Fenderbird - Planning Stages

[whyachi]

...continued from here.


This is just what I've got figured out thus far.

Neck:
Raw bubinga P-style neck, wenge FB.
SS 6105 frets.
White corian nut.
Hipshot Ultralite clover tuners, 1/2".
Some form of string retainer.
Either MOP fret markers or none, depending on the paint scheme and PG I end up with.

Body:
Talking to the Warmoth guys right now about a maple Thunderbird body. I know it'll probably have lot of seams in it, but I want something heavy, bright and growly for the body woods. So I'm still trying to figure out what kind of paint job and pickguard I'm looking at. Satin finish regardless. IDEALLY I'd have a raised center section but I'm pretty sure I'm not going to get away with that.
Badass III bridge, string-through.
SD Basslines Phase II passive soapbars in the neck and bridge.
SD Basslines Quarter Pound Single Coil P in the middle.
Passive electronics, classic T-bird style knobs.
Duncan StrapLoks.



The idea with the P in the middle was just to give me some more options and to really combine the Thunderbird and P-bass styles a bit more. Plan to hook it up to a push-pull knob thing so I can cut it out when I want to.

For paint, I'm really into not into figured woods. Its the reason I've played Fenders to this point, I like the paint-and-PG look. I want to keep it light, so I was looking at Vintage White or an Antigua burst (sp?) until I saw this Strat and I think it's amazing, so I might try to go more that direction, or the sand colored bass Tonar just finished.


Anyways, I just wanted to see this typed up and get some feedback before I start placing orders in the next couple months.

 

[Nando Vallart]

if you're getting the body finished in white or something like this, you should ask for a matching Wenge headstock veneer, believe me, it'll look the best this way... Particulary I think the white one would be the best with the Thunderbird body look... well I don't like the antigua burst, anyway...
The pickguard for white should be perloid or vintage perloid IMO... If going on what I'm saying, perhaps the Gold hardware would look the best...

Not really sure about the soap-s-soap configuration, think the dual soapbar would look better, but if you fell like this, go on!

that is what I think...

 

[mayfly]

whatever you do, don't make one like this.

It's just horrible.  Great tone, great balance, great feel, it really thunders.

Just horrible  :icon_biggrin:

 

[Mor Paul]

whatever you do, don't make one like this.

It's just horrible.  Great tone, great balance, great feel, it really thunders.

Just horrible  :icon_biggrin:

I'm so sorry. Need some help with that one?

 

[OzziePete]

whatever you do, don't make one like this.

It's just horrible.  Great tone, great balance, great feel, it really thunders.

Just horrible  :icon_biggrin:

I really hate to see a fellow forumite suffer from such horrible-ness. I am offering to take this horrible creation off your hands, all you have to do is pay for the postage to Australia. :icon_jokercolor: :laughing8:

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

whatever you do, don't make one like this.

It's just horrible.  Great tone, great balance, great feel, it really thunders.

Just horrible  :icon_biggrin:

...and it's not even wired yet.

 

[vtpcnk]

don't warmoth's firebirds come with a tummy cut?

i think gibson firebirds do.

 

[mayfly]

whatever you do, don't make one like this.

It's just horrible.  Great tone, great balance, great feel, it really thunders.

Just horrible  :icon_biggrin:

...and it's not even wired yet.

(Sorry - old pic)

 

[Nando Vallart]

(Sorry - old pic)

I think you should redeem yourself, little grasshopper!

 

[whyachi]

if you're getting the body finished in white or something like this, you should ask for a matching Wenge headstock veneer, believe me, it'll look the best this way... Particulary I think the white one would be the best with the Thunderbird body look... well I don't like the antigua burst, anyway...
The pickguard for white should be perloid or vintage perloid IMO... If going on what I'm saying, perhaps the Gold hardware would look the best...

Not really sure about the soap-s-soap configuration, think the dual soapbar would look better, but if you fell like this, go on!

that is what I think...

I'm personally with you on the white, I think it would look great with the wenge fretboard. I had actually been thinking of getting the headstock painted to match the body, and the wenge veneer hadn't occured to me. I'll have to sketch this out and play with the colors a bit. I don't have the fancy-pants photo shop mockup ability some of yall do.

 

[Nando Vallart]

I don't have the fancy-pants photo shop mockup ability some of yall do.

I don't have enve the photoshop :laughing7:
You can do it (very poorly, but you'll have a idea) on paint brush... I would also consider the reverse headstock, for a more traditional Thunderbird look...

 

[whyachi]

I would also consider the reverse headstock, for a more traditional Thunderbird look...

It's difficult enough for me to not just build another Jazz, so the proper Fender headstock is really important in getting this thing to set well with me. I've tried branching out before, to a Corvette and a Stingray, and I just couldn't get into it.

The only reason I picked a Fenderbird over my dream Jazz is to have something that's a little less common. When I go to shows and someone pulls out a P or J, I'm always a little bummed that I'm not likely to see anything new.

 

[Nando Vallart]

Cool! I was talking about the fender headstock reversed, but I know what you fell... But you could also build a Jazz not traditional and what the guys play has nothing to do with the guitar... You can play a Jazz and play new stuff...

 

[whyachi]

Cool! I was talking about the fender headstock reversed, but I know what you fell... But you could also build a Jazz not traditional and what the guys play has nothing to do with the guitar... You can play a Jazz and play new stuff...

I meant new stuff as in new gear. I've seen a lot of people rocking on a P-bass before. Last show I went to, someone busted out this, I don't even know what it was, 5-string burl top with some lights and stuff on it. He wasn't the greatest player, but I had a lot of fun trying to figure out what all he had built into that thing.