Thunderbird Club Pt. II

[TBird1958]

how many guys on here own a 60s Tbird IV? im assuming they are the rarest bird as far as the vintage ones go. whenever i see a tbird from that era for sale its always a II.

Check Fly Guitars.....

Production totals for '63-65 as follows.

Thunderbird II 718 pieces

Thunderbird IV 322 pieces

By that measure either would be rare. Were I buying, I'd be looking for a II, as a single pickup bass goes they rule.

 

[beebassdude]

Check Fly Guitars.....

Production totals for '63-65 as follows.

Thunderbird II 718 pieces

Thunderbird IV 322 pieces

By that measure either would be rare. Were I buying, I'd be looking for a II, as a single pickup bass goes they rule.

thats exactly why im wondering about the IVs, theyre that rare. 322 ever made, and im not sure ive ever seen one for sale. i figure someone on this board has got to have one! haha

 

[Rip Topaz]

I'm not much on vintage instruments but I think I'd have to snag one if it ever turned up.

 

[Dadagoboi]

thats exactly why im wondering about the IVs, theyre that rare. 322 ever made, and im not sure ive ever seen one for sale. i figure someone on this board has got to have one! haha

1965 Thunderbird IV bought from Baz Cooper about a year ago.

 

[Rip Topaz]

Oooh. Sexy.

 

[TBird1958]

Rare and beautiful!

 

[Fullback32]

Wow...beautiful T-Bird!

 

[NOT]

I saw a '65 white Tbird on ebay about a year ago...the seller wanted $12,000.

 

[godofthunder59]

I have four Nonreverese Thunderbird IIs

 

[JtheB]

Could you add me to the Thunderbird list?
Currently have two (Korean) Epi's - one fairly standard T'Bird IV in Sunburst, but my favourite is my modified Goth:
HipShot bridge, Ernie Ball roundwound strings, polished body, stainless pickguard and truss rod cover, relocated strap pins; replacement SGD neck pick up imminent...

Versatile tones, comfortable (for me at any rate), looks stunning and outstanding value. Haven't found anything I'd rather have yet...

 

[Rip Topaz]

I've seen those stainless pickguards on eBay and liked 'em. Thanks for posting a pic with them actually on a bass. Gonna have to order them now.

Here's a question. Where can I find a suitable facsimile for the Opti-Grab? I'd like to add one to my main bird, after I finish de-glossing the finish. I've considered buying a drawer handle from the hardware store, but I'm not sure of the size of the real one.

 

[TBird1958]

JtheB, I've added you to the club, you are #150! wear it proud, and thanks for the gig pic too - always welcome.

TBird1958 #1
Godof Thunder59 #2
Funkster#3
Gibenbackerbass #4
Sidd Laroy #5
Jazzbo58 #6
Tender Prey #7
Showdown #8
The Mojo Hobo #9
Doctorpunch #10
Stiles72 #11
Brenner182 #12
Baird6869 #13
Poorbassist15 #14
PWV #15
Mr Typhus #16
Tracii #17
Aditya #18
amimbari #19
knifedge #20
Nitrofix #21
Atoz #22
bassphreak #23
Seydlitz #24
bassclef112 #25
bassplayer8953 #26
D.M.N. #27
Edhunter #28
kruno maestro #29
Tombowlus #30
Kalik #31
winterburn69 #32
Walter Vega 33
Carlos 840 #34
Shadowtippy #35
Saltymonkey #36
lel95 #37
gaffster787 #38
mc2ny #39
Low Sound Love #40
BrianKrashpad #41
Deep Six #42
BenEd #43
Bassmachine2112 #44
ponkoponk #45
Heatheroo #46
darkside 88 #47
GCool#48
TedhHernstorm #49
Darbo #50
uncletupelo #51
Vaider #52
Rip Topaz #53
bmb73 #54
Badfish #55
Afireinside #56
Redstrand #57
reptyls #58
dabido #59
96tbird #60
whilke #61
JIO #63
thebrain #64
Rob Martinez #65
bazzandeson #66
PhR #67
Dr.Eagle #68
lowend1 #69 Mopar or no car!
Basvarken #70
s mcsleazy #71
Burruss #72
Matty H #73
moonshinegtrs #74
bass lord mutha #75
jumbodbassman #76
davidprice #77
A-Step-Towards #78
birdman14 #79
Quadzilla #80
jbalou02 #81
johnk 10 #82
electrocoyote #83
ih8law #84
muzukman7 #85
3rdcurve #86
rdwil191 #87
BluesBear #88
JAF #89
Swin #90
TBirdie #91
bassplayerbob #92
trevorguns #93
Clammy #94
jammi_fool #95
Molochnik #96
Rocker47 #97
Shark1 #98
BlueTalon #99
Fab Superlative #100
Doragon #5150
ThumpsAlot #102
Doelle #103
AllyDetours #104
Southway #105
mav #106
tw63 #107
Casperrobo #108
Killa #109
roffe #110
SOB H.R.MC #111
icks #112
thepunisher #113
PatQ #114
Venom of God #115
Jirishman #116
Midas #117
GibsonBassCAZ #118
snowblinder #119
Tilli #120
3l3phantstomp #121
Thrust Meatnozl #122
gaudenti #123
Birdbrain #124
CBTB #125
greghol #126
DV6 #127
marlond #128
DWest1981 #129
Shinji #130
jaibeau #131
Warrioralex #132
jonesn4bass #133
Rono7003 #134
hillerup #135
Dadagoboi #136
MRDOOM #137
secretsound5 #138
trevorguns #139
J Sinister #140
Capitian Bob #141
guitarded #142
Fullback32 #143
Johnny78 #144
jelenko #145
Jools4001 #146
Porkbun #147
Lucas G #148
NOT #149
JtheB #150


Rip, here's some Opti Grab shots......I think you could bend some metal and get very close.

 

[Rip Topaz]

Thanks, TBird. That's exactly what I needed to see.

 

[NOT]

JtheB, I've added you to the club, you are #150! wear it proud, and thanks for the gig pic too - always welcome.

TBird1958 #1
Godof Thunder59 #2
Funkster#3
Gibenbackerbass #4
Sidd Laroy #5
Jazzbo58 #6
Tender Prey #7
Showdown #8
The Mojo Hobo #9
Doctorpunch #10
Stiles72 #11
Brenner182 #12
Baird6869 #13
Poorbassist15 #14
PWV #15
Mr Typhus #16
Tracii #17
Aditya #18
amimbari #19
knifedge #20
Nitrofix #21
Atoz #22
bassphreak #23
Seydlitz #24
bassclef112 #25
bassplayer8953 #26
D.M.N. #27
Edhunter #28
kruno maestro #29
Tombowlus #30
Kalik #31
winterburn69 #32
Walter Vega 33
Carlos 840 #34
Shadowtippy #35
Saltymonkey #36
lel95 #37
gaffster787 #38
mc2ny #39
Low Sound Love #40
BrianKrashpad #41
Deep Six #42
BenEd #43
Bassmachine2112 #44
ponkoponk #45
Heatheroo #46
darkside 88 #47
GCool#48
TedhHernstorm #49
Darbo #50
uncletupelo #51
Vaider #52
Rip Topaz #53
bmb73 #54
Badfish #55
Afireinside #56
Redstrand #57
reptyls #58
dabido #59
96tbird #60
whilke #61
JIO #63
thebrain #64
Rob Martinez #65
bazzandeson #66
PhR #67
Dr.Eagle #68
lowend1 #69 Mopar or no car!
Basvarken #70
s mcsleazy #71
Burruss #72
Matty H #73
moonshinegtrs #74
bass lord mutha #75
jumbodbassman #76
davidprice #77
A-Step-Towards #78
birdman14 #79
Quadzilla #80
jbalou02 #81
johnk 10 #82
electrocoyote #83
ih8law #84
muzukman7 #85
3rdcurve #86
rdwil191 #87
BluesBear #88
JAF #89
Swin #90
TBirdie #91
bassplayerbob #92
trevorguns #93
Clammy #94
jammi_fool #95
Molochnik #96
Rocker47 #97
Shark1 #98
BlueTalon #99
Fab Superlative #100
Doragon #5150
ThumpsAlot #102
Doelle #103
AllyDetours #104
Southway #105
mav #106
tw63 #107
Casperrobo #108
Killa #109
roffe #110
SOB H.R.MC #111
icks #112
thepunisher #113
PatQ #114
Venom of God #115
Jirishman #116
Midas #117
GibsonBassCAZ #118
snowblinder #119
Tilli #120
3l3phantstomp #121
Thrust Meatnozl #122
gaudenti #123
Birdbrain #124
CBTB #125
greghol #126
DV6 #127
marlond #128
DWest1981 #129
Shinji #130
jaibeau #131
Warrioralex #132
jonesn4bass #133
Rono7003 #134
hillerup #135
Dadagoboi #136
MRDOOM #137
secretsound5 #138
trevorguns #139
J Sinister #140
Capitian Bob #141
guitarded #142
Fullback32 #143
Johnny78 #144
jelenko #145
Jools4001 #146
Porkbun #147
Lucas G #148
NOT #149
JtheB #150


Rip, here's some Opti Grab shots......I think you could bend some metal and get very close.

Tried that one out about a month ago. It is so much better than Nikki's Blackbird sig.

Not being able to adjust my tone was killing me..

 

[TBird1958]

I need to re shoot this bass individually, as it's gone thru some changes, the hardware is all chrome plated, along with the PG and TRC (which were stainless) and it's been wired V V T with the Killswitch removed.

 

[T1N_MAN]

Hey guys, maybe someone here can help me. I'm currently in the middle of building an Epi T-Bird and I ran into a bit of a snag. I'm mocking up the neck and the body and I noticed the neck is angled backwards more then I'm used to seeing. So I measured the neck pocket and the pocket is 1/8" deeper towards the headstock end. I don't know much about T-Birds so I don't know if the pocket is supposed to be like this. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

<a href="http://s73.photobucket.com/albums/i233/potownkid/?action=view&amp;current=C360_2011-09-20_21-15-29.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i233/potownkid/C360_2011-09-20_21-15-29.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s73.photobucket.com/albums/i233/potownkid/?action=view&amp;current=C360_2011-09-20_21-13-13.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i233/potownkid/C360_2011-09-20_21-13-13.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s73.photobucket.com/albums/i233/potownkid/?action=view&amp;current=C360_2011-09-20_21-14-43.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i233/potownkid/C360_2011-09-20_21-14-43.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

[T1N_MAN]

Hey guys, maybe someone here can help me. I'm currently in the middle of building an Epi T-Bird and I ran into a bit of a snag. I'm mocking up the neck and the body and I noticed the neck is angled backwards more then I'm used to seeing. So I measured the neck pocket and the pocket is 1/8" deeper towards the headstock end. I don't know much about T-Birds so I don't know if the pocket is supposed to be like this. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Porkbun]

Sure thing Porkbun!

I'd be happy to give you my old tbird bridge. One of the saddles is a bit messed up because it got stretched to fit a B string, but the other three are good. I'm in Western MA and have a good friend that works in Stamford. I'll see if he minds meeting up with you (I'll be seeing him tomorrow), otherwise I'd be happy to drop it in the mail for only the cost of shipping.

PM me and we can chat about an address or place to meet!

Ive been all over the place recently and havent had much time to visit TB for long so ill be PMing you! Thanks!

Project idea update:
Im supposed to be getting another TBird body from another TBer. I picked up a set of EMG 40 SSDs and a Tonepump Jr. as well as a Bartolini M34C-B. The 40's seem a little big for a stock pickup replacement, but it will fit with a bit of routing. According to a comparison of the SSD and the HZ's: "The Bass sounds monumentally different at the bottom end .The SSD's sound very thin and trebley in comparison,while the HZ's are warm and punchy...". So im thinking Bart at the neck, HZ in the middle and SSD at the bridge
Not sure what I would do if it was incredibly muddy after all that

 

[JtheB]

Merci!
Actually the stainless pick up guards only work (IMO) on the black T'birds. I originally put 'em on my Sunburst, but it didn't look right at all.

 

[mav]

Could you add me to the Thunderbird list?
Currently have two (Korean) Epi's - one fairly standard T'Bird IV in Sunburst, but my favourite is my modified Goth:
HipShot bridge, Ernie Ball roundwound strings, polished body, stainless pickguard and truss rod cover, relocated strap pins; replacement SGD neck pick up imminent...

Versatile tones, comfortable (for me at any rate), looks stunning and outstanding value. Haven't found anything I'd rather have yet...

How did you polish the body?