Gibson. Because Gibson never made any.
The Fenderbird by BaCH that I am working on is going to be a whole lot cheaper than the 2000 dollar you mention. It'll cost around 294 euro (362 USD)...

I don't think DarkStars have anything to do with a Fenderbird. IMHO it would at least have to be humbuckers instead of single coils.

What's the ETA?

Basvarken · June 01, 2010, 04:58:08 AM

Que?

dadagoboi · June 01, 2010, 08:13:42 AM

Quote from: Basvarken on June 01, 2010, 04:58:08 AM
Que?

Estimated Time of Arrival. Perdonami.

Basvarken · June 01, 2010, 08:57:31 AM

Ah! Nothing to do with Basque Separatists

To answer the question; wish I knew. I've been trying to get some sort of planning from BaCH. But they wrap themselves in silence...

dadagoboi · June 01, 2010, 09:07:44 AM

Quote from: Basvarken on June 01, 2010, 08:57:31 AM
Ah! Nothing to do with Basque Separatists

To answer the question; wish I knew. I've been trying to get some sort of planning from BaCH. But they wrap themselves in silence...

Nothing that explosive.

Perhaps BaCH is letting the excitement build. Is the Koruna (made of Czech Korina?) tied to the Euro?

Aussie Mark · June 01, 2010, 04:43:07 PM

Looks like there's no interest here in a custom Fenderbird limited edition run for the forum. I know the $300 Bach pricepoint is hard to beat. I'll let Phil know so he can continue working on his other orders.

Johnbob · June 01, 2010, 07:21:29 PM

Yeah, thanks for trying though. I think at the end of the day the reason that the Bach's even got off the ground was the price. With a price that cheap and the bass being made in a pretty basic way, as far as electronics, hardware, etc. it does make it more of a inexpensive project for most people. And also the low price makes it much easier for people to customize them without worrying too much about messing them up. You can buy one for $300 and use the other $1700 to make it exactly the way you want it. If the Australian ones got made, they would be very specific regarding pickups, etc. and that would only make it appeal to some people and alienate some others. Even if everyone voted about which pickups, etc. some people would definitely disagree with what the details should be. If you can get one cheap and let everyone else take a stab at making their basses to their specific tastes that would probably work out better. The Gibson custom shop NR that people are talking about might not work if they are made to be a realistic replication of the original 60's/70's version. But then again it might sell just because it says Gibson on it.

Nocturnal · June 01, 2010, 10:57:45 PM

It doesn't sound like a bad idea, or a bad price for a custom Bird. I just couldn't afford anything like that right now.