Putting the THUNDER in a Thunderbird

[redstrand]

Well I was surfing these very forums one day and happened upon a set of TV Jones ThunderTrons...so I snapped them up. The dilemma became, gee what should I put them in. The search was on. I stumbled on the silverburst Thunderbird at GC. These were the limited editions. Mahogany body, silver hardware and better yet....the right size pickup space.

Other than shaving the pickup rings a tad, shimming the bottom of the pickups and having to wire the bridge pickup to the first pot due to the wires being extremely short...it was a breeze to put together. Slapped some chromes on it for thumpiness. Also put CTS pots and a switchcraft jack.

It absolutely thunders through Markbass and GK heads...even my old Peavey head...just 'effin THUNDERS. VERY vintage sounding.

Some pics.

 

[Rip Topaz]

Nice looking bass. Great mod.

 

[moonshinegtrs]

Great Mod on a cool bass. It seems like the original pickups were the weak link on these basses. You fixed that. Very Cool!

Moonshine

 

[stiles72]

Looks like the pole spacing lines up pretty good. Any sound clips? How much low end thump do you get, esp. with the flats?

 

[chokeslam512]

Damn the T-Bird GAS pusher man!!

 

[TBird1958]

That's looking real nice! I bet the new pots helped quite a bit too.

 

[loendmaestro]

That's frikkin' hot.

 

[redstrand]

The pole spacing is spot on. The flats help it to sit down. It actually rings very well. It has the old school clang with a healthy dose of thump.

Looks like the pole spacing lines up pretty good. Any sound clips? How much low end thump do you get, esp. with the flats?

 

[redstrand]

Yes, they did. The original setup wasn't bad...just too modern and a bit muddy.

It's got the old school vibe hands down.

That's looking real nice! I bet the new pots helped quite a bit too.

 

[redstrand]

It's the least I can do for fellow GAS sufferers.

Damn the T-Bird GAS pusher man!!

 

[blendermassacre]

Those silverburst birds already had decent pups in them (especially vs the standard tbird soapbars found in most epi's). I bet that thing rips. Sweet mod.

 

[redstrand]

I didn't mind the others. These are just more vintage sounding. It just makes me want to turn the amp up even more.

Those silverburst birds already had decent pups in them (especially vs the standard tbird soapbars found in most epi's). I bet that thing rips. Sweet mod.

 

[degroove]

I would get a Sliverburt Bird. That is sweet. How much are they new?

 

[Barkless Dog]

Those look great, nice mod.

 

[redstrand]

Got it for 300 at GC. The pickups were a deal($50) and electronics were another 25...It definitely sounds better than the soapbar TBirds IMO.

I would get a Sliverburt Bird. That is sweet. How much are they new?

 

[degroove]

Got it for 300 at GC. The pickups were a deal($50) and electronics were another 25...It definitely sounds better than the soapbar TBirds IMO.

I was thinking it was a gibson! Is it an epiphone?

 

[billiam5billion]

That chrome jumps right our against that finish, beautiful bass.

 

[redstrand]

It's an Epi.

I was thinking it was a gibson! Is it an epiphone?

 

[redstrand]

Besides the pickup size, the chrome finish won me over. Great sounding and good looking...not a bad combo.

That chrome jumps right our against that finish, beautiful bass.

 

[degroove]

It's an Epi.

It is one rockin bass and I wish you lots of luck with it.