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Tacoma Thunderchief Owners Unite!

#41
Let me be perfectly clear regarding Tacoma quality issues: They are all related to finish adhesion, particularly thick glossy finishes over hard tonewoods. There are not other quality issues with Tacomas! Just the finish.

Furthermore, the Thunderchiefs (CB10s) do not even have finish issues, because the CB10s all have a light satin finish over porous tonewoods. This combo is not susceptible to any issues.

In conclusion, Tacoma Thunderchiefs have no quality issues! :hyper: Rejoice! :hyper: Revel in your Thunderchief! :hyper:
 
#43
I bought a fretted CB10 early in the decade, sold it when I switched to fives and now have two CB105Cs - one pure acoustic that I bought new and a demo with a Fishman Prefix Plus bought on eBay that arrived with a broken headstock.

The new one will eventually get a K&K Pure pickup like I had in my CB10. I switched out the tuners to Hipshot Ultralites to reduce the neckdive and run LaBella tapes.

The seller of the demo refunded the money and abandoned it to me after he got the insurance. It took a few years of looking but I finally found a new neck which is at the luthier's now for a small repair after which I'll mount it up. (It trial fitted fine.) The demo will then be my "playing out" ABG since it's already a little pranged up and it has the Fishman. I'll probably switch out the tuners for Ultralites on this one, too - I actually have a set of them for a larger hole, I may just ream the headstock and use them.

I'm a big fan of Tacomas! I've found I have no problem keeping up with guitars when I use a felt pick.
 
#44
I've just picked up a 5-string thunderchief and having initially started playing with it I realised that the previous owner had tuned it with a high C string.

So I'd like to replace the strings and I'd like the loudest sound I can get since the Thunderchief I've got has no pickup. Mine was the 5th one built on 10th Aug 2006 and was supposedly one of the last to come out of the factory but that doesn't appear true from other people's reports.

Any advice welcomed, my other bass is a MK Dragonfly 5-string fretted which I always amped with a tiny practice amp. It would be nice to sort out the thunderchief and try it unplugged with my mates before deciding whether to get a pickup fitted.

Andy
 
#45
Today has been a sad day in bass world. A very, very sad day.

I came home this morning to find out that my roommate had accidentally knocked over my Tacoma Thunderchief. The neck took all of the damage and as a result, the headstock is no longer connected to the rest of it. I have come here seeking advice. Is there anything I can do about it? The neck looks damaged beyond all repair but is there anywhere I could find a replacement one? I am still in shock and I really don't want to have to say good-bye to my Tacoma.

Thanks in advance for your advice.
 
#46
Steve K said:
Today has been a sad day in bass world. A very, very sad day.

I came home this morning to find out that my roommate had accidentally knocked over my Tacoma Thunderchief. The neck took all of the damage and as a result, the headstock is no longer connected to the rest of it. I have come here seeking advice. Is there anything I can do about it? The neck looks damaged beyond all repair but is there anywhere I could find a replacement one? I am still in shock and I really don't want to have to say good-bye to my Tacoma.

Thanks in advance for your advice.
Click to expand...


My heart goes out to ya. A good luthier can rebuild the bass. It won't be an "original" but it will probably sound just as good if not better than the original. If you love the bass, do it.
 
#47
Steve K said:
Today has been a sad day in bass world. A very, very sad day.

I came home this morning to find out that my roommate had accidentally knocked over my Tacoma Thunderchief. The neck took all of the damage and as a result, the headstock is no longer connected to the rest of it. I have come here seeking advice. Is there anything I can do about it? The neck looks damaged beyond all repair but is there anywhere I could find a replacement one? I am still in shock and I really don't want to have to say good-bye to my Tacoma.

Thanks in advance for your advice.
Click to expand...

Try posting to www.tacomaguitarforum.com. Best knowledge base for Tacomas on the tubes. Someone there might have a source for replacement necks that fit the Tacoma body. Worth a shot any way.
 
#48
I have the Olympia version of this bass right now. A friend knocked it over and the neck broke between the nut and the first fret. The piece is still held on by the fretboard and you can actually play it but it won't hold tune. As soon as I find a needle I will glue it. I took the truss nut out to see where the crack is and noticed that the nut was never tightened. No wonder the action was so high.
 
#50
Thread necromancy! I found a Thunderchief for a great price on craigslist recently:

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It's one of the purely acoustic models, and appears to be rock solid, without any major scratches or splits in the joints as I've seen horror stories about. The only problem is that I need to adjust the neck, but I don't have whatever tool Tacoma provided, and none of my socket wrenches seem to fit. Does anyone know what size I need, or where I can find the specific tool Tacoma used?

Cheers!
 
#52
cusar5 said:
Thread necromancy! I found a Thunderchief for a great price on craigslist recently:

It's one of the purely acoustic models, and appears to be rock solid, without any major scratches or splits in the joints as I've seen horror stories about. The only problem is that I need to adjust the neck, but I don't have whatever tool Tacoma provided, and none of my socket wrenches seem to fit. Does anyone know what size I need, or where I can find the specific tool Tacoma used?

Cheers!
Click to expand...

I JUST today took delivery of the exact same acoustic-only Thunderchief but its fretless. What a tone out of this thing!!! I am curious as to how many were made as purely acoustic. I haven't seen many, if any others. I would like to find a way to transfer the sound to an amp or board if needed without making any permanent modifications to it. It would be mainly for medium sized gigs and some recording. Can it be done, and done well? Does anyone have any suggestions? Are there any pickup systems that don't involve having an entry cut INTO the guitar? Or is miking my only TRUE option, and if so, are there any recommendations?
 
#54
Thank you fenderphil. I appreciate the input. I will definitely check that out. Thanks for the string suggestion (that was kind of going to be my next question). Im just really excited with this bass that I've now owned for all of just 3 1/2 hours. I've wanted one of these for very long time. While the acoutstic-only nature will prove (hopefully) a minor obstacle, I really like the concept of this bass being so pure and unmolested (I know that sounded a little flaky. Sorry).
 
#55
I had great luck with a K&K Pure undersaddle transducer and an offboard preamp. No modifications needed - you simply glue the transducer to the inside at the bridge and change the endpin for one with a jack. Tacomas are predrilled for an endpin jack, you just swap it out.
 
#56
I didn't realize that they were predrilled for an endpin jack. That makes things much easier. I've read a lot of good things around here about the K&K pickup. I will be looking into that as well. Thank you your help.
 
#58
I need some guidance in regards to string selection. I have looked and read many threads and I'm just getting more confused. I posted this in the Strings section but got no responses so I am hoping some of my fellow Thunderchief owners may be able to help me.
I recently aquired a 2001 fretless Tacoma Thunderchief which is one of the "acoustic-only" models, with no pre-amp or pickup. I am looking for string recommendations for this bass. Most of what I have have been able to find regarding string choices, usually take into account the amplified nature of AGB's. Being as this is both fretless and acoustic-only, my needs are pretty specific. If anyone out there could direct me to the BEST string choices which fit the following critera, I would be very grateful. At $30 a pop, I can't afford to keep trying set after set. Right now I have settled on GHS Precision Flats. Can I do better based on the following critera?
1) Must be flat or tape wound. Being fretless, I would like to preserve the fingerboard and I desire an upright, somewhat thumpy yet punchy tone.
2) Since it is acoustic-only, I am looking for the absolute loudest string possible ACOUSTICALLY.
Projection and bottom end are high priority here.
3) String tension: Here is kind of a dilema, from what I can tell. Higher string tension should equal higher acoustic output, from what I understand. I am looking for a string that is higher in tension, I guess, but not TOO high, as I am concerned about the top bowing up or the bridge lifting over time if the tension is TOO high.
4) I would like to be able to install new strings without having to modify anything on the bass. I do not want to have to file the nut or alter the bridge in any way. Therefore the string guage can't be above 105. Some of the tapewound strings I've found are thicker than that and I would at least have to file the nut slots.

Are there any strings out there that meet ALL of that criteria? I would love to hear any of your thoughts or suggestions. Any other input or suggestions regarding this bass would be greatly appreciated too.
 
#59
OOTB68 said:
I need some guidance in regards to string selection. I have looked and read many threads and I'm just getting more confused. I posted this in the Strings section but got no responses so I am hoping some of my fellow Thunderchief owners may be able to help me.
I recently aquired a 2001 fretless Tacoma Thunderchief which is one of the "acoustic-only" models, with no pre-amp or pickup. I am looking for string recommendations for this bass. Most of what I have have been able to find regarding string choices, usually take into account the amplified nature of AGB's. Being as this is both fretless and acoustic-only, my needs are pretty specific. If anyone out there could direct me to the BEST string choices which fit the following critera, I would be very grateful. At $30 a pop, I can't afford to keep trying set after set. Right now I have settled on GHS Precision Flats. Can I do better based on the following critera?
1) Must be flat or tape wound. Being fretless, I would like to preserve the fingerboard and I desire an upright, somewhat thumpy yet punchy tone.
2) Since it is acoustic-only, I am looking for the absolute loudest string possible ACOUSTICALLY.
Projection and bottom end are high priority here.
3) String tension: Here is kind of a dilema, from what I can tell. Higher string tension should equal higher acoustic output, from what I understand. I am looking for a string that is higher in tension, I guess, but not TOO high, as I am concerned about the top bowing up or the bridge lifting over time if the tension is TOO high.
4) I would like to be able to install new strings without having to modify anything on the bass. I do not want to have to file the nut or alter the bridge in any way. Therefore the string guage can't be above 105. Some of the tapewound strings I've found are thicker than that and I would at least have to file the nut slots.

Are there any strings out there that meet ALL of that criteria? I would love to hear any of your thoughts or suggestions. Any other input or suggestions regarding this bass would be greatly appreciated too.
Click to expand...


If you're asking how to pick the right strings to get the ABG loud enough to gig without amplification - Forget it. Disappointment will reign. It must be amplified for adequate volume.

If you're playing alone or with one guitar, it might work. I prefer tapewounds, but those will be too quiet - especially with a fretless, which is quieter than a fretted bass. You'll be digging in when you play so round wounds will probably scar the fretboard. I would try using ground wound / half wound strings, which are bright and loud like roundwounds but fairly flat on the surface.

Still thing you're setting yourself up for disappointment. Even when practicing, I prefer to play my fretless 'chief with amp and cab. Otherwise I find myself plucking too hard to squeeze volume.
 
#60
Thank you Ukiah Bass for your response. I have no false hopes or delusions of being able to gig with this bass acoustically. I simply am trying to get the MOST and BEST sound out if it acoustically. It is an acoustic-only model so unless I get a pickup installed, I really have no other choice but to choose my strings as wisely as I can. Your suggestion of ground wound / half wound strings is one I have thought about myself, but having never tried them, I chickened out and went with the precisoin flats. Do you think I could get more volume and/or tone out of the half-wounds? I'm sure I will eventually break down and get a pickup installed, but for now, I find it kind of neat to have a purely virgin instrument with no holes routed for a preamp and nothing ever haiving been installed in/on it. It sounds fantastic acoustically (as I'm sure you are quite aware). I know I will never be able to acheive any useable volume out of it as is, as far as gigging is concerned. I just want the most sound possible for use around the house or for back porch jamming with a couple of acoustic guitars. At the moment my fretless/acoustic-ish gigging needs are being met with a Kala U-Bass and a Zeta Crossover bass. Eventually, the Thunderchief will most likely sport a pickup of some kind (as of yet I'm undecided as to which one) and be used for gigging, but until that time comes, I my mission is to get as much acoustic tone out of this wonderful bass as I can get. I really do appreciate your advice and any help. Thanks again.
 

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