8 String Thunderbird/REV 82 Build

[Highlander]

Could be an interesting project for those that like shorties... not me mind you... sort of an alto-bass...

[leftybass]

I've had 2 short-scale 8-strings, including a Hagstrom, and 2 short-scale Hamer 12-strings, still have 1, would love a custom-made short-scale 8.

[dadagoboi]

I've had 2 short-scale 8-strings, including a Hagstrom, and 2 short-scale Hamer 12-strings, still have 1, would love a custom-made short-scale 8.

Sorry, Ronn, I don't build necks.

[dadagoboi]

Very "space age"!

I blame you for this, Tom!  Decided to see how a pickguard would look.  This is clear acrylic sprayed with Krylon gold on the back side.


After it dried I stuck a 8.5 x 11 label paper sheet (glue side) to it to keep the gold from being abraded and trimmed it to fit with an exacto.  This is pre trim, clear side up with plastic film intact.


Matching trussrod cover gets decal applied reversed to the bottom, then sprayed with gold.


Same trick with label paper.  This is before it completely dried.


Looks like this installed.


Buffed out as a 2 pickup




And as single pup with stealth stacked pot, with and without p/g.

[godofthunder]

  Wow!

[Highlander]

Tha's so OTT...

[Lightyear]

I love it with the guard!

The only thing I would change would be to change the knob out for a funky retro knob from a 50/60s TV or radio - something in gold

[Nocturnal]

Looks great all three ways!!

[chromium]

I'm really liking the single pickup version, with stacked pot and 'guard.

[gearHed289]

Wow, that really gives it a finished look!

[Dave W]

I like it with or without the guard. If you decide to go with a guard, the color combo of body and guard is just right.

[Stjofön Big]

She's nicest nude! Such a beautiful bass! And I'm sitting here wondering if I should take the Embassy, the Bachbird, or the Ripperbird for Saturdays gig. Oh my, I wish I had your bass, maaan. Then there would be no question! That is one sharp looking bass you've got!

[dadagoboi]

Thanks for all the compliments guys.  I'm really happy with the way it's turned out, I think it strikes a nice balance between retro and modern.  A "radio' knob would be pretty cool.  I made my first screwless guard for my '55 Precision when I refinned it in '73.  Double stick tape worked just fine.  Did the same with my '77 TBird.  This p/g actually stays in place by itself.  The extended fretboard and pickup keep it from moving.  They don't rivet airplanes together these days, makes no sense to use a bunch of screws on the guard that just clutter things up.   I got the idea for a gold P/G when I stuck the template on to see how it would look, it's sort of a gold green pendaflex folder and it looked pretty good.  The pictures barely do the bass justice, metallic green really comes alive in sunlight.

I've realized that within reason it makes sense to do variations on a theme when doing a design.  It's a lot easier to show a customer what's possible vs. telling them.  The dummy pickup is a big help.

[godofthunder]

  I like it plain, well I like both actually but if push came to shove I'd say plain.

[exiledarchangel]

Well I'll go both ways for this, I like it with and without guard. And please put a funky knob on!