The Epiphone Thunderbird Club

[Dr. Eagle]

Finished!

Damn! Thats friggin beautiful!

 

[TBird1958]

Sexiest Epi ever!

 

[stiles72]

Thanks all!

I just went to our local Autozone and couldn't find the chrome bumper repair kit. What exactly is the product?

Doc - I threw the package away so I'll stop back over there and see what it was called exactly.

Before I installed the Lull, I did notice something that might help out other Epi owners who want the vintage looking pups, but can't swing $300 for a Lull. The chrome Lull pickup ring actually will fit over the stock Epiphone pickups. It rests about 1/8" off the raised section of the body on the "finger rest" of the pickup. Two black plastic spacer rings came with the Lull that you could cut or dremel a bit so they will fit all the way around the pickup filling the gap. Otherwise you could also cut a filler ring from something like a mouse pad or rubber mat. If you combine the Lull ring with the chrome tape trick - it doesn't look that bad from afar. I had only taped the very top of the stock pickups, but the effect would probably be even better if you taped the whole pickup and possibly add two dummy screw heads along the sides of the pickup itself.

 

[rockscott]

That is truly beautiful! Every bass i have ever owned has been natural finish, as i love to see the grain of the wood. I like some basses in summit white but that is about it, however, you blew me away with this Tbird! Send me a pm if you ever decide to sell it!

 

[rdwil191]

Gorgeous! I might have to get out of my "all black bass" mode afterall...lol!

 

[stiles72]

I just went to our local Autozone and couldn't find the chrome bumper repair kit. What exactly is the product?

Here you go...

Sorry, it wasn't called "Chrome Bumper Repair Kit". I've had this stuff for years and couldn't remember what it was actually called.

 

[Prostheta]

Hi all! I'm GASing for a new 5-string and have the Epi Pro V in my sights. I've just got to ask though - what are the dimensions of the pickups on the 5 (I know EMG 35 housings drop in the 4s, from what I've read)? Likely replacements would be a couple of EMG TW/TWXs in the 40 format (if that's the right size).

Also (for the real propellorheads in here) how well installed are the frets? I'm wondering if their tangs are nipped back, as this would make refretting a lot less painful if the lacquer doesn't crack back from the fingerboard edge. I prefer SS jumbos, and would like to semihemi the fret ends. No problem if they're not....a drop of CA can cure most ills if it's a problem.

Thanks - I appreciate this and hope to get my sign...sorry, number soon.

 

[Danilogott]

Thanks all!



Doc - I threw the package away so I'll stop back over there and see what it was called exactly.

Before I installed the Lull, I did notice something that might help out other Epi owners who want the vintage looking pups, but can't swing $300 for a Lull. The chrome Lull pickup ring actually will fit over the stock Epiphone pickups. It rests about 1/8" off the raised section of the body on the "finger rest" of the pickup. Two black plastic spacer rings came with the Lull that you could cut or dremel a bit so they will fit all the way around the pickup filling the gap. Otherwise you could also cut a filler ring from something like a mouse pad or rubber mat. If you combine the Lull ring with the chrome tape trick - it doesn't look that bad from afar. I had only taped the very top of the stock pickups, but the effect would probably be even better if you taped the whole pickup and possibly add two dummy screw heads along the sides of the pickup itself.

Sorry if anyone's already asked about it and I missed but, which kind of pick up cover have you used? I don't know much about Thunderbird's history, so I don't know if Gibson's ever made those.
If you just tell me the model, that would help a lot!

Btw, your bass's sick!

Thanks!

 

[stiles72]

Sorry if anyone's already asked about it and I missed but, which kind of pick up cover have you used? I don't know much about Thunderbird's history, so I don't know if Gibson's ever made those.
If you just tell me the model, that would help a lot!

Btw, your bass's sick!

Thanks!

Thanks - I ended up using a Mike Lull "T bass" pickup in the bridge position. It's an accurate reproduction of the Gibson Thunderbird pickups from the 60's. That's really about the only option for an authentic pickup like that, since Gibson doesn't make them anymore and doesn't sell bass pickups or parts ala carte anyway. Prior to installing the Lull, I just used the chrome tape stuff on the stock black Epiphone pickups. The hand rest (String cover) and bridge cover came from the guy who sells them on Ebay.

 

[EdHunter]

2007 Epi T-Bird, new pickguard, sanded neck, straploks and D'Addario flats. This thing has two soudns when played through my Marshall: butter and THUNDAH! Love this thing, it's what I learnt to play on, so it will always be special...

 

[Delta_Petra]

Here is the current member list. New members and numbers are bolded at the bottom of the list.

Hobobob74 #1
JaySeeDoubleYou #2
Shredsled87 #3
DaBassman #4
envika #5
Johnny Crab #6
ricdiculous5487 #7
Ramstien #8
Waspinators #9
SUNNyday r. #10
Major Havoc #11
dreadheadbass #12
TheDarkReaver #13
Coward Of Reali #14
Sharp Objects #15
erigod23 #16
Grimace #17
GerManson #18
cerealkilla1980 #19
Michelob_64 #20
poomwah #21
flakeh #22
kazuya #23
xwpx #24
Mofo-Kang #25
Kano2864212 #26
Delta_Petra #27
sup3r_k #28
chromium #29
EnderZ13 #30
amimbari #31
Johnnakis #32
gremlet #33
Dasgre0g #34
davevv #35
VinnieClem #36
Stompboxx #37
TBird1958 #38
-dotzy- #39
OldSchoolBass #40
TheBogart #41
bronzehydra #42
Griev #43
WickedPissah #44
OhioBassFanatic #45
sixgunner #46
stuonbass #47
olemah #48
ThumpsAlot #49
opiumwarsvictor #50
Bting #51
Pearldiver #52
peekypoo #53
RED5 #54
OhioBassFanatic #55
Rob DWL #56
godofthunder59 #57
elplatanazo87 #58
Birdbrain #59
Gougedeye #60
vicvarado #61
Zoidberg523 #62
gonzorob #63
BaldBass #64
Justice #65
johndiz0 #66
keigan #67
poomwah #68
jzhobo77 #69
Xavier Knox #70
euronymous #71
sneha1965 #72
Dozer74 #73
Bass-desires #74
FSSmikey #75
guardian1233 #76
xMaxBASSx #77
prekabreki #78
dog1 #79
MK84 #80
JoeyZ #81
Aenima #82
BrianKrashpad #83
Demonturtle #84
$Lindz$ #85
PatAteThePaste #86
Lemoore-on #87
HUnt49 #88
fuzzfill #89
infamusblkdeath #90
theavondon #91
DRafalske #92
derekale #93
aspygr #94
Stefan B #95
Demonturtle #96
Libertad #97
Buck'Turgidson #98
bui #99
cmlax21 #100
speedkills #101
MusicBokonon #102
Marshbass #103
GR1M #104
Tender Prey #105
Southway #106
Yomo #107
brokencode #108
bassplayer8953 #109
Kestrel #110
omikin #111
xgator4u #112
fordkisskrazy #113
portaflexer #114
bfresh #115
gamester4520503 #116
ShadowRichie #117
Eldo #118
Z –Bar #119
The_Ox #120
Bass Demon #121
Fathand #122
jeff62 #123
bassinzombie #124
poorbassist15 #125
janaya64 #126
ThreeBeanSalad #127
shackled #128
Micolao #129
safleming72 #130
Lazy James #131
uncletupelo #132
jordy on bass #133
bassmachine2112 #134
MRDOOM #135
billiam5billion #136
Rip Topaz #137
rockscott #138
SOCAL310 #139
BREWTAL #140
syndroam #141
PeaveyPippin #142
uncletupelo #143
seabassplaysdat #144
rdwil191 #145
shivester #146
mesza #147
GK guy 94 #148
supersonicmoose #149

96tbird #150
wolfinsheep #151
The-Priest #152
moonshinegtrs #153
Lawliet #154
SDMFJay #155
Drummer Girl #156
birdman14 #157
ThunderousFunk #158
JtheB #159
Prostheta #160

 

[Prostheta]

Many thanks for the add Delta_Petra, however I am only a prospective buyer at the moment so you should probably strike me out until then. I need specs on the pickup sizes of the Epi Pro IV's and V's to drop in some aftermarket pups before I pull the trigger. I might stick with the IV on the basis that I really hate that 4+1 tuner config. I presume a straight EMG-35 swap would work.

I noted on the EMG site (via a search on "TBDC") that the TB-HZ pickup is (will, or was) accompanied by corresponding "active models: TBP, TBJ, TBDC, TBCS and TBTW". Any information on their existence, and/or suitability for fitting in Pro IV routs?

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Here's a nice lil' contribution though. A T-Bird I made years ago (got decapitated...) whose growliness (Cuban Mahogany/Wenge neck) just kept me hooked in T-Bird land.

Lookit that 200yr+ old Cuban I snagged for the central lamination ;-) Now THAT was tone.
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[LowNotes1]

Stock Epi T IV, with Rotosound stainless steel roundwounds. Great bass for the price. I played it in a small bar with my son's band one night just to hear how it sounded live, and it shook the floor.

 

[Dr. Eagle]

Here is the current member list. New members and numbers are bolded at the bottom of the list.

Hobobob74 #1
JaySeeDoubleYou #2
Shredsled87 #3
DaBassman #4
envika #5
Johnny Crab #6
ricdiculous5487 #7
Ramstien #8
Waspinators #9
SUNNyday r. #10
Major Havoc #11
dreadheadbass #12
TheDarkReaver #13
Coward Of Reali #14
Sharp Objects #15
erigod23 #16
Grimace #17
GerManson #18
cerealkilla1980 #19
Michelob_64 #20
poomwah #21
flakeh #22
kazuya #23
xwpx #24
Mofo-Kang #25
Kano2864212 #26
Delta_Petra #27
sup3r_k #28
chromium #29
EnderZ13 #30
amimbari #31
Johnnakis #32
gremlet #33
Dasgre0g #34
davevv #35
VinnieClem #36
Stompboxx #37
TBird1958 #38
-dotzy- #39
OldSchoolBass #40
TheBogart #41
bronzehydra #42
Griev #43
WickedPissah #44
OhioBassFanatic #45
sixgunner #46
stuonbass #47
olemah #48
ThumpsAlot #49
opiumwarsvictor #50
Bting #51
Pearldiver #52
peekypoo #53
RED5 #54
OhioBassFanatic #55
Rob DWL #56
godofthunder59 #57
elplatanazo87 #58
Birdbrain #59
Gougedeye #60
vicvarado #61
Zoidberg523 #62
gonzorob #63
BaldBass #64
Justice #65
johndiz0 #66
keigan #67
poomwah #68
jzhobo77 #69
Xavier Knox #70
euronymous #71
sneha1965 #72
Dozer74 #73
Bass-desires #74
FSSmikey #75
guardian1233 #76
xMaxBASSx #77
prekabreki #78
dog1 #79
MK84 #80
JoeyZ #81
Aenima #82
BrianKrashpad #83
Demonturtle #84
$Lindz$ #85
PatAteThePaste #86
Lemoore-on #87
HUnt49 #88
fuzzfill #89
infamusblkdeath #90
theavondon #91
DRafalske #92
derekale #93
aspygr #94
Stefan B #95
Demonturtle #96
Libertad #97
Buck'Turgidson #98
bui #99
cmlax21 #100
speedkills #101
MusicBokonon #102
Marshbass #103
GR1M #104
Tender Prey #105
Southway #106
Yomo #107
brokencode #108
bassplayer8953 #109
Kestrel #110
omikin #111
xgator4u #112
fordkisskrazy #113
portaflexer #114
bfresh #115
gamester4520503 #116
ShadowRichie #117
Eldo #118
Z –Bar #119
The_Ox #120
Bass Demon #121
Fathand #122
jeff62 #123
bassinzombie #124
poorbassist15 #125
janaya64 #126
ThreeBeanSalad #127
shackled #128
Micolao #129
safleming72 #130
Lazy James #131
uncletupelo #132
jordy on bass #133
bassmachine2112 #134
MRDOOM #135
billiam5billion #136
Rip Topaz #137
rockscott #138
SOCAL310 #139
BREWTAL #140
syndroam #141
PeaveyPippin #142
uncletupelo #143
seabassplaysdat #144
rdwil191 #145
shivester #146
mesza #147
GK guy 94 #148
supersonicmoose #149

96tbird #150
wolfinsheep #151
The-Priest #152
moonshinegtrs #153
Lawliet #154
SDMFJay #155
Drummer Girl #156
birdman14 #157
ThunderousFunk #158
JtheB #159
Prostheta #160

I believe I am missing from that very long and distinguished list!

My Epi Thunderbird Pro V:

Thanks!

 

[cubanbass]

Anyone have a clear pickguards on their epinions tbird? Was thinking of one for my silverburst.

 

[Dr. Eagle]

Anyone have a clear pickguards on their epinions tbird? Was thinking of one for my silverburst.

I think it would be cool! IN our neck of the woods there is a place called Tap Plastics that I have had make custom orders with for battery insulators for boats, etc. I bet if you took a drawing or even your existing pickguard to a plastics shop you could get a cool looking one.

 

[Delta_Petra]

Sorry about that Dr. Eagle. I usually don't give out a number unless I see them write that they want in. Sometimes we have just had people wanting to show off their T-Bird, but not wanting to join the club. Anyway here is your number:

Dr. Eagle #161

 

[Dr. Eagle]

Sorry about that Dr. Eagle. I usually don't give out a number unless I see them write that they want in. Sometimes we have just had people wanting to show off their T-Bird, but not wanting to join the club. Anyway here is your number:

Dr. Eagle #161

NO Worries! Much Grass Amigo!

 

[cubanbass]

I think it would be cool! IN our neck of the woods there is a place called Tap Plastics that I have had make custom orders with for battery insulators for boats, etc. I bet if you took a drawing or even your existing pickguard to a plastics shop you could get a cool looking one.

Thanks Dr Eagle! I was searching online and also found Jeannies pickguards. Found a cool stainless steel one...http://home.comcast.net/~pickguards/

 

[BluesBear]

I was searching online and also found Jeannies pickguards.

Be very careful dealing with them. Sometines things can go Invalid Link Removed