Starting another project (Minimal RIC content)

green_us90 · Post by **green_us90** » Sun Dec 18, 2005 3:58 pm

Folks,

With some bonus money from Christmas and also gift money I have decided to start my next project which will be a Fenderbird Replica.

First- has anyone any experience buying from Warmoth? I will be buying a Thunderbird body, without pickup routings and would appreciate any feedback anyone can offer.

The bass will have:
Thunderbird body
Allparts Jazz Bass neck, Maple cap, black block markers and black binding
Fender AM. St. bridge
Rick content- two Rickenbacker HB1 humbuckers

Thoughts? As it progresses I will post pictures.
Also plan on finishing it in Fiesta Red.

mikeylc · Post by **mikeylc** » Sun Dec 18, 2005 4:10 pm

I haven't bought a body from Warmoth but I have bought a neck and it is top notch. I have the jazz profile, rosewood FB with pearl blocks and pearl binding. I've had AP necks as well but like the Warmoth a bit better because you can get it with whatever frets you want for no extra charge even though the necks are more expensive. Both will be nice players. Sounds like a cool project and Fiesta Red is a great color. Good luck.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Sun Dec 18, 2005 4:43 pm

I used a p-bass neck on my fenderbird ... http://www.3dentourage.com/425/fender-bird.htm ... there are some pics on the web of Entwistle's fenderbirds here ... http://www.thewho.net/whotabs/equipment/bass/equip-entwistlegear.html ...

Now you have to decide where to place the pickups ... you can put them in the jazz bass locations or in the Ric locations ...

I have a future project where I will put a pair of hb1 pickups on a non ric bass but use the Ric locations ... and of course it will be a 5 string bass ...

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Sun Dec 18, 2005 4:51 pm

I want to do a reverse fenderbird with the original t-bird pickups ... and a p-bass neck ... Entwistle liked the fenderbird basses ... the combination of the t-bird body and pickups and the all maple Fender p-bass neck was what he used in the quadraphenia era ...

green_us90 · Post by **green_us90** » Sun Dec 18, 2005 5:13 pm

Yeah, Jeff that's absolutely the vibe I am going for- a tribute to John. Using the HB1's will be neat- plus I have and extra 4001 '75 higain I could pop in as well-

Hereis a link, there are a few reverse T Bird Fenderbirds, as well as the one I want to make a tribute to- it is at the bottom of this link's page:

http://www.thewho.net/whotabs/images/bass/fbird/fbird-paxmancas_rsg.jpg

green_us90 · Post by **green_us90** » Sun Dec 18, 2005 5:18 pm

Going to us the RIC locations- but not the locations where the neck pickup is right against the finger board.

I suspect the project will take about 2-3 months.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Sun Dec 18, 2005 5:53 pm

I just bought a p-bass body off of ebay without any pickup routings ... I will put in Ric pickups in Ric locations and add a p-bass neck and 5 strings ... I am thinking of 2 hb1 pickups in 4003 locations ... this should make that p-bass growl like no other p-bass ... more like one of my snarly 2030-5 basses ... I may wire it like a 4003 or maybe like a jazz bass ...

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Sun Dec 18, 2005 5:59 pm

I want to do a 5 string bass with an explorer/exploiter body and a maple p-bass neck as well ...

by the way the fenderbird is a good player ... the p-bass neck and the t-bird body are a good match sonically ... and visually ...

I was going to paint mine red but I liked the blueish color the way it was so I left it ...

bobcat · Post by **bobcat** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 11:55 am

I wish Warmoth would do set-neck basses . . . but then again, I'm not sure I'd trust myself to glue in a neck, whereas I know I can bolt one on. Still, though, I eventually wanna make an Alembic Exploiter-type bass, but Warmoth only does bolt-on necks, which I don't want . . .

green_us90 · Post by **green_us90** » Fri Dec 23, 2005 1:19 pm

Jeff Rath, I've seen where you have used 1000k pots for your controls- are there any advantages to this; as stated I plan on using the 2ea HB1s and wiring in V-V-T like a Jazz Bass.

Also, I bought all my paint supplies from ReRanch (grain filler, prime and paint, sealer, 2 cans Fiesta Red and 1 can each clear nitro and tinted nitro) the parts will be in soon

WooHoo!!!
-Dave

green_us90 · Post by **green_us90** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 1:25 pm

Pickups are in, now just eagerly waiting for the body!!!

Chrome HB1's.

hazmat · Post by **hazmat** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 5:57 pm

That's a great idea. I had much the same, until this 4001 came my way. Trouble with the Thunderbird bass I wanted was that I play lefty, wanted lightweight, and wanted the narrow string spacing of a Danelectro. So I was looking at a custom job.

I am hoping that this 1976 4001 will satiate me.

Good luck with your project. I look forward to seeing the results.

Btw, get block inlays.