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Bitsa PJBird build


Berserker

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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.

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Like a glove!

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Ebay Precision neck with Jazz style inlays

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

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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

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Black edges blended with a little brown

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First coat of Crimson Guitars penetrating oil applied

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Edited by Berserker
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  • 2 weeks later...

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.

 

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20231017_102818.thumb.jpg.75f96d4371143e1b790502028f8f6b3e.jpg

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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!

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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. 

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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 by Berserker
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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 

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