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'Alumibird' 5 build


6feet7
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Ever since selling my Alusonic Django bass I've had severe regrets, and, unfortunately, I just can't afford to get another one, so I've been looking around for a cheaper way of getting something made out of metal. I found Paul Miller of Molindar Ltd in Scotland who makes aluminium bodies for guitars and basses at a very fair price.

My second thought was that I didn't wan't a Fender shaped bass (I play a Ricky 4004L and Gibson non-reverse T'bird - both converted to 5 string), so it had to fit in with these. Paul makes a Gretsch Billy Bo Thunderbird shaped guitar body, so I've asked him to make a 5 string bass this shape instead. 

First things first was to source the parts needed, so I found a 2002 Epiphone (Korea) thunderbird neck, an extra schaller tuner to convert to 5 string (I already had four). A 5 string Ibanez AGB2005 tun-o-matic bridge, a Lace Alumitone pickup, a Kiogan wiring loom and a couple of Gretsch metal knobs. These have all been sent up to Paul so he could fit the body to the neck and pickup.

I'm not sure what finish I'm going to go with though. Should I just leave the body rough? Polish it to a shine? Get it chrome plated? Get it chrome plated then acid etched to look rusted up? Any help gratefully received.

Photos below and I'll post more when it's finished.

 

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Edited by 6feet7
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1 hour ago, Happy Jack said:

If he can do laser etching, then with the right design it can look breath-taking.

 

Wow. He doesn't do any finishing (except paint, which I don't want). I've found people who can polish it, but I love that etching. I don't suppose you know who could do it?

 

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The guy who did that moved to Perth years ago. Strangely enough he's back in England (I think right now) visiting relatives but I don't think he'd be up for it. 😉)

 

They call that 3D holographic. Post my photo on the right FB pages and you'll find someone, I'm sure.

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Just now, Happy Jack said:

The guy who did that moved to Perth years ago. Strangely enough he's back in England (I think right now) visiting relatives but I don't think he'd be up for it. 😉)

 

They call that 3D holographic. Post my photo on the right FB pages and you'll find someone, I'm sure.

Thanks. I think I've found someone literally 20 minutes from me. I've just messaged them so will hopefully find out next week. Photos to follow.

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  • 2 weeks later...
2 minutes ago, Happy Jack said:

Sooner or later, you'll have to tell us what this beast weighs ...

 

When it arrives - though it is mostly hollow, so it might be bearable 

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13 minutes ago, Happy Jack said:

I do hope so, but my aluminium 3/4 DB weighs roughly 50% more than a plywood 3/4 DB.

 

Just saying ...

 

Ouch

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The Tokai Talbo Bass which has a similar construction with a hollow aluminium body weighs the same as a typical wooden bodied bass. 

 

Mine was full of the sort of foam you find in cushions in an attempt to prevent the hollow body inducing feedback, although @Bassassin has reported it's not very effective when using high-gain sounds.

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Just now, BigRedX said:

The Tokai Talbo Bass which has a similar construction with a hollow aluminium body weighs the same as a typical wooden bodied bass. 

 

Mine was full of the sort of foam you find in cushions in an attempt to prevent the hollow body inducing feedback, although @Bassassin has reported it's not very effective when using high-gain sounds.

I absolutely adore the look of the Talbo, and have looked at converting one to a 5 string - I’m sure Simon at GUS Guitars could fashion something up, though I’m going to see how this one goes first.

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1 hour ago, 6feet7 said:

I absolutely adore the look of the Talbo, and have looked at converting one to a 5 string - I’m sure Simon at GUS Guitars could fashion something up, though I’m going to see how this one goes first.

 

I looked at getting mine converted to a 5-string but it wasn't really cost-effective, so I sold it (to someone in Japan IIRC). If money was no object then maybe I's reconsider, but I'd probably just have some more Gus basses instead!

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  • 3 weeks later...
Posted (edited)

Here’s the finished product. Still needs a proper setup but it’s playable.

I replaced the lace alumitone pickup with a T'bird styleone. To say it’s ‘different’ is an understatement, but I love it.

To restate what’s parts have been used. A custom built Gretschalike billy bo Thunderbird aluminium body, made by molindar in Scotland. A 2002 (Korea) Epiphone Thunderbird neck. An Ibanez AGB2005 tun-o-matic tailpiece/bridge. 2 Gretsch chrome knobs and a Kiogan wiring loom (bought for another project that never materialised). 
I haven’t weighed it yet but it’s heavier than my Gibson non-reverse Thunderbird and Rickenbacker 4004L basses but lighter than many other basses I’ve owned.

Anyway, here’s a few photos.

 

 

 

 

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Edited by 6feet7
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On 08/04/2024 at 17:25, Happy Jack said:

Sooner or later, you'll have to tell us what this beast weighs ...

 

OK. Just weighed it (not 100% accurate as it was balancing on the scales whilst I was on my hands and knees squinting through my cheapo reading glasses trying to differentiate between the little lines, which definitely looked all squigly). About 4 1/2Kg, which is more than I like for a gig (I usually go for 3 - 3 1/2Kg), but is OK for those 'metal' songs, where a metal bass is essential :)

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  • 6feet7 changed the title to 'Alumibird' 5 build
  • 2 months later...

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