Muzz Posted December 20, 2016 Share Posted December 20, 2016 (edited) Finally, I got my finger out and had Jon Shuker make me a new neck for the Fenderbird/Laklandbird/Thunderland/whatever I was calling it this week, as the Lakland neck had developed a twist to go with the backbow. This was a real shame, as that neck's got the most spectacular birdseye maple board I think I've ever seen - it really did look like marmalade. Anyhoo, no point looking good if you can't actually play the thing, and having to tweak the trussrod mid-set was getting to be a bit of a bind... Sooo, the whole thing went off to Jon, and last week I went down to pick it up. And it's very very good indeed. Just to recap, it was originally an Epi Thunderbird, but the only Epi bits left are the body (I like the colour) and the neck plate, the rest is pure Frankenhoohah: Hipshot Ultralights with a D-tuner, Hipshot Supertone bridge, Dingwall pickups (a P-Tone and a Dual Coil) under chrome covers with rings, and an East U-Retro. And now a Shuker J neck with a birdseye board and brass nut. It won't be to everyone's taste, I know, but it's exactly the look I wanted, it plays very very nicely indeed, and it's just what I wanted for my 'proper' rock band. It even balances properly... Oh, and I know the sheer uselessness of 22 frets on a bass like this: I'd say those are strong contenders for The Most Futile Top Five Frets Ever, right there... sorrynotsorry... And without further ado, here's the pics... [attachment=234381:shukerbird1.jpg] [attachment=234382:shukerbird2.jpg] [attachment=234383:shukerbird3.jpg] Oh, fer crying out loud...why does the pic uploader rotate them randomly? Ffs... Edited December 20, 2016 by Muzz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bass_Guardian Posted December 20, 2016 Share Posted December 20, 2016 Looks amazing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlfer Posted December 20, 2016 Share Posted December 20, 2016 [URL=http://s1354.photobucket.com/user/Karl_Altdorfer/media/post-6735-0-94379500-1482234822_zpsvls8kniq.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1354.photobucket.com/albums/q693/Karl_Altdorfer/post-6735-0-94379500-1482234822_zpsvls8kniq.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muzz Posted December 20, 2016 Author Share Posted December 20, 2016 Karl, you are verily a Wizzard of the images... Cheers Pal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muzz Posted December 20, 2016 Author Share Posted December 20, 2016 [quote name='Bass_Guardian' timestamp='1482235535' post='3198648'] Looks amazing! [/quote] Cheers fella - I wanted that whole 70s chrome look - and those covers fit over a lot of boring old black soapbar pickups... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cgg199 Posted December 20, 2016 Share Posted December 20, 2016 (edited) Looks great, I love Jon's work. There's going to be another thread like this soon, as he's just finished building a new neck for my Squier! Edited December 20, 2016 by cgg199 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rikki_Sixx Posted December 20, 2016 Share Posted December 20, 2016 Phwoar, that's a bit of alright! I've always loved the Thunderbird shape but I've been told by a few people that they're not especially versatile (not that it would matter for my playing!). It looks like that's certainly not the case with the modifications you've made! And that neck... Would love to see some nice high-res images of this beast! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted December 20, 2016 Share Posted December 20, 2016 Nice figuring in the wood grain going on there. Lovely warm tone. May you be very happy together for many years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
howdenspur Posted December 20, 2016 Share Posted December 20, 2016 That is very nice! Sort of updated-retro looking. I've just obtained an Epi body to use as a base, though it has been stripped and will need painting. I'm hunter gathering for some nice parts to use. How did you get it to balance - just the Ultralights? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted December 20, 2016 Share Posted December 20, 2016 I love the combination of the rich body colour and the maple fretboard. Yes, I like that a lot! I also think that putting the pickups underneath the chrome covers retains the vintage look along side the bug hefty bridge. I think I prefer that headstock over the Epi' one too, it seems to so with the body shape angles. Just me I guess. Congratulations Muzz. I do enjoy seeing Franken' basses and this one looks as if it were meant to be all along. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mykesbass Posted December 20, 2016 Share Posted December 20, 2016 I was told by someone who knows a lot more about these things than I do, that often the highly figured woods are the less stable ones, so that was possibly the cause of the problems with your Lakland neck. No worries with one from Jon, those carbon rods are going nowhere - couldn't even tell you where the truss rod adjustment is on mine and it is now 5 years old!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted December 20, 2016 Share Posted December 20, 2016 Love that. Nothing beats the feeling of having a unique bitsa bass, especially when it looks so neat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
No lust in Jazz Posted December 21, 2016 Share Posted December 21, 2016 That's a good looking bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreeneKing Posted December 21, 2016 Share Posted December 21, 2016 Really great to see someone develop something different like this. The pickup covers look great. The only bad neck I've had in 100 basses was a Lakeland Skyline one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barneyg42 Posted December 21, 2016 Share Posted December 21, 2016 (edited) I'll just echo what others say about the pick up covers, great stuff! Not a fan of these basses but this does look good with those covers and that neck! Well done!! Edited December 21, 2016 by barneyg42 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlfer Posted December 21, 2016 Share Posted December 21, 2016 Muzz, you need to provide a link to those chromy pup covers. It's the law. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muzz Posted December 21, 2016 Author Share Posted December 21, 2016 (edited) Thanks to all, glad it strikes a chord [quote name='howdenspur' timestamp='1482256577' post='3198995'] That is very nice! Sort of updated-retro looking. I've just obtained an Epi body to use as a base, though it has been stripped and will need painting. I'm hunter gathering for some nice parts to use. How did you get it to balance - just the Ultralights? [/quote] The straplock is situated a little further forward on the end of the heel, which, with the Ultralights, is enough to get it to balance nicely. [quote name='Mykesbass' timestamp='1482257311' post='3199007'] I was told by someone who knows a lot more about these things than I do, that often the highly figured woods are the less stable ones, so that was possibly the cause of the problems with your Lakland neck. No worries with one from Jon, those carbon rods are going nowhere - couldn't even tell you where the truss rod adjustment is on mine and it is now 5 years old!! [/quote] [quote name='GreeneKing' timestamp='1482311899' post='3199352'] The only bad neck I've had in 100 basses was a Lakeland Skyline one. [/quote] The Lakland neck was quartersawn, it was just the fretboard which was very highly figured, so I was surprised it was so unstable. Both my other Shukers are solid as a rock, though the winner for Never Even Going Out Of Tune is my Dingwall [quote name='karlfer' timestamp='1482313537' post='3199377'] Muzz, you need to provide a link to those chromy pup covers. It's the law. [/quote] I will Karl - it's somewhere in Germany...let me dig the link out... Here you go: [url="http://www.crazyparts.de/pickup-making-parts/pickupcovers/misc/gibson-thunderbird-pu-cover-chrome.php"]http://www.crazypart...over-chrome.php[/url] They do the rings on there, too... Edited December 21, 2016 by Muzz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted December 21, 2016 Share Posted December 21, 2016 That is all kinds of fabulous. The chrome pups are perfect. Easily the best looking Thunderbird I've ever seen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlfer Posted December 21, 2016 Share Posted December 21, 2016 [quote name='Muzz' timestamp='1482313738' post='3199383'] Thanks to all, glad it strikes a chord The straplock is situated a little further forward on the end of the heel, which, with the Ultralights, is enough to get it to balance nicely. The Lakland neck was quartersawn, it was just the fretboard which was very highly figured, so I was surprised it was so unstable. Both my other Shukers are solid as a rock, though the winner for Never Even Going Out Of Tune is my Dingwall I will Karl - it's somewhere in Germany...let me dig the link out... Here you go: [url="http://www.crazyparts.de/pickup-making-parts/pickupcovers/misc/gibson-thunderbird-pu-cover-chrome.php"]http://www.crazypart...over-chrome.php[/url] They do the rings on there, too... [/quote] Brilliant Muzz, ta fella. To think, all these years I could have had a good looking TBird (hate the black plastic pup covers, fickle, moi?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPJ Posted December 21, 2016 Share Posted December 21, 2016 Ah a thing of beauty! I still plan to do a headless T'bird one day (I know, sacrilege etc etc) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassman Sam Posted December 21, 2016 Share Posted December 21, 2016 Oh, that is a beauty. Love the chrome pups. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowieBass Posted December 21, 2016 Share Posted December 21, 2016 I like the look of this a lot - the maple board is gorgeous! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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