The best thing you can do is probably adjust the truss rod first to make sure that your neck won't create fret buzz when you adjust the action. Fixing the action is as simple as lowering the height of the three columns on the bass itself, the bridge will slide right back into whatever height they are set at and thats how you lower the action.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
The Epiphone Thunderbird Club
- Thread starter JaySeeDoubleYou
- Start date
-
- Tags
- club
- Status
The best thing you can do is probably adjust the truss rod first to make sure that your neck won't create fret buzz when you adjust the action. Fixing the action is as simple as lowering the height of the three columns on the bass itself, the bridge will slide right back into whatever height they are set at and thats how you lower the action.
Keep in mind that with these bridges, you must keep the front post adjusted a little higher than the tail. Otherwise the string tension is 100% on the rear posts and they CAN pull out of the body. If it happens you just epoxy them in. For some reason they don't glue them at the factory and then don't tell you to set the front higher, but that's how they must be set.
Here's my goth series bird. Love it. Just hate not getting enough mids out of it. Too bad i need to get it fixxed (broken wire, screw in neck broke, action, fret buzz) Also, it has much less tape now. This was a few days after I had gotten it.
Pros: looks, playability (neck)
Cons: neck dive (unless you can handle it or fix it), sound (not much treble punch its just muddy until you swap the pups out).
I'm planning on swapping the machines and bridge out for hipshot ultralites (3/8) and supertone 3point bridge. I like the 3point original but i dont get enough sustain.
next thunderbird is alpine white ltd edition. custom project to make it look like nikki sixx's 76-79 white thunderbird
Pros: looks, playability (neck)
Cons: neck dive (unless you can handle it or fix it), sound (not much treble punch its just muddy until you swap the pups out).
I'm planning on swapping the machines and bridge out for hipshot ultralites (3/8) and supertone 3point bridge. I like the 3point original but i dont get enough sustain.
next thunderbird is alpine white ltd edition. custom project to make it look like nikki sixx's 76-79 white thunderbird
Attachments
Sounds like you are on the right track to curing neck dive, by moving the strap buttons to the left wing and the neck heel areas. As for getting more treble out of your Goth, the easiest method would be to try some different strings. I'm not a bright & treble guy, so I can't make a recommendation. But I know for warmth and acoustic tones I like DR Black Beauties so you'll probably want to stay away from those.
Thx, appreciate a fellow bird man. XD. anyway i had earnie ball hybrids on them and they broke after 3 months(im a heavy player and tend to snap my strings....bummer
. But i think i'll try DR stainless medium gage (45-105) that should give me more bite to it.Another thing to consider is how you set your amp. On all of my birds, both my Epi and Gibbie, I can cop a lot of different tones by changing up the settings on my bass and by tweaking my EQ on my amps. I know a lot of folks on TB love to set their amps at noon and leave them - but those tone stack knobs are meant for tweaking.
Jaymi
Pink Bass Man
- Feb 11, 2008
- 6,813
- 490
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Ampeg , Jaydee, Kalium
I have just been given a nice 03 Korean bird....I am going to mod the heck out of it and TBird 58 is sending me a bridge (since it came without one)...I think the front pickup is leaving and will be replaced with a DiMarzio Model 1....The mudbucker....this should be interesting....pics to follow after I get it routed...
Just installed one of my x-mas presents to myself on my epi thunderbird. I must say that if anyone is looking to replace the factory 3 point bridge on them, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND these Hipshot bridges. I really can't explain how but it really has brought new life into my t-bird and I can't stop picking it up and playing it daily. Very very impressed with these.
Here's a pic of my Epi Goth with Lollar Pups and TBR rings. Great growly tone, excellent rock bass.
The soundcloud track below was recorded with it going through a T-Rex Bass Juice.
The soundcloud track below was recorded with it going through a T-Rex Bass Juice.
I don't remember if I mentioned this or not... but I swapped on the tuners on mine for Hipshot Ultralites. They were direct drop in. No modifications whatsoever... and man do they make a difference. The bass not only tunes up better, but they also improved the sustain. Add those along with the SuperTone bridge and you've got a winning combination.
Which size is the direct replacment?
These are what I used...
HB6Y - 3/8'' Y Key Ultralite > Store > Hipshot Products
Here's a close up of the Hipshot and the stock tuner side by side...
HB6Y - 3/8'' Y Key Ultralite > Store > Hipshot Products
Here's a close up of the Hipshot and the stock tuner side by side...
portaflexer said:
I have the Silverburst bird with chrome pickups and have a supertone bridge on the way. I was also thinking about putting on the ultralight tuners but wanted to do the clover ones for the old school look...do you think those would fit as well?
I used the Hipshot Ultralite Clovers on my Epi, but did have to adjust their placement so that they would clear each other. You can see in this pic how they are arranged in somewhat of an "arc" :
I can imagine that would be a tight fit with clovers. The Y keys barely clear each other.
BTW... love the Portaflex in the background.
BTW... love the Portaflex in the background.
- Status
