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Thunderbird Club Pt.7

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#81
My first '68 NR was the impetus for the Badbird bridge. The original Badbird bridge was made in the summer of 1983. I made up the drawings and a good friend of mine milled it out at his families machine shop, it was a one of and labored in anonymity on my favorite NR for years till the advent of the internet and bass forums. The bridge has gone through some refining over the years but is still essentially the same. It's goal was to provide intonation without modification for vintage Thunderbirds. It was the first of it's kind and I think the best received, collectors and touring pros swear by it and that is pretty gratifying.
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https://www.facebook.com/pages/Badbird-Bridge/166569760043127
 
#82
Like Scott, my first TBird was a Bicentennial, a white '77...with a 3 point. Traded it in '83, picked up another one 2 years ago after buying a pair of '65s. The 60's basses are better made, you'd have to put all 3 side by side to see the differences in the woodworking. Production shortcuts mainly. 60s pickups are also much better. You'd think Gibson finally got the bridge right but, nope. Misplaced studs lead to silk on the E saddle and inability to get intonation perfect. Not to mention the action low enough.
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This is my solution. Intonation without Speculation.
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#83
The Nevertilt is a ingenious piece of work Carlo! I despise the three point. One of these days I am going to order one of those from you for my black '77!
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#85
I have drawings for a Three point replacement done long before Hipshot came out with one. Once they released theirs I put the idea on hold, it's a pretty small pie we are slicing up.
 
#91
Last night, we were a bit too loud while playing "creep" by Radiohead and when I turned and faced the amp that Greco 60's pickup "squealed like a pig".

I couldn't resist doing it again. Such a great sounding bass.
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#95
TomStuart said:
I'm looking at getting a hipshot bridge for my bird and I have heard several times that the hipshot is overkill. What exactly do you mean by overkill? Are there better options out there? My three point gibson bridge is my only complaint with the bass overall.
Click to expand...

It seems to have a larger footprint than any typical bass bridge. Is taller (thicker) than any other bridge I have on any other bass, but is probably no taller overall than a 3-point and it's saddles on any TBird (hope that makes sense). It overhangs the raised center section of the Bird, but not very much. It is more comfortable to rest your hand on IMO. I have one on my ebony Bird but not on my BlackBird and the bridge is the one thing about the BlackBird that I'm not crazy about. I think you have to remove (or reposition) the Optigrab on a BB if you install one of the Hipshots. Some people complain about the size of the bridge but on a black bass it really kind of blends in to the scenery. Hope that helps.
 
#97
If you open the control cavity you will see a bump out where the cavity cover screw goes into the wood. I drilled thru the one on the butt-end of the body to insert the barrel type jack (like found on the Gibson). If you are using the typical jack or one with one of those metal football style jack plates, you may want to drill in a thinner location. Hope that helps.
 
#98
Tender Prey said:
If you open the control cavity you will see a bump out where the cavity cover screw goes into the wood. I drilled thru the one on the butt-end of the body to insert the barrel type jack (like found on the Gibson). If you are using the typical jack or one with one of those metal football style jack plates, you may want to drill in a thinner location. Hope that helps.
Click to expand...

it does even if i already knew that :D but i was asking more for measurements (distance) between strap pin (bottom) and output.
 
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