Reproduction NR Thunderbirds

Started by godofthunder, February 07, 2015, 02:40:39 PM

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godofthunder

   I am in the process of producing a very accurate Non-reverse reproduction, all mahogany construction, set neck the works. Watch this space for updates.  ;)
Maker of the Badbird Bridge, "intonation without modification" for your vintage Gibson Thunderbird

Highlander

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If research was easy, it wouldn't need doing...
Staring at that event horizon is a dirty job, but someone has to do it; something's going to come back out of it one day...

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Dave W

Scott, I wish you the best with this project. You'll do it right.

Basvarken

Finally! It has always bugged me that BaCH ignored some of the specs I gave them.
Hell, even Gibson managed to screw it up!
Now is the chance to do it right. Got for it Scott!

There are several pickup builders that make the Thunderbird humbuckers. Jason Lollar makes them too. But there is also a guy in Germany called David Barfuss. He makes a reproduction of these pickups too. https://www.facebook.com/david.barfuss.12

www.brooksbassguitars.com
www.thegibsonbassbook.com

Denis

Good luck, Scott!
This begs the question, "how accurate to the originals were the 30 BaCH Series IIs?" Mine seem pretty darn close to my original one.
Why did Salvador Dali cross the road?
Clocks.

Basvarken

There is always room for improvement in the smaller details Denis.
The headstock should have had a lightly slanted edge. The control cavity on the BaCH shouldn't have been triangular. The pickguard of the BacH was just plain wrong. The tailpiece shouldn't have been straight forward rectangular, but rounded off. The knobs shouldn't have been in equal distance to another. The machine heads should have had the accurate shape baseplate (such as the Gotoh resolites). And BaCH forgot the bellycut on the back.  ;)

www.brooksbassguitars.com
www.thegibsonbassbook.com

dadagoboi

Bring it on, Scott. ;D
I know you'll do a great job!

Bionic-Joe

Bro....You have to make at least one that is all Korina, with an amber Nitro clear coat, parchment guard!!!!!!! I always dreamed of making one myself.....

godofthunder

#9
  The Bach series II were very close, certainly better than Gibsons attempt. I love my Series II and two series III , once tricked out they give my real ones a run for the money but they are not  100% accurate. Things like the veneer over the top and back of the body, poly finish, pickguard, changing body shapes and thickness etc. are just some of the things not right.  I plan on using Thunderbucker pickups as long as Steve is still winding them. I was going to cheap out and do bolt on but I think a set neck is a must.  I have no intention of fixing the quirks associated (like neck dive) with NRs. I will build to sell at first then after I am satisfied with the process I'll build to order. I am using on of the suppliers the big guys use so it will be consistent CNC quality and I have (Bill found him) a local guy who shoots lacquer and does great work lined up for finishing.
Maker of the Badbird Bridge, "intonation without modification" for your vintage Gibson Thunderbird

Basvarken

QuoteI was going to cheap out and do bolt on but I think a set neck is a must.

Absolutely. A bolt on for a NR Tbird doesn't make sense to me.

Quote
I have no intention of fixing the quirks associated (like neck dive) with NRs.

Gotoh Resolites will fix that for ya.
www.brooksbassguitars.com
www.thegibsonbassbook.com

OldManC

Scott, you're the right man to do this. I wish you much success in a most worthy endeavor!

Granny Gremlin

I can feel the temptation already.
Quote from: uwe on April 17, 2014, 03:19:20 PM
Robert Plant and Jimmy Page (drummer and bassist of Deep Purple, Jake!)

TBird1958

Quote from: OldManC on February 08, 2015, 11:17:43 AM
Scott, you're the right man to do this. I wish you much success in a most worthy endeavor!


Yep, couldn't say it better!
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