Thunderbird Club Pt 5

[godofthunder59]

It's a pity really the Schecter Ultra bass is a very well built bass, Nikks is more like a reverse bird but fugly none the less. I tried a Ultra bass locally as far as build quality and playability it spanks a new Gibson Thunderbird. To bad both the Schecters are so damn ugly.

Originally Posted by TBird1958

That ain't doin' it for me................

[ctmullins]

Originally Posted by godofthunder59

I went with the Cataldo and man did it deliver in spades, can't say enough good things about this bass! This is a rough mix nowhere near done.

Very interested in this - do you have a public-facing link for the 1% of us who don't use Facebook?

[godofthunder59]

Sorry, we should have it up on youtube soon, out of my hands our drummer does all this stuff. I know Cataldo basses is going to put it up and I think the Thunderbucker Ranch will also.

Originally Posted by ctmullins

Very interested in this - do you have a public-facing link for the 1% of us who don't use Facebook?

[thisSNsucks]

Here's a question for you Thunderbird experts:

Does anyone know what size frets came on 1979 Gibson Thunderbirds? Mine is in need of a refret!

[jaxstarke]

Been a while so I figure I'll ask again. Has anyone taken the paint off one of the the Epi Goths yet? I was curious to know if it's plywood under there or if it's a solid piece of mahogany or 2 "wings" glued onto a central core. Thinking about stripping this thing in the future but I'm not gonna touch it if it's plywood. Thanks.

[godofthunder59]

I think medium jumbo, not 100% sure though.

Originally Posted by thisSNsucks

Here's a question for you Thunderbird experts:

Does anyone know what size frets came on 1979 Gibson Thunderbirds? Mine is in need of a refret!

[Andii Syckz]

Originally Posted by jaxstarke

Been a while so I figure I'll ask again. Has anyone taken the paint off one of the the Epi Goths yet? I was curious to know if it's plywood under there or if it's a solid piece of mahogany or 2 "wings" glued onto a central core. Thinking about stripping this thing in the future but I'm not gonna touch it if it's plywood. Thanks.

Tender Prey has 2 goth's if i recall correctly. He stripped one of the paint and refinished it. Looks very lovely. He should know, check out his bird, it's posted idk where in the forum but it's stunning.

[Tender Prey]

Originally Posted by jaxstarke

Been a while so I figure I'll ask again. Has anyone taken the paint off one of the the Epi Goths yet? I was curious to know if it's plywood under there or if it's a solid piece of mahogany or 2 "wings" glued onto a central core. Thinking about stripping this thing in the future but I'm not gonna touch it if it's plywood. Thanks.

Never stripped a Goth, just used the existing paint as primer. I did route the pickup cavities tho. It looked like the raised section was a white wood (maybe 1/8" or so, not very thick), but the rest of the center was red looking wood same as any other spot on the body that I drilled or cut into. I would assume that whatever wood is under the finish is some type of mahogany, but I doubt that it is a pretty wood or else it probably wouldn't have been painted.

[jaxstarke]

Thanks for the info peeps. Well, if I do end up stripping it and it turns out ugly as sin underneath then I guess I could just hit it again with some flat and call it a day.

[fjadams]

Even if the wood turns out to not be great it can be sanded, filled, sealed as many times as needed to be repainted. Takes a while to do it, but feels so,good after.

This, after much work.



Turned into this.



Picture quality is iPhone, and after pic is not a finished body, but better than it was.

[thisSNsucks]

Originally Posted by godofthunder59

I think medium jumbo, not 100% sure though.

Thanks man! Thats what I was guessing, seems to be the standard on most basses, so it's probably what I will go with.

[jaxstarke]

Originally Posted by fjadams

Even if the wood turns out to not be great it can be sanded, filled, sealed as many times as needed to be repainted. Takes a while to do it, but feels so,good after.

This, after much work.

Attachment 312123

Turned into this.

Attachment 312125

Picture quality is iPhone, and after pic is not a finished body, but better than it was.

Ha! Looks like that thing caught fire a couple times or somethin'. I'd rather not have to paint it if it looks halfway decent underneath. If I ever do decide to take the plunge I'll be sure to let you guys know.

[fjadams]

That's the body off of Squier Jag SS #2. Body of #1 was good enough that it could have been left natural. This one, the dark wood was pretty good and sanded filled and sealed well. The light wood, all four pieces was something else. Didn't sand well, refused to take filler and sealer. My luthier had a bad time getting it to be good enough to paint without graining. Paint didn't turn out perfect, but at least it isn't graining. Can't believe that an Epi could be any worse.

[Gunner77]

Here is me rocking the Gibson! Can you add me to the list?

[Wolf C Red]

Just a quick and probably silly question which I can already guess the answer to and i'm sorry if it's been answered many threads ago.

I'm going to assume these have nothing to do with actual tbird pups, but wanted to confirm. What is the deal behind these? The closest I can think of is maybe the (guitar) humbucker sized chrome pups on the limited edition custom shop epiphones. Anyone know anything about them?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Gibson-Thund...item257a01f434

[moonshinegtrs]

Originally Posted by Wolf C Red

Just a quick and probably silly question which I can already guess the answer to and i'm sorry if it's been answered many threads ago.

I'm going to assume these have nothing to do with actual tbird pups, but wanted to confirm. What is the deal behind these? The closest I can think of is maybe the (guitar) humbucker sized chrome pups on the limited edition custom shop epiphones. Anyone know anything about them?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Gibson-Thund...item257a01f434

Gibson USA did make pickups like these; T-bird pickups in a humbucker housing. They were installed in Les Paul Standard basses. I believe that is what is pictured in your link. Great pickups; classic T-bird growl & very aggressive sounding (good price too, if that is what it is).

Totally different from what comes in the Epi T-birds.

Here is one that I have (I believe that the one in my pic is a early, pre-production model. All of the rest that I have seen are encased in epoxy):
.

Moonshine

[Tender Prey]

Originally Posted by Wolf C Red

Just a quick and probably silly question which I can already guess the answer to and i'm sorry if it's been answered many threads ago.

I'm going to assume these have nothing to do with actual tbird pups, but wanted to confirm. What is the deal behind these? The closest I can think of is maybe the (guitar) humbucker sized chrome pups on the limited edition custom shop epiphones. Anyone know anything about them?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Gibson-Thund...item257a01f434

These pickups are the TBplus pickups from the Gibson LP Standard, Doublecut, Money Bass models. A little more output than the black soapbar TBplus pickups. I have used three of these in my basses and love the sound of them. I bought two from the seller who's listing you posted.

[moonshinegtrs]

I just posted this pic in another thread, It's been through hell (modded, thrown, set on fire, etc...). I still have it...

Makes me chuckle, one of these days I need to put it back together (That is Gibson T-bird pickup in it, at one time it had a Bartolini pre amp in there too):


Moonshine

[Tender Prey]

Is that one of those old St. George short scale Birds? Looks like one that popped up on Ebay for a while.

[Toptube]

Hey guys I have a question about non-reverse birds:

What are the neck measurements like? Mainly I'm worried about thickness (I want a thicker neck, something like a standard Jazz neck or a slim P neck). Specifically, I am interested in the Bach Bird. Has anyone got some measurements on one?

and how about the new re-issued Gibsons? what are those necks like?

Originally Posted by godofthunder59

It's a pity really the Schecter Ultra bass is a very well built bass, Nikks is more like a reverse bird but fugly none the less. I tried a Ultra bass locally as far as build quality and playability it spanks a new Gibson Thunderbird. To bad both the Schecters are so damn ugly.

I have the newest revision Ultra Bass in burst paint. I think its a pretty darn cool looking bass. kind of a Thunderbird/Telecaster cross. The headstock is really cool. It also balances! My big complaint with the design is the neck is both very slim in thickness and its flat. It makes it feel wider than it is and you have to really pinch your hands around them to hold on. Its not comfortable for me. and I have little girl hands!

I'm probably going to sell my Ultra bass. Even though it sounds good (acoustically) with some punch, I just can't get comfortable on the neck.