Headless Thunderbird

neepheid · February 11, 2011, 03:21:47 AM

During a drunken conversation at the Moffat Bass Bash, I proposed a solution to the neckdive of the Thunderbird bass - make it headless. I remember it being a visionary idea at the time, but in the cold, sober light of day it seems like a daft project to take on for a laugh

This may be the talk of a dead heretic walking here but I would like to butcher a bolt on Thunderbird (Epiphone Goth preferred because of mahogany body) and add a headless neck and bridge. I might alter the body shape a little to address another of what I see as one of the faults of the Thunderbird - high fret access.

I've been pottering around in the GIMP and come up with this:

Possible moving of the lower horn to allow improved high fret access:

I think I've managed to source a donor headless so all I need now is a loaded t-bird body, or a t-bird with a broken neck. As I said above, I would prefer an Epiphone Goth for the donor body. Has anyone got anything lying around?

drbassman · February 11, 2011, 07:00:47 AM

Actually, I don't think it's too crazy considering the commonality of headless TBs. My avatar is a clear example! I think it would be an intriguing project. Besides, used Epi TBs aren't that expensive and I'd want an unmolested one so I could cut the headstock off myself.

Chris P. · February 11, 2011, 10:46:57 AM

I had to laugh very hard about the headless T-bird logo

Highlander · February 12, 2011, 08:09:42 AM

I commented on this a while back...

You can pick up a Hohner Jack (resplendant with a through neck - Precision D profile - double octave), cut the edges off and have "wings" fitted - probably wouldn't be that hard a project...

[welcome - Lowlander (sasenach) or Highlander (teuchter)?

- lots of pepper with the neeps

]

Lightyear · February 12, 2011, 08:23:22 AM

Welcome!

I have to say that a headless Tbird just doesn't work for me.

On the other hand the headless logo is just perfect - this I love!

godofthunder · February 12, 2011, 08:51:53 AM

While the project is interesting the Thunderbirds reputation for neck dive is overblown. To me this looks like fixing a problem that doesn't exist.

neepheid · February 21, 2011, 07:58:24 AM

The donor headless turned out to be a bit of a loss, but I've had some good fortune lately - a friend has given me some headless hardware, and I've managed to win a donor Epiphone Goth T-bird on eBay for < £100 - had a lifting bridge which the previous owner had tried to fix by A) packing the post holes with an unknown substance/material and B) tried to fit a regular Fender style bridge, leaving screwholes. This is the perfect donor bass for me - I'm going to obliterate the one issue that it has.

In keeping with the delicious 80s feel of the headless, I think I'll refinish the body/neck in white with a black "headless T-bird" pickguard.

godofthunder: I'm not suggesting that it's an endemic problem to all T-birds, and I apologise if I didn't make myself clear. It helps to remember that this idea stemmed from a drunken conversation

Lightyear · February 21, 2011, 10:27:04 AM

If nothing else you will have created the bar gig proof Tbird

Highlander · February 21, 2011, 11:58:13 AM

Very useful for gigs with low headroom...

I consider my Hohner to be a bit of a chisel...

Oh yeah... usual rules apply...

neepheid · March 07, 2011, 02:34:32 PM

A quick update, I've filled all the spurious holes in the body which were left by various bridges and the neck.

Highlander · March 07, 2011, 02:47:29 PM

Whoah... what on earth happened to that neck pocket - that's some termite hole...

neepheid · March 07, 2011, 02:59:38 PM

Quote from: Kenny's 51st State on March 07, 2011, 02:47:29 PM
Whoah... what on earth happened to that neck pocket - that's some termite hole...

It was a rather rough hole about 10mm in diameter which was probably used to hang the body while it was being sprayed. It's covered by the neck plate normally. Unfortunately, I only had 6mm and 22mm mahogany dowel so I had to enlarge it a bit first

You can see the original problem here:

Highlander · March 07, 2011, 03:04:00 PM

I'd be tempted to strip that down and get it anodised in black - will it need to inset...? my own idea when I thought it through would have been to cut away a section of the body to allow access to the tuners...

What is that one from...?

neepheid · March 07, 2011, 03:19:40 PM

Quote from: Kenny's 51st State on March 07, 2011, 03:04:00 PM
I'd be tempted to strip that down and get it anodised in black - will it need to inset...? my own idea when I thought it through would have been to cut away a section of the body to allow access to the tuners...

What is that one from...?

I should be able to obtain a black unit at a later date, but a mate gave me the unit for nothing so I'll use it for now. It does require a recess. I will recess further back if needs be rather than cutting away a section of the body as I want to retain the Thunderbird shape.

neepheid · March 11, 2011, 04:10:32 AM

I've started to think about the dusty end access (especially as I've secured a 21 fret neck) and came up with this:

I realise this shape change will be heresy to some, but I think it's fairly subtle. All I'm doing is continuing a line a bit further then ending in a tighter turn where it meets the neck pocket. What do you think?