Fenderbird Project - Pickup Options??

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Author Message ox_junior Advanced Member Username: ox_junior Post Number: 267 Registered: 3-2004 Posted on Friday, September 30, 2005 - 1:54 pm:    I'm keeping this in the "Misc" thread, since the project in question is not an Alembic, but could end up having Alembic parts. So.... I have an Epiphone Thunderbird bass with a reverse-style body that I am modifying into an imitation "Fenderbird", like Entwistle's 70's era custom basses by Peter Cook. My guitar guy checked it out, I can get a Fender-type neck onto it without issue (this is a bolt-on, not a neck-thru, obviously). Here's my problem: The pickups are a P/J configuration and are crap. I would prefer to have this fitted with Thunderbird-style pickups - the old school type with the chrome covers. Unfortunately, these are more rare than hen's teeth. The closest thing out there still in production are those that go into Gibson Les Paul basses - however, Gibson tells me that these pickups are not sold separately. So...Bartolini makes replacement T-Bird pickups. Yeah. OK. I still want the chrome-covered type. Now...Alembic makes a soapbar pickup that would fit this application, do they not? If I can't get old-style chrome-covered pickups, I'd rather have Alembic pickups in there than Bartolinis and make this a truly original and great-sounding instrument. Opinions? Options? Comments? Help? Am I nuts? Mike senmen Senior Member Username: senmen Post Number: 476 Registered: 7-2003 Posted on Friday, September 30, 2005 - 2:39 pm:    Mike my friend, I know it is hard. I had the same problem. I wanted to have an Explorerbird buildt by an english luthier. The problem are really the pickups as well the old-style bridge and tails. There ist no-one that makes them as close as possible to the originals and the originals or 76 style are nowhere to find. Alternative: go for the Lightning Bolt... :-) Oliver Spyderman ox_junior Advanced Member Username: ox_junior Post Number: 268 Registered: 3-2004 Posted on Friday, September 30, 2005 - 2:50 pm:    Now wouldn't that be cool?? The lightning bolt was hysterical!! FYI Ollie - I once played the Peter Cook "Flame" bass - this thing was just ridiculous!!! Totally unplayable but fun to look at!! borisspyder New Username: borisspyder Post Number: 9 Registered: 10-2004 Posted on Saturday, October 08, 2005 - 11:38 am:    Unplayable probably because it hasn't been anywhere near a neck adjustment for 2 decades or more! But you're right..it's ridiculous.