T-Bay

Just had a crack at it and got most of it, thanks for all the replies. I have noodled the intro for ages which helps but the simplified version in the video sounds ok and is a doddle so that will do. And guitarist is happy to fit in with me key wise which also helps.

Yup! It would help a lot.

Been asked to play sweet child o mine for a mate on Saturday, it would be easy to say no but it’s a big thing for him so would love to be able to do it. BUT I have never played it, I have noodled the intro but when I looked at the online tabs and music my gut reaction is that there is no way that’s happening in the 2-3ish hours I will be able to put into it between now and then. I am a quick learner but it goes all over the place. So the question is, as I know the intro already, does anyone know of a way of simplifying the main body of the song to a state that this could be possible? Guitarist and drummer both play it in their other bands so no problem there. I may have to say no but would at least like to have a go at it for him.

Yup! Want to do the super lightweight one now. Any suggestions on nice light woods with a good pattern but that finishes well?

Not if our last gig is anything to go by. We positioned a camera to film it and this punter spent the entire time we played six foot from us on his phone. We were not stupidly loud but he was only six inches from the PA. and there were way less than 300 there.

The prices don’t help with this though, price put most ordinary people and what are you left with? I love the stones but would I pay £100 for a ticket? No way, I can see five up and coming bands for the same money and probably 5-10 interesting support acts as well.

New knobs on their way, gone for some black knurled ones with fake abalone inserts.

I have some offcuts so when I get a chance I plan to work out the density and see if I can estimate how much I can save, at a guess I think I can save somewhere between 800-1400g depending how radical I go. The wood was bought as it was all I could find and I didn’t want to spend a fortune on the wood for the first in case I messed up. For the next one I will certainly get a better (and read lighter) wood.

A couple of shots of the (nearly) finished article. It’s been a push to get it done as work will go crazy for about 6 weeks after this week so it was now or wait an age. The final run in was not without incident. I bought quality parts throughout except the string tree. After all, what can go wrong with a string tree? The bloody screw can snap that’s what. So a quick fix was needed which is frustrating but no one other than me would know. The pickguard is still not in my hands so will have to wait but other than that it’s ready for action. Ot made sound straight from the off, no issues there. It sounds fantastic, the genuine Gibson thunderbird pups would exactly like a Gibson Thunderbird oddly enough. Balance is perfect, weight is, wellllllllllllllll, let’s put it this way, my idea of a lightweight T-bird is scuppered unless lightweight is in comparison to a black hole. Finish is OK but not amazing - best described as a good ten footer. It plays brilliantly and I am very very pleased with it. After an initial set up to adjust the neck relief I set the intonation (calculations worked out and next to no adjustment was needed). My next gig is on the 18th and it will be in use for that. Jobs to do - buy some decent knobs, I am not happy with either set I have spare. Sort a pickguard of some sort. And one last possible - I am wondering about routing out cavities in the back to reduce the weight somewhat. It would mean some ugly covers but could make a significant weight saving. So is it worth doing? Will wait and see.

The only jobs left are fitting the neck (already been done and then removed), populating it, again already done and removed and then the bridge. That has all been measured up but final fitting has been left until everything else is in place just in case as have seen cases on here of alignment going out right at end somehow and the strings being too close to one edge or other. Then it’s just the strap buttons and it’s ready to play. The pickguard could be delayed as waiting on someone to do something for me before I can get the chemicals out which is a bit frustrating.

And the ‘you will always get your money back from Amazon’ is rubbish, I run an engineering club for kids with disabilities and we were left £150 out of pocket by a dodgy trader on Amazon, Money the kids and volunteers had raised themselves. Amazon didn’t want to know. Scumbags.

Getting close! All the electrics are in, the rear cover has been made but need some different screws I think. The finish certainly is up to Andys standards but with the kit I have available I am am happy with it. A planer thicknesser would be lovely. Decal is on the head (as Fender and Gibson never made a Fenderbird and as itsbthe generic term for a marriage of bits of those two styles it seemed appropriate). So depending on time tomorrow could see the last few jobs completed and it fired up. Exciting times.

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Or during........

Of course we are keen! Looking forward to pics already.

I have something completely different planned for the pickguard, the chemist/ biochemist background is coming out and I hooping to get something very different looking. For the headstock I don’t have the talent to sign write it so have gone for a decal (design will be shown once it’s on). I had the pleasure of knowing an amazing sign writer who could done an amazing job for me but he sadly passed away not long ago (RIP Brian Jones).

Everything is now here so with any luck it should be finished (bar final fettling) this week. Only choice left to make is whether to go for T-bird style knobs or plain black knurled ones. I have both in my spares pot so will see which I like the look of best. I normally prefer plain ones but will see.

Not mine but this always make me laugh (from 1:10)

Maybe they do but we don’t know (doubt it). Composites have a reputation for being very expensive and difficult to make. With modern prepregs and the knowledge base in the UK we would be ideally situated to produce some interesting kit. But would your average Joe buy it instead of a MiM Fender?

People get comfortable with what they know. I have a lot of experience with carbon fibre and have even designed and built a monocoque for electric endurance racing. It’s daunting at first but once you get stuck in it really isn’t difficult. I suppose the main issue for lots of companies is cost, both in terms of materials and time. Why spend an age looking a something new when you can sell what you have sold for the last fifty years but done in a different colour? Smaller companies may be more likely to be innovative but have less ability to fund that research.

Why wouldn’t you? If it works great, if not, try something else. Always worth pushing the boundaries, the next great thing could be just around the corner.

You’d be flipped edit: thats boring, was hoping for something far more adventurous from the swear filter.

But is it PedAnt or PedEnt?

Thanks, I searched around and looked where I thought it would be before posting but in the time I have been on here I have completely failed to spot that section. Sorry! And I was thinking any gig pics, so ones of our bands, ones at gigs we attend, any old (especially embarrassing) ones, anything gig related really.