Bitsa PJBird build

[Berserker]

Decided I need a passive bass, but then realised I'm skint. Went out to the shed and realised I have enough parts to probably build several basses! I love the sound of Thunderbirds, the body of Jazz basses, and the necks of P basses... so I thought, why not combine them all!

 

Thought I'd document the process, and my inevitable cockups!

 

Jazz body made from a very sought after tonewood called Uruguayan Mahogany alternative. Freehand routed for the neck pickup, but thought I better make a template for the bridge one.

 

Like a glove!

 

Ebay Precision neck with Jazz style inlays

 

I have a Fender high mass bridge and some Gotoh tuners to finish it up.

[Berserker]

Going for a Thunderbird type burst finish, but I like pretty rustic finishes so it'll be a little less precise. Bit of progress this weekend, filled the grain with black filler and sanded back, then started the stain and oil process:

 

Amber stain base layer

 

Black edges blended with a little brown

 

First coat of Crimson Guitars penetrating oil applied

Edited October 1, 2023 by Berserker

[mrbacco]

I like the idea of combining the different "brands" under the same umbrella 🙂 !

[Berserker]

7 hours ago, mrbacco said:

I like the idea of combining the different "brands" under the same umbrella 🙂 !

 

Thanks, oil should be cured enough to start assembling in the next couple of days 👍

[Andyjr1515]

Great stuff

[Berserker]

Bit of progress. The oiling process seemed to soak up a lot of the black stain so the burst doesn't look great, but I'm pretty happy with it. Waiting for the bridge and pickguard screws to arrive, I thought I had some in the shed! Then just need to modify the pickguard and install/wire the pickups.

 

 

[Berserker]

Bridge and pickguard screws arrived... and I've lost the pickup screws! Pickguard modified to accept the Tbird pup, just gotta wait for new pickup screws now.

 

[Pea Turgh]

That looks ace!  I like the contrast between the shiny shiny chrome and the antique-style body finish.  Love TB pickups.

[Richard R]

I like the  "busted burst" effect.   It looks as if it's been used a lot over many years, but well looked after on the journey. Not artificially reliced, just well played.

[Berserker]

12 minutes ago, Richard R said:

I like the  "busted burst" effect.   It looks as if it's been used a lot over many years, but well looked after on the journey. Not artificially reliced, just well played.

 

Thanks. Yeah I like it, a little head start on the aging process!

[RichardH]

What pickups are you using? 

[Berserker]

36 minutes ago, RichardH said:

What pickups are you using? 

 

I bought them years ago, after reading loads of recommendations on Talkbass. Pretty sure it's these ones:

 

https://www.eyguitarmusic.com/Thunderbird-Bass-Pickup-Vintage-Style-for-GibsonChromeNickel_p_2287.html

[MichaelDean]

Yeah, that looks really cool. Love a bit of chrome!

[RichardH]

Ahhh, yes, they are the ones I have an eye on for a potential Grabber/tbird style build (thundergrab?)

[Beedster]

On 17/10/2023 at 18:09, Berserker said:

Bridge and pickguard screws arrived... and I've lost the pickup screws! Pickguard modified to accept the Tbird pup, just gotta wait for new pickup screws now.

 

 

Very nice work @Berserker

[Pea Turgh]

What were the import duties & wait times like, @Berserker?  I love the look of Thunderbird pickups and see some in my future.  The link you sent had them at the most reasonable price I’ve seen.

[uk_lefty]

Great looking bass! Similar to what I have in mind for a Hofner 189 body I picked up

[Berserker]

3 hours ago, RichardH said:

Ahhh, yes, they are the ones I have an eye on for a potential Grabber/tbird style build (thundergrab?)

 

Cool, I'll post some sound clips when it's done so you can get a feel for them.

[Berserker]

1 hour ago, Pea Turgh said:

What were the import duties & wait times like, @Berserker?  I love the look of Thunderbird pickups and see some in my future.  The link you sent had them at the most reasonable price I’ve seen.

 

I honestly can't remember, I bought them years ago. I don't recall a long wait though. 

[Berserker]

All finished except strap locks. Plays really well after a quick setup. The sound is very different from my usual Spector tone as you can imagine, but I really like it, especially with a pick.

 

[Berserker]

Here's some quick and dirty sound samples. Really like the sound of both pickups together. There's a real growl to this pickups, I thought the input was clipping at first. 

 

1. Pick - both pickups

2. Pick - Neck pickup

3. Pick - Bridge pickup

4. Fingers - both pickups

5. Fingers - Neck pickup

6. Fingers bridge pickup

Edited October 22, 2023 by Berserker

[MichaelDean]

It's all come together really nicely and sounds great! I bet it'd love a bit of dirt too...

[Berserker]

1 minute ago, MichaelDean said:

It's all come together really nicely and sounds great! I bet it'd love a bit of dirt too...

 

Thanks! Yeah, it sounds monstrous with some distortion... really thick and meaty!

[kodiakblair]

On 19/10/2023 at 15:43, Pea Turgh said:

What were the import duties & wait times like

Mine arrived within 2 weeks, paid 20% VAT same as on any purchase from outside the UK.

[JPJ]

On 22/10/2023 at 12:17, Berserker said:

Here's some quick and dirty sound samples. Really like the sound of both pickups together. There's a real growl to this pickups, I thought the input was clipping at first. 

 

1. Pick - both pickups

2. Pick - Neck pickup

3. Pick - Bridge pickup

4. Fingers - both pickups

5. Fingers - Neck pickup

6. Fingers bridge pickup

 

Those pickups sound great and very little volume difference between the neck and bridge pickups. I also like the finish, looks like one of those early eighties Washburn's