I don't see Sheldon doing this but it WOULD be pretty awesome. IIRC, Mike Lull by some off chance actually found the supplier of Gibson's original Thunderbird pickups and is buying from them.

I recall Sheldon mentioning something bout a T-bird a while back, might be pie in the sky, but interesting. Yes more people w/ reversed SuperJ headstocks.....Finally

This is something I've toyed with for a couple of years but haven't got it quite nailed down. If we were to see enough demand, I'd pick it back up once we got a few more past-due projects completed.

I was skeptical about the reverse SJ headstock on one of these but you have renewed my faith in your awesomeness, Sheldon (as if it needed renewing...)! I've wanted an old T-Bird for some time but I've never pulled the trigger. I would most definitely be down for one of those in the future!!!

Sign me up!! I have recently been struggling with which bass I want more/frist - Dingwall or T-Bird. I can get both in one?!?! I'm VERY interested. Sheldon, have you built any prototypes yet, or is it still in the design process? If you have I'd love to see some pictures, or even come by for a REAL look at it, I'm only a few blocks away! Tyler

[quote="Tyler":n13ras45]Sign me up!! I have recently been struggling with which bass I want more/frist - Dingwall or T-Bird. I can get both in one?!?! I'm VERY interested. Sheldon, have you built any prototypes yet, or is it still in the design process? If you have I'd love to see some pictures...[/quote:n13ras45] Calling Jjango. Jj, you out there???

A bit off-topic: I was discussing the Dingwall body shape with a friend at one time, and we stumbled upon the [url=http://www.thorovich.com/HamerCASE.jpg:30tyt8v2]Hamer Scarab[/url:30tyt8v2] body shape. It might look good with fanned frets, IMO. The body looks kind of fanned itself, and would seem relatively parallel with a fanned bridge and pickups. I am amazed in how good the reversed SJ5 headstock looks on a t-bird. Wouldn't change it for the world on a four string version.

Just thought of a good name: [b:1csa3llz]F-Bird[/b:1csa3llz] As in Fanned Bird, but also could be construed as more of an attitude type of thing like flipping someone the bird. Or even [b:1csa3llz]D-Bird[/b:1csa3llz] (Dingwall-Bird).

Well, I can see that the Dingwall GAS will never end with everybody wanting new models. What about the SuperP I mentioned, Sheldon? Love the D-Bird. I had a '76 TBird long ago and I still miss it. ...what a neck! Mark

Wow, this could be even better than a Dingwall P. I love the regular Dingwall headstock on this. There is a nice kind of symmetry with the body. If you did go this route it would be nice to have a shorter scale (either super J scale or in between) so that the flatwound string enthusiasts could have some choices. IMO this shape sits better than the Fender shape with the fanned frets. Passive maybe?

I was corrected by someone close to Mike Lull: "He's having the pickups hand wound to the original Gibson spec. The pickup covers and surround is actually made by the same company that originally made them for Gibson in the 60's."

That is too cool!!! That reverse Super J headstock is perfect for that bass....IMHO. Great looking design Sheldon!!!

this one looks absolutely stunning! I love the reversed headstock!

I just looked at the pics again and i'm curious, why the single pickup?

A little bumpage incase Sheldon missed my question.

Hi Davio, At the time we were looking at who the potential player would be for this type of bass. Obviously a Rock guy. It seemed that a lot of the younger Rock bassists, at least in Canada were playing Stingrays so this became a marriage of a T-bird and a Stingray.

Good brainstorming! Thanks Sheldon! Very cool...

[quote="John H.":3e2ypyqs][quote="Tyler":3e2ypyqs]Sign me up!! I have recently been struggling with which bass I want more/frist - Dingwall or T-Bird. I can get both in one?!?! I'm VERY interested. Sheldon, have you built any prototypes yet, or is it still in the design process? If you have I'd love to see some pictures...[/quote:3e2ypyqs] Calling Jjango. Jj, you out there???[/quote:3e2ypyqs] I'm here, buddy. Man, how did I miss this thread? I usually check in here at least once a day. I only found this thread now because it [url=http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=530036:3e2ypyqs]got linked to over at TalkBass[/url:3e2ypyqs]. Wow, the fanned frets look just [i:3e2ypyqs]so[/i:3e2ypyqs] "right" with a T-Bird body. If I can find a spare minute, I might have to do a mock-up of this one.

[quote="Jjango":2keorlv6] Wow, the fanned frets look just [i:2keorlv6]so[/i:2keorlv6] "right" with a T-Bird body. If I can find a spare minute, I might have to do a mock-up of this one. [/quote:2keorlv6] Can you make a 4-string mock-up with a maple neck/fretboard & black body. I'm digging this D-bird a lot too. The fanned frets really do go well with the body type and the reverse Super J headstock works for me. Somewhat more classy looking than the basic headstock. (It could work with one P-pickup also, or if you want to go entirely rock-o-rama, with a P/MM setup.) I see this could be a nice entry level bass comparable to the Combustion. 4/5-strings, plain colours (Black, White, Burst etc), no PG and simple wiring (1 PU, 2 band EQ). Just a simple rock machine with a twist. Then again, the basic rock players would most likely be just THE people that are most intimidated by fanned frets.. or maybe I'm just underestimating them.

[quote="Fathand":3f2cvz9n]I see this could be a nice entry level bass comparable to the Combustion. 4/5-strings, plain colours (Black, White, Burst etc), no PG and simple wiring (1 PU, 2 band EQ).[/quote:3f2cvz9n] I think doing a classic style like this without a pick guard would be a travesty. I agree with the plain colors thing, though, and I think the single MM pickup with 2-band EQ is a great idea! It would be a great twist.