Thunderbird Club Pt 5

[wvbass]

Originally Posted by Kmay

Ok, so don't hate me for "destroying" the instrument...but I did a mod that had mixed results.

New pickups. Could not stand the passive ones. So I pout a set of active pups and pre amp in it. That took some work, and still not completely finished!
Drilled some new holes on the front. Moved the output jack to the bottom.
Had to chisel the cavity out tho fit everything in it. But it all fits, barely. I want to eventually add a separate battery compartment to free up some room.
The electrical tape you see, well, it shows up much better in pics than in person. Lol! No one can tell it's on there in person...blends in nicely...thinking about maybe putting a plate on it got the knobs to hook to, just to smooth out the mistakes I made.

Nothing wrong with doing mods, but take your time and use the right tools. Chisel? Probably the wrong tool. Extra holes? Use plugs or dummy knobs. Unevenly spaced knobs? Take more time and measure carefully. Even so, basses are meant to be played. If you like the way it sounds better now and it makes you want to play it more, then you have done a good thing.

[DethByDoom]

Seeing "chisel the cavity out" made me cringe. Dremels are cheap. YouTube and proper tools man. It's like plastic surgery gone wrong. Thats not a "mod" its murder. I'm just glad you didn't take better pictures.

I should have started this post "with all due respect"

[TBird1958]

Originally Posted by Kmay

Ok, so don't hate me for "destroying" the instrument...but I did a mod that had mixed results.

New pickups. Could not stand the passive ones. So I pout a set of active pups and pre amp in it. That took some work, and still not completely finished!
Drilled some new holes on the front. Moved the output jack to the bottom.
Had to chisel the cavity out tho fit everything in it. But it all fits, barely. I want to eventually add a separate battery compartment to free up some room.
The electrical tape you see, well, it shows up much better in pics than in person. Lol! No one can tell it's on there in person...blends in nicely...thinking about maybe putting a plate on it got the knobs to hook to, just to smooth out the mistakes I made.

You can always post questions about this kind of thing here, one of the best things about this thread is that some folks with a great deal of knowledge like Carlo (Dadagoboi) visit here and are always happy to help out.

[DethByDoom]

Originally Posted by TBird1958

You can always post questions about this kind of thing here, one of the best things about this thread is that some folks with a great deal of knowledge like Carlo (Dadagoboi) visit here and are always happy to help out.

Yeah. Ask before you chisel.

[Dadagoboi]

Originally Posted by TBird1958

You can always post questions about this kind of thing here, one of the best things about this thread is that some folks with a great deal of knowledge like Carlo (Dadagoboi) visit here and are always happy to help out.

Nothing wrong with a sharp chisel vs a router or a dremel if you take it slow. I used one to install this '68 Tele pickup in 1973. Rattlecan refin at the same time.

[Kmay]

Yeah. I understand. It does sound much better...and it was my first, maybe second mod on an instrument. I can say I have learned like a thousand lessons on this one attempt...so, it won't happen again. Also, I sill love playing it and as an added bonus, it does have the punk look to it.

[One Drop]

As promised, here are a few shots of the '64 Thunderbird II, in front of my '05 Impreza. We just got over 2m of snow in a week, but it has warmed up a lot and the snow is melting in the village. As always the car was a champ in the new snow, and on steep and poorly cleared mountain roads.

Sorry for the lousy picture quality, the snowplow was clearing the street and I only had a few seconds to snap between passes. When it gets sunnier I'll take some proper ones of both basses.

[NOT]

Beautiful Thunderbird, One Drop.

[One Drop]

Thank you, NOT.

[quadrogong]

Tbird1958!..can u tell us the story of the Swarovski crystal mod?
that was a really daring modification , I must say,
(Something I've wanted since I was a kid , while staring at Kiss photos & stuff, but never had the stones to actually try!)

Easily the sweetest machine on TB .

Did u do it yourself?
are u willing to divulge your method of application ?
I understand if not...a good magician never reveals his secrets!

[TBird1958]

Originally Posted by One Drop

As promised, here are a few shots of the '64 Thunderbird II, in front of my '05 Impreza. We just got over 2m of snow in a week, but it has warmed up a lot and the snow is melting in the village. As always the car was a champ in the new snow, and on steep and poorly cleared mountain roads.

Sorry for the lousy picture quality, the snowplow was clearing the street and I only had a few seconds to snap between passes. When it gets sunnier I'll take some proper ones of both basses.

This is Pure Awesome!

Single pup Reverse Thunderbird = Holy Grail!
Yummy Subaru Goodness

[TBird1958]

Originally Posted by quadrogong

Tbird1958!..can u tell us the story of the Swarovski crystal mod?
that was a really daring modification , I must say,
(Something I've wanted since I was a kid , while staring at Kiss photos & stuff, but never had the stones to actually try!)

Easily the sweetest machine on TB .

Did u do it yourself?
are u willing to divulge your method of application ?
I understand if not...a good magician never reveals his secrets!

I wish that 'Bird was mine! It belongs to TB'er YOU LAND, on page 2 of this thread he describes it briefly, the crystals were apparently applied by his nail artist - very cool!

[DethByDoom]

Originally Posted by Dadagoboi

Nothing wrong with a sharp chisel vs a router or a dremel if you take it slow. I used one to install this '68 Tele pickup in 1973. Rattlecan refin at the same time.

Ok, nice, most people are not gonna have your seemingly surgical precision with a chisel. But sharp and slow are essential when using a chisel.

[One Drop]

Originally Posted by TBird1958

This is Pure Awesome!

Single pup Reverse Thunderbird = Holy Grail!
Yummy Subaru Goodness

Thanks! It is an amazing sounding bass, very powerful. I've only played it in one rehearsal so far, no gig, but it sounded huge and gnarly through the SVT. I can't wait for some fresh Rotos to arrive, I want that top to come through. One thing I'm not used to is how powerful it sounds when playing up the neck, the the high notes sing in a very different way than Fenders do.

Subarus are crazy common here, due to the mountainous terrain and all weather conditions. My best friend has an STI that is crazy fast and handles like a rally car (well it is a rally car!). Colin Mcrae, RIP, crashed a new one given to him as a gift by Subaru on the very road up to this village. It's common to see grannies tearing around in their turbocharged Subarus, really funny.

[TBird1958]

Let's continue with #4
Single pup goodness + Subaru

[Peepaleep]

Originally Posted by One Drop

As promised, here are a few shots of the '64 Thunderbird II, in front of my '05 Impreza. We just got over 2m of snow in a week, but it has warmed up a lot and the snow is melting in the village.

I am *really* happy that I live in the southern New Mexico desert

[Kmay]

So, maybe I am confused...what's the negative of using a chisel? A wood chisel, of course, and using it correctly.

[Dadagoboi]

My '64 Thunderbird II and the Anti-Subaru. Two Doors, Two Seats and Two Turbos. Doesn't snow much in the swamp.

[ctmullins]

Originally Posted by Dadagoboi

Sorry for the off-topic, but - that is awesome!

What made you decide to tilt the Tele pickup opposite of "normal"? And does it have the typical problem of the mudbucker overwhelming the other one?

[TBird1958]

Originally Posted by Dadagoboi

My '64 Thunderbird II and the Anti-Subaru. Two Doors, Two Seats and Two Turbos. Doesn't snow much in the swamp.

I really like the finish on that bass!
350 probably is the Anti-Subaru, I've always like those but never had the scratch.