A TB-4 Build whilst a BG-46 dries.

[wokkaboy]

kit looks great Ozz. The kit link has a standard screw in bridge, how come your's is a 3 point bridge ?

[ozzbike]

kit looks great Ozz. The kit link has a standard screw in bridge, how come your's is a 3 point bridge ?

Yep my point exactly....not whinging.....was tossing up to do it anyway...and that makes it more original.

I also just noticed that the kit only has three pot holes on the top and no input jack hole....noted that it is on the side through the control cavity....less original....mmmm....maybe a black recessed Tele style jack from Real Parts maybe.

[wokkaboy]

I google imaged thunderbird and the epiphone with 4 control knobs has the jack on the bottom edge. I prefer the jack on the side of the guitar, get a black tele style cup jack will look great. Means now the control cavity is bigger than it needs to be so may be able to fit a battery and active system in there probably if you chose that option.

[ozzbike]

Found this truss rod cover......could do with out the brand name....I have sent pabs a PM....let us see if the master of plastic can make me one.

http://www.eyguitarmusic.com/Thunder...rds_p_416.html

[wokkaboy]

yeah shape looks good. There is a dimensioned drawing so sure Pabs could cut you one. Get a good engraver to engrave a logo for it

[wazkelly]

Hey Ozzie, Nice kit and the timber all looks pretty good with just the lighter strip on the back.

Previous dramas with those 3 point bridges were mostly on the arch topped semi hollow Basses where there was nothing underneath to stop the rear end lifting off the deck.

Those PUP's are similar to what come with the EX-5, IB-5, etc and a $20 Belcat eBay special pre amp could do wonders. I bought one for the MMB which I will dig out of it's box to commence proceedings in the next week or so.

Cheers, Waz

[ozzbike]

Hey Ozzie, Nice kit and the timber all looks pretty good with just the lighter strip on the back.

Previous dramas with those 3 point bridges were mostly on the arch topped semi hollow Basses where there was nothing underneath to stop the rear end lifting off the deck.

Those PUP's are similar to what come with the EX-5, IB-5, etc and a $20 Belcat eBay special pre amp could do wonders. I bought one for the MMB which I will dig out of it's box to commence proceedings in the next week or so.

Cheers, Waz

Waz

So that is a pre amp only. I don't need active pickups etc for that to work?

Edit:- My E Bay search would indicate that this requires active pickups. I even searched just for EMG's to fit....you can get kits with two EMG's with battery connection etc ready to go. I think I will run with the original pickups and the better pots and cap and nut and jack socket...and just see how she sounds. I only have one active Bass and in all honesty....suppose 9 others that are not may colour my opinion.....I am not a huge fan of the tones I get from it. Right now my favourite is a PB Bass I made with Seymour Duncan passives in it.

[wazkelly]

So that is a pre amp only. I don't need active pickups etc for that to work?

Hi Buddy, this is the one I bought and probably from this ebay supplier.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Genuine-B...-/400368322849


PUP's don't need to be active as I think Woks used one of these in his recent J Bass build. The stock soapbar humbuckers are a bit low in output and figured one of these would give em some grunt. Cheaper than the AUD $220 I paid for the Custom Bensons installed in the EX-5 to replace similar to what came stock with your kit.

[elcodyloco]

Well, I'm pleasantly surprised! That's actually one of the best shaped T-bird copy bodies I've seen in a while! My next build was just going to be another RC-4, but after seeing how nice this looks, a TB-4 looks pretty dang tempting now.

I only have one issue, which is how the control holes are drilled. They look a little lop-sided to me. I wonder if that's a consistent issue, or if that's how it was designed...?

[ozzbike]

Well, I'm pleasantly surprised! That's actually one of the best shaped T-bird copy bodies I've seen in a while! My next build was just going to be another RC-4, but after seeing how nice this looks, a TB-4 looks pretty dang tempting now.

I only have one issue, which is how the control holes are drilled. They look a little lop-sided to me. I wonder if that's a consistent issue, or if that's how it was designed...?

Yeah I noticed that too. There seems to be plenty of space in the control cavity......maybe laziness.

If you wanted a solid colour finish, then plug and redrill.

Me...stain....so I may chase up some black bell knobs and see if they hide things a little. I reckon with the bell knobs with numbers around the sides and all the action happening around the three point bridge you won't notice it when finished....watch this space. Oh..even a judicious use of darker stain may assist.

Honestly, it is a way better kit than I thought. Loving it.