New MIKE LULL/Hamer 12 string Thunderbird Bass

Bionic-Joe · October 14, 2012, 08:50:34 AM

Didn't someone here do this 3 years ago?

mc2NY · October 14, 2012, 09:00:08 AM

As they say...."Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery!"

Wonder if he actually re-glued the neck or just bolted it on

Proof that Hamer DOES make the best 8- and 12-string bass necks.

TBird1958 · October 14, 2012, 09:15:34 AM

I got to see this bass in person on 10/12, met Pearl Jam's Tech at Lull's.
It was likely Jeff Ament's idea to copy you Baz, I think LBO gets lurked far more than we all realize.
Personally, I wish you made basses Baz you've a rare inspiration that I admire.

Bionic-Joe · October 14, 2012, 10:50:06 AM

I keep getting that, bro....I'm not dead yet.....Was that neck bolted on??? Did he use a Hamer Chaparall?

TBird1958 · October 14, 2012, 11:03:24 AM

You know I really mean that Baz, your passion always shows thru.

It was a Hamer Chaparall neck, the body is a Jeff Ament custom, meaning it's larger and thinner than a standard T-4, I didn't get to see the backside of the bass but if it were anything other than bolt on neck I'd be truly surprised.

Bionic-Joe · October 14, 2012, 12:39:20 PM

Thanks Mark. I really appreciate that. It's the real players like you and me, down in the trenches..that when you compliment me, it means something deep. I sold the NR T Bird II 8 last week to a gentleman who heard about me on Talk Bass. Evidently...something is going around. Some Buzz. I'm not stopping...but I'm halted as I need more money and haven't really been working so bills are piling up.....one day...Only classic looking basses!!!!!!

Shark · October 15, 2012, 02:43:34 AM

Quote from: Baz Cooper on October 14, 2012, 10:50:06 AM
I keep getting that, bro....I'm not dead yet.....Was that neck bolted on??? Did he use a Hamer Chaparall?

Wow real intersting. Hope to see more pics of this bass.

Baz's real killer creations are as they have to be .. with a set neck ;-)

Bionic-Joe · October 15, 2012, 05:34:17 AM

Amen to that!!! This ain't no Fender!!!!!

gearHed289 · October 15, 2012, 08:27:23 AM

Quote from: TBird1958 on October 14, 2012, 11:03:24 AMthe body is a Jeff Ament custom, meaning it's larger and thinner than a standard T-4

I thought it looked odd. That explains it.

Baz, I was just thinking about that green beast you brought by my office that one time. Where did that one go???

mc2NY · October 15, 2012, 11:52:53 AM

FYI

Jeff says the Lull TBird 8 is a bolt-on but it "grinds better than his other three 12vers."

Bionic-Joe · October 15, 2012, 08:53:58 PM

Quote from: gearHed289 on October 15, 2012, 08:27:23 AM
I thought it looked odd. That explains it.

Baz, I was just thinking about that green beast you brought by my office that one time. Where did that one go???

Both the Inverness Green Thunderbird 12 string and the blue metal flake Thunderbird 8 string are in Germany, owned by SHARK or Andre. The next one I build will be using a B12A .......gunna cost me a lot of Munny!!!!! Next year...maybe.......

Pekka · October 16, 2012, 03:14:27 AM

Quote from: Baz Cooper on October 15, 2012, 08:53:58 PM
Both the Inverness Green Thunderbird 12 string and the blue metal flake Thunderbird 8 string are in Germany, owned by SHARK or Andre. The next one I build will be using a B12A .......gunna cost me a lot of Munny!!!!! Next year...maybe.......

Why don't you use a Korean neck from a CH-12? A lot cheaper but still great necks. My CH-12 lost its neck to a new B12S -style body in 2008 and while I didn't think about the ergonomics at all (well, if I did I wouldn't play a 12-string bass) it's a much better bass now. It's a set neck, of course.

Of course the B12A neck has a different headstock but the bass itself (B12A) looks so great I'd be sad to see it taken apart. How about putting Thunderbird pickups into it?

Pekka · October 16, 2012, 03:23:39 AM

Quote from: mc2NY on October 15, 2012, 11:52:53 AM
FYI

Jeff says the Lull TBird 8 is a bolt-on but it "grinds better than his other three 12vers."

What's Jeff's third 12-string besides the original Hamer and this one?:

mc2NY · October 16, 2012, 09:09:49 AM

Quote from: Pekka on October 16, 2012, 03:23:39 AM
What's Jeff's third 12-string besides the original Hamer and this one?:

It's another Hamer Jeff Ament Model B12A that I sold him a couple of years back. Same body and headstock as his original but this one had a pao ferro fingerboard and dot inlays, so it's different from any other Jeff Ament Model one.

Pekka · October 17, 2012, 07:59:51 AM

Quote from: mc2NY on October 16, 2012, 09:09:49 AM
It's another Hamer Jeff Ament Model B12A that I sold him a couple of years back. Same body and headstock as his original but this one had a pao ferro fingerboard and dot inlays, so it's different from any other Jeff Ament Model one.

You sold him his own bass?

I think the picture of the bass was on the original 12string bass site few years back? Anyway, thanks for the info.

Has anyone tried the semi-acoustic 12-string of Jeff's pictured above? Is it really the only one ever made?